Someone Hit My Parked Car, Drove Off or Stayed, What to Do?

Introduction: Someone Hit My Parked Car — What Are My Options in Australia?

Discovering your car has been hit while parked is frustrating, upsetting, and often stressful. Whether your car was sideswiped on the street, scratched in a car park, or reversed into overnight, it’s not always immediately clear what to do next or what legal rights you have.

Your next steps will depend on the situation:

If the driver is still there
Whether the driver left a note
If the driver drove off (hit and run)

In this article, we’ll walk through each scenario and explain exactly what you need to do. The good news is that if your car was parked and hit by someone else, in most cases you are not at fault. This means you may be entitled to a like-for-like replacement vehicle, often with no out-of-pocket cost, as the hire is typically recovered from the at-fault party’s insurer.

Through I’m In The Right, eligible drivers can access a wide range of replacement vehicles — from compact cars to SUVs, luxury, and commercial vehicles. Vehicles can often be arranged quickly, and dispatched within 15 minutes of approval, and eligible drivers can keep the vehicle until their car is repaired or your claim is finalised.

Understanding your options early can make the entire process far less stressful.

First Things First: Assess the Situation

Your first reaction might be frustration or anger — especially in a hit and run parked car scenario — but taking a structured approach is critical.

Start by:

Looking at the extent of the damage
Collecting evidence
Determining whether your car is safe to drive

Even minor damage such as dents should be taken seriously. What looks cosmetic can sometimes hide underlying structural or mechanical issues.

Here’s what Evidence to Collect After Discovering Damage to Your Parked Car

Collecting accurate details quickly helps improve your chances of identifying the responsible driver and strengthening any insurance claim.

Key steps include:

Take clear photos
Capture multiple angles of the damage, surrounding area, road position, and any debris or paint transfer.
Record details
Note the date, time (or estimated timeframe), and exact location.
Look for evidence
Check for:
- Notes left on your windscreen
- CCTV cameras nearby
- Witnesses in shops, homes, or nearby vehicles
Avoid moving your car immediately
If possible, document everything before relocating the vehicle.

These early actions form the foundation of your claim and can significantly impact the outcome.

What to do if the Driver Is Still at the Scene

If you’re present when the incident happens — or return to your vehicle while the other driver is still there — the process is much more straightforward.

You should:

Stay calm and avoid confrontation
Speak with the other driver respectfully
Exchange all required details
Document everything with photos

Importantly, do not admit fault or make assumptions about liability. Fault is determined later by insurers or through evidence.

If the driver refuses to cooperate or attempts to leave without providing details, you should contact police.

What Details You Must Collect from the Other Driver

In Australia, drivers are legally required to exchange information after damaging another vehicle — including parked cars.

Make sure you collect:

Full name
Address
Contact number
Driver’s licence details
Vehicle registration number
Insurance provider

If possible:

Take a photo of their licence
Photograph both vehicles and positions
Record a quick summary of what happened

Accurate information at this stage can prevent delays, disputes, and complications later in the claims process.

You should also try and obtain CCTV footage, just in case the other driver disputes the liability later in the process.

If the Driver Left a Note: What to Do Next

If someone hit your parked car and left a note, this is generally the best-case scenario when you weren’t present.

A valid note should include:

Name
Contact number
Registration number

Next steps:

Take a photo of the note immediately
Contact the driver as soon as possible
Confirm their details and insurer
Begin documenting your claim

While most notes are genuine, it’s still important to verify the information and act quickly while the incident is fresh.

If Someone Hit Your Parked Car and Drove Off (Hit and Run)

If someone hit your parked car and left without providing details, this is considered a hit and run.

Common situations include:

No witnesses
Damage discovered hours later
Car hit overnight or in a car park

Failing to stop and exchange details is an offence in Australia, and penalties can apply depending on the severity and state laws.

What to Do If There Is No Note and No Witnesses

This is one of the most frustrating scenarios — a parked car hit and run with no note, no witnesses, and no clear evidence of what happened.

Even without immediate leads, you can still take steps to protect your claim and potentially identify the driver.

You should:

Document all damage and surroundings
File a police report (especially for significant damage)
Check nearby CCTV (shops, homes, car parks, traffic cameras)
Review dashcam footage (yours or nearby vehicles)
Speak to people nearby (residents, staff, pedestrians)
Ask if anyone noted a registration number or took photos/videos
Look at accident damage for clues (vehicle colour, size/height, direction of travel)
Notify your insurer and provide all available evidence

In some cases, police or insurers may be able to request footage directly once a report has been filed.

If the at-fault driver cannot be identified, your insurance coverage will determine your options, and you may need to pay an excess depending on your policy. However, if the responsible party is later identified, costs can often be recovered, including repairs and vehicle hire.

When and How to Report a Parked Car Accident to Police in Australia

Reporting the incident creates an official record and can assist in identifying the responsible party.

You should report the accident if:

The driver failed to stop and exchange details
There is significant damage
You suspect false details were provided
There are safety concerns or illegal behaviour involved

A police report can:

Support your insurance claim
Help establish your not-at-fault position
Assist in locating the other driver

In hit and run parked car situations, reporting is strongly recommended as early as possible.

Hit and Run Laws and Penalties in NSW and Across Australia

In Australia, drivers are legally required to stop and provide their details after damaging another vehicle — including a parked car.

Failing to do so can result in:

Fines
Demerit points
Licence suspension
In serious cases, criminal charges

Penalties for a hit and run parked car offence can vary depending on:

The extent of damage
Whether injuries occurred
Whether the driver attempted to avoid identification

Even in minor car park incidents, leaving without providing details is still considered an offence.

Who Is at Fault When a Parked Car Is Hit?

In most cases, if your car was legally parked and unattended, the other driver is considered at fault.

