Someone Hit Your Parked Car and Left: What to Do Next

You walk back to your car and there it is: a dent, a scrape, a cracked taillight. No note. Nobody around. It is one of the most frustrating things that can happen to a driver, and what you do in the next hour makes a real difference to whether you end up paying for it yourself.

1. Stay calm and stay safe

If the car is in a busy lot or on the street, make sure you are out of the way of traffic before you start inspecting. Do not move the car yet if you can avoid it.

2. Look for a note, then for witnesses

Check under the wipers and on the door handles. Then look around. Someone in a nearby car, a parking attendant or a store employee may have seen it. If they did, ask for their name and phone number before they leave.

3. Photograph everything

Take wide shots that show where the car is parked and close-ups of the damage from a few angles. Photograph any paint transfer, debris on the ground and the parking space markings. Your phone timestamps the photos, which helps later.

4. Look for cameras

Stores, banks, gas stations and parking garages often have security cameras pointed at the lot. Ask the manager right away. Many systems overwrite footage after a few days, so the sooner you ask, the better your chances.

And check your own car. If you have a dash cam with parking mode, it may have recorded the moment of impact and the other car's plate.

5. Report it to the police

Call the local non-emergency number, or file a report online if your city allows it. In most states, a driver who hits an unattended vehicle is required to stop and leave their contact details or notify the police. A police report puts it on record, and your insurance company will usually ask for the report number.

6. Call your insurance company

Report the damage and give them your photos, the police report number and any footage or witness details. How a hit-and-run is covered depends on your policy, typically collision coverage or uninsured motorist property damage where it is offered, and your deductible may apply. Your agent can tell you exactly what you are covered for.

Why footage changes the outcome

Without a plate number, a hit-and-run is very hard to trace, and you may be left paying the deductible or the full repair. Clear footage of the other car and its plate gives the police and your insurer something to work with.

That is why so many drivers add a dash cam after the first time it happens to them. A front and rear camera records while you drive. To catch someone hitting your car while it is parked, the camera needs parking mode, which usually means connecting it to the car's fuse box so it can keep running with the engine off.

The Dashnox eCam records 4K up front and 1080p from the rear, with night vision for clearer footage after dark. Pair it with the eCam Parking Kit and it keeps watching while you are away. Our guide to dash cam parking mode explains how it works without draining your battery.

Quick checklist

• Check for a note and witnesses
• Photograph the damage and the scene
• Ask nearby businesses for camera footage, today
• Check your own dash cam
• File a police report
• Call your insurer with the report number and evidence