Insurance claims · 7 min read
In short
If you come back to find your parked car has been hit, start by recording everything: photos of the damage and the scene, the time, the exact location and anyone who saw it. Check for a note, ask nearby businesses about CCTV quickly, then report it to the police and tell your insurer as your policy requires. Once you have an estimate, you can decide whether to claim or pay privately for the repair.
For a driver who has returned to a parked car to find fresh damage and no sign of who caused it, and who wants to know what to do first.
The first five minutes
- 01Check the car is safe to drive. If lights, mirrors or the bumper are hanging off, do not set off until it is secure.
- 02Photograph the damage close up and from further back, so the photos show where on the car it is and how it sits in the space.
- 03Photograph the scene: neighbouring cars, the bay markings, any paint transfer on nearby posts or walls, and broken pieces on the ground.
- 04Note the date, the time you parked, the time you returned and the exact location, such as the car park level and bay number.
- 05Look under the wipers and around the door handles for a note.
- 06Ask anyone nearby whether they saw what happened, and take their name and phone number if they did.
CCTV and dashcams: act quickly
Car parks, shops, petrol stations and many homes have cameras, and footage is often recorded over after a set period. Ask the car park operator or the business that runs the site as soon as you can, and give them the time window you were away. They may not hand footage to you directly, but knowing it exists is useful when you report the damage.
If your car has a dashcam with parking mode, save the clip before it is overwritten. Some neighbouring cars may have dashcams too, and a note on a windscreen asking the owner to get in touch costs nothing.
Reporting to the police and your insurer
When the other driver has left without giving their details, it is generally sensible to report the incident to the police and get a reference number, which insurers commonly ask for. The rules on reporting and the timescales involved can depend on the circumstances, so check the official guidance or ask the police directly rather than relying on general advice.
Most insurance policies also expect you to tell your insurer about an incident within a set time, even if you later decide not to claim. Check your policy wording for what it asks of you. Telling your insurer is not the same as making a claim, and your insurer can explain how it treats each.
Claim or pay privately?
Without the other driver's details, the repair may have to go through your own policy, and how that affects your excess and no-claims discount depends on your insurer and your cover. For small car park damage, paying privately is often worth comparing. Our guide to paying the excess or paying privately walks through how to weigh that decision.
The most useful thing to have before you decide is a clear estimate. We can estimate the repair so you can set it against your excess and any effect on your premium, and estimates are free with no obligation.
Common car park damage
| Damage | Where it shows | Where to read more |
|---|---|---|
| Scrapes along a panel | Bumper corners, doors, rear quarters | Car scrape repair guide |
| Door dings | Door skins, at the height of a neighbouring door edge | Small dent repair guide |
| Bumper scuffs and cracks | Front and rear bumper corners | Bumper repair service |
| Broken lights or mirrors | Corners and door mirrors | Accident repair service |
Getting an estimate and choosing a repairer
If you claim, you have the right to choose your own repairer rather than only using the body shop your insurer suggests. Our guide on choosing your own body shop explains how that works. Whether you claim or not, we assess the whole damaged area, record it in a digital estimate and repair it to the same standard, as a BS10125 certified body shop and RAC Approved Repairer.
For lighter marks, our guides to car scrape repair costs and small dent repair costs explain what affects the price of the most common car park damage.
Where to go next
Get the repair priced before you decide
Send your photos on WhatsApp or call us. We will estimate the repair so you can compare claiming with paying privately.
Questions people ask us
- Do I have to report a hit and run to the police?
- It is generally sensible to report it and get a reference number, and insurers commonly ask for one. The exact rules depend on the circumstances, so check official guidance or ask the police.
- Will a hit and run claim affect my no-claims bonus?
- That depends on your insurer and your policy. Check your policy wording or ask your insurer how it treats claims where the other driver cannot be traced.
- What if the other driver left a note?
- Keep the note and photograph it, contact them to confirm their details and insurer, and pass those details to your own insurer as your policy requires.
- Is it worth claiming for a car park scratch?
- Sometimes not. For small damage, paying privately can be worth comparing against your excess and any effect on your premium. A free estimate gives you the figure to compare.
- Can you estimate the damage before I decide?
- Yes. Send clear photos on WhatsApp with your make and model, call us, or use the quote form. Estimates are free with no obligation.
The order to do things in
- Photograph the damage and the scene, and look for a note or witnesses.
- Ask about CCTV quickly and save any dashcam clip.
- Report it and tell your insurer as your policy requires, then get an estimate.
Related guides
Pay the excess or pay privately?
Pay the excess or pay privately?
Choosing your own body shop
Choosing your own body shop
Car scrape repair cost
Car scrape repair cost
Small dent repair cost
Small dent repair cost