Liability insurance does not cover hit-and-run damage to your own vehicle
Your liability insurance pays for damage or injury you cause to someone else — not for damage to your own car. If you are hit by another vehicle and the driver leaves the scene, your liability coverage will not pay to repair your car, even if you have a police report of the incident.
This is one of the most common misunderstandings about how liability works. The policy exists to protect you from lawsuits when you are at fault. A hit-and-run is the opposite situation: you are the victim, and the other driver is responsible. Your liability insurance has no role to play.
What covers your own vehicle in a hit-and-run depends on what other coverage you carry — specifically, collision and uninsured motorist coverage. Those are separate from liability and cost extra.
Key Takeaways
- Liability insurance covers damage you cause to other people's property or injuries you cause to other people, not damage to your own vehicle.
- If you are the victim of a hit-and-run, you need collision coverage or uninsured motorist coverage to repair your car through your own insurance.
- A police report of the hit-and-run is required by most insurers before they will pay a claim under collision or uninsured motorist coverage.
- If you do not have collision or uninsured motorist coverage, you may be able to recover repair costs through a lawsuit against the other driver, but only if you can identify them.
What collision coverage does in a hit-and-run
Collision coverage pays to repair or replace your vehicle after an accident, regardless of who caused it. If you have collision coverage and are hit by another car whose driver leaves the scene, you can file a claim with your own insurance company. They will pay for repairs (minus your deductible) without needing to identify the other driver.
Most insurers require a police report before they will process a hit-and-run collision claim. You should file the report with local police as soon as possible after the incident, even if the damage seems minor. The report becomes part of your claim file and helps your insurer verify that the accident actually happened.
Collision coverage typically costs between $200 and $500 per year, depending on your vehicle's value, your deductible, and your location. The higher your deductible, the lower your premium — but you will pay that deductible out of pocket when you file a claim.
Uninsured motorist coverage and hit-and-run
Uninsured motorist coverage is designed to protect you when the other driver has no insurance or cannot be identified. In many states, hit-and-run accidents are treated as uninsured motorist claims because the at-fault driver is effectively uninsured from your perspective — you cannot recover from them directly.
Some states require uninsured motorist coverage by law; others make it optional. A few states do not allow it to cover hit-and-run at all, so the rules depend on where you live and what your policy says. Your insurance agent or the policy document itself will tell you whether your uninsured motorist coverage applies to hit-and-run.
Uninsured motorist coverage usually costs less than collision coverage — often $100 to $300 per year — because it covers fewer types of accidents. Like collision, it requires a police report and you will pay your deductible when you claim.
Why you need a police report
Insurance companies treat hit-and-run claims differently from regular accidents because there is no other driver's insurance to investigate. To prevent fraud, they require proof that the accident actually happened and that you did not cause the damage yourself.
A police report provides that proof. It documents the time, location, and nature of the damage, and it creates an official record that you reported the incident promptly. Without it, most insurers will deny the claim.
File the report in person or by phone with the police department that covers the area where the hit-and-run occurred. Bring photos of the damage, the location where it happened, and any witness information if you have it. Ask for a report number so you can reference it when you contact your insurance company.
What to do if you don't have collision or uninsured motorist coverage
If you carry only liability insurance, your own insurance will not pay for hit-and-run damage. You have two options: pay for repairs out of pocket, or pursue a lawsuit against the other driver if you can identify them.
Identifying the hit-and-run driver is often difficult. Witnesses may have seen a partial license plate or a description of the vehicle. Security cameras from nearby businesses sometimes capture the incident. Police may be able to locate the driver through traffic cameras or by canvassing the area, but they do not always prioritize hit-and-run cases unless there is injury involved.
If you do identify the driver, you can sue them in small claims court (for damage under a certain amount, usually $5,000 to $10,000 depending on your state) or file a civil lawsuit for larger amounts. You would need to prove they caused the damage and recover the repair cost from them. This process takes months and requires you to locate the driver first — it is not a practical option in most hit-and-run cases.
How to file a hit-and-run claim
Once you have a police report, contact your insurance company and tell them you want to file a hit-and-run claim. Have your policy number, the police report number, and photos of the damage ready. Your insurer will assign a claims adjuster who will review the report and your photos, and may request additional information.
The adjuster will estimate the repair cost and either authorize you to take the vehicle to a repair shop of your choice, or direct you to one of their preferred shops. Some insurers allow you to choose; others require you to use their network. Once repairs are approved, you pay your deductible to the shop and your insurance covers the rest.
The entire process usually takes two to four weeks from the time you file until repairs are complete, though it can be faster if the damage is straightforward and the shop has availability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I file a hit-and-run claim if I don't have a witness or police report?
Most insurers will not process a hit-and-run claim without a police report, because they need documentation that the accident happened. If you did not file a report at the time, contact the police department and file one now — they may still take a report even if some time has passed, though it will be harder to investigate.
Will my insurance rates go up if I file a hit-and-run claim?
No. Hit-and-run claims are not considered at-fault accidents, so they typically do not increase your premium. Your insurer may not raise your rates at all, though some companies do explore small increases for any claim. Ask your agent what your company's policy is.
What if the other driver is found after I file a claim?
If police identify the hit-and-run driver after you have already claimed through your own insurance, your insurer may pursue subrogation — recovering the money they paid from the other driver's insurance. This does not affect your claim or your rates; it is between the two insurance companies.
Does liability insurance cover me if I hit someone and leave the scene?
Liability insurance will cover the damage you caused, but leaving the scene of an accident is a crime in every state. You face criminal charges, license suspension, and civil liability regardless of your insurance. You must stop, exchange information, and report the accident to police.
Can I use uninsured motorist coverage instead of collision coverage for a hit-and-run?
It depends on your state and your policy. Some states treat hit-and-run as an uninsured motorist claim; others require collision coverage. Check your policy document or call your insurer to find out which coverage applies in your situation.