Common examples include:

Someone reversing into your car
A vehicle sideswiping your car on the street
A driver misjudging distance in a car park

However, fault can become less clear if:

Your car was parked illegally
It was obstructing traffic
There are conflicting accounts of what happened

Ultimately, insurers determine liability based on:

Evidence (photos, CCTV, witness statements)
Driver accounts
Road rules and circumstances

Not-at-Fault Accidents: Your Rights and Entitlements Explained

If your parked car has been hit and you were not at fault, Australian law generally allows you to recover reasonable costs associated with the incident.

This may include:

Repairs to your vehicle
Towing (if required)
A replacement vehicle while your car is off the road

Importantly, you may still be eligible for support even if you don’t have comprehensive insurance, provided the at-fault driver can be identified and is insured.

This is where many drivers misunderstand their rights — assuming they must rely solely on their own insurer, when alternative pathways may be available.

Insurance Claims for Parked Car Damage: What You Need to Know

After a parked car incident, you generally have two pathways:

A. Through your own insurer
You can lodge a claim with your insurer, who will:

Assess the damage
Arrange repairs
Attempt to recover costs from the at-fault party

Your level of cover will affect how this works:

Comprehensive insurance: Covers your vehicle even if the driver is unknown (an excess may apply)
Third-party property insurance: Typically only covers damage you cause to others, not your own vehicle

B. Directly through the at-fault driver’s insurer
If you have the at-fault driver’s details, you may be able to claim directly against their insurer. In this case, your own level of cover is less relevant, as the claim is made against their policy.

Providing complete documentation — including photos, reports, and driver details — helps streamline the process.

Important: Replacement Vehicles Across Both Pathways Above

Regardless of whether you claim through your own insurer or the at-fault driver’s insurer, it’s important to understand how replacement vehicles are handled.

If your vehicle is not drivable, some insurers may offer a hire car, but this is often subject to limitations such as availability, duration, and policy terms. For example:

You may only receive a vehicle for a short period (such as a couple of weeks)
The car provided may not match the type or standard of your own vehicle
Options may be limited to a small pool of available vehicles at the time

If you were not at fault, you do have alternative options.

I’m In The Right supports eligible not-at-fault drivers with like-for-like replacement vehicles — including sedans, SUVs, luxury, and commercial vehicles — typically without upfront hire costs, with the hire costs recovered from the at-fault driver’s insurer.

Do You Have to Pay an Excess for a Hit and Run?

Whether you pay an excess depends on your situation:

You have the at-fault driver’s details → Best-case scenario. In many cases, no excess applies, and as discussed, you may be eligible for a replacement vehicle, with hire costs recovered from the at-fault driver’s insurer
Driver unknown (hit and run) → Excess may apply under your policy
Driver later identified → Excess may be refunded

Each insurer has different terms, so it’s important to review your Product Disclosure Statement (PDS).

If you can provide clear evidence identifying the other driver, it can significantly reduce your out-of-pocket costs.

What Happens If You Have the At-Fault Driver’s Registration Details?

If you or a witness captured the registration number, your position is much stronger.

You should:

Report the incident to police
Provide the registration details
Notify your insurer or accident management provider

Police may be able to:

Identify the registered owner
Investigate the incident
Take action if the driver failed to stop

With confirmed details, insurers can:

Pursue the at-fault party
Recover repair and associated costs
Process your claim more efficiently

What If the Other Driver Is Uninsured or Cannot Be Found?

This situation can complicate the process, but you still have options.

If the driver is uninsured:

You may still recover costs through legal pathways
Your insurer or support service may assist with recovery

If the driver cannot be identified:

You may need to rely on your own insurance
An excess may apply
Claims may take longer to resolve

Replacement Vehicles and Support After a Parked Car Accident

If your car is not drivable or in for repairs, staying mobile becomes a priority. As referred to earlier, if you are not at fault, you may be eligible for a like-for-like replacement vehicle, with hire costs typically recovered from the at-fault driver’s insurer. You are only responsible for standard running costs such as fuel, tolls, and fines.

I’m In The Right is proud to support eligible drivers with:

Like-for-like replacement vehicles, including compact, SUV, luxury, and commercial options
No upfront hire costs, with costs recovered from the at-fault insurer
Fast approval and vehicle delivery to your home, workplace, or repairer
A hire period that continues until your vehicle is repaired or your claim is resolved
End-to-end support, including insurer liaison and repair coordination

Compared to standard insurer pathways, which may limit vehicle choice or duration, this approach can provide faster access to a suitable vehicle, greater flexibility, and reduced administrative burden — particularly in hit and run scenarios where the process can feel uncertain or delayed.

Frequently Asked Questions About Parked Car Accidents in Australia

Can I claim insurance if someone scratched my car while parked?
Yes — if you have comprehensive insurance, you can typically claim for accidental damage, including hit and run incidents.

Do I need a police report?
Not always, but it is recommended in hit and run cases or where details are missing.

Will my premium increase if I’m not at fault?
Not if the at-fault driver is identified.

Can I still get an accident replacement car if I don’t have insurance?
Yes — if you were not at fault and the other driver is insured, you may still be eligible for a replacement vehicle at no cost.

How long do I have to report a hit and run?
You should report it as soon as possible, ideally within 24 hours.

19. Final Thoughts: Protecting Yourself After a Parked Car Incident

Whether someone hit your parked car and left, stayed, or left a note, knowing what to do can make a significant difference in how smoothly things are resolved.

The key is to:

Act quickly
Document everything
Understand your rights
Choose the right support pathway

If you’re not at fault, you don’t have to manage the process alone. With the right approach — and the right support — you can minimise disruption, avoid unnecessary costs, and get back on the road sooner.