rate may go up after someone hits your parked car if you have to file a claim on your own policy. But if the driver who hit you is identified and has insurance, you shouldn’t have to worry about increased premiums.

If you file a claim on your own policy after someone hits your parked car, your car insurance rates may go up, but filing a claim against the at-fault driver’s policy won’t affect your rates.
If the damage exceeds insurance limits, you may have to sue the other driver for additional compensation to cover your
car repairs
.
To file a report after a parked car accident, call the police, photograph the scene, exchange information with the driver who hit you, and contact your insurance company.

How a parked car accident affects insurance

Your insurance rates may go up after someone hits your parked car if you have to file a claim on your own

uninsured motorist coverage

collision coverage

policy; however, if the driver who hit your parked car is identified and has insurance, you can file a claim on their

property damage liability insurance

, and your rates will not increase.

The payment of damages will depend on how your state determines fault:

At-fault states: The other driver's insurance company will pay for the damages.

No-fault states

: Your insurance will pay you directly.

Regardless of how your state handles fault, the other driver’s property damage liability will cover damage to your car, and their

bodily injury liability

will pay for your medical expenses and bills if injuries are involved.

In extreme cases, if the damage is substantial enough to exceed your insurance maximums for an accident, you might have to sue the other driver in court to receive further compensation.

Of course, you should expect your insurance company to investigate the claim. Security cameras in parking lots may come in handy if you need to prove what happened, as well.

The bottom line: If someone hits your parked car and is there to take responsibility, your car insurance premiums won’t increase. But anytime you have to file a claim on your own policy, you should probably expect a rate increase.

MORE:

How much does your insurance go up after an accident?

What to do if someone hits your parked car

As with any vehicle accident, start by ensuring all parties involved are safe and unharmed. Once everyone’s well-being is established, here’s what you should do:

Call the police

Photograph the scene, including your vehicle and the vehicle that hit your car. Include shots of the damage from all angles.

Exchange information with the driver who hit your car. Be sure to get their insurance provider’s name, policy number, and phone number as well as their basic contact information.

Once the police arrive, they will document the circumstances of the accident and file a police report. While the police will likely include some photos of the damage and the scene of the accident in their accident report, getting your own will make the claims process easier and ensure thorough documentation.

Call your insurance agent right away, as well as the other driver’s insurance company. Often, they’ll even handle scheduling your repairs.

MORE:

What do I do after a car accident?

What to do if your parked car is involved in a hit-and-run accident

If the driver who hit your car leaves the scene of the accident, it doesn’t really change the steps you should take to file a report. The only real difference is that you won’t be collecting their insurance information, and you may have to file an insurance claim on your own insurance policy to cover damages.

Pro Tip:
If you see the hit-and-run
take place, try to note the hit-and-run driver’s license plate number so law enforcement can track them down.

If the perpetrator is not found, or they’re found but they don’t have insurance coverage:

Your insurance should pay for the damage if your insurance policy includes collision coverage, or, better yet, uninsured motorist coverage. You’ll only have to pay for your deductible, as long as the damage doesn’t exceed your coverage limits.

If you don’t have a

full-coverage policy

that includes collision insurance and/or uninsured motorist coverage, you’ll be responsible for paying for the damages out of pocket.

Keep in mind: Most drivers won’t see an increase in their car insurance rates following a

not-at-fault accident

. However, this often depends on the severity of the claim as well as the number of claims on your driving record.

If the perpetrator is found, and they do have auto insurance:

Their

liability coverage

will pay for the damages to your car.

If the cost of repairs exceeds the amount of property damage liability insurance on their policy, your insurance company will then take the person who hit your vehicle to court to recover its losses.

MORE: How different types of car accidents affect your insurance rates