Does car insurance cover hit-and-runs?
A hit-and-run accident occurs when someone causes an accident and leaves the scene without providing information about themselves. If you're the victim of a hit-and-run, your insurance policy may help cover the cost of repairs and injuries. Depending on your policy and state, the following insurance coverages may cover a hit-and-run: collision, uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD), uninsured motorist bodily injury (UMBI), personal injury protection (PIP), and medical payments (Med Pay).
Explore Progressive Answers' auto editorial guidelines to find out why you can trust the car insurance information you find here.
Key takeaways
Car insurance may help pay for vehicle damage and injuries if you're the victim of a hit-and-run
Hit-and-run insurance coverage depends on your policy and state, and it may include collision, UMPD, UMBI, PIP, or MedPay
Which coverages apply to a hit-and-run accident?
Insurance for hit-and-run accidents falls into two types: property damage coverage and bodily injury coverage. If you have liability-only coverage, your policy typically won't cover hit-and-runs. Here's how auto insurance may cover a hit-and-run, depending on which coverages you have.
Collision coverage:
Collision coverage protects you against any physical damage to your car that was caused by impact with another vehicle or a stationary object, regardless of fault. If your vehicle is damaged in a hit-and-run, collision will help cover the cost to repair or replace it after paying your deductible. Collision coverage is optional, but if you have a car loan or lease, your lender probably requires it.
Learn more about collision coverage and car insurance deductibles.
Uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD):
In most states, your insurance company will consider a driver who flees the scene of an accident "uninsured." So, if you don't carry collision coverage, consider UMPD for damage to your car caused by a hit-and-run incident. Some states mandate UMPD coverage, while it may be available in others (but not all) and relatively inexpensive to add to your policy. UMPD coverage typically has a deductible you'll need to pay out of pocket.
If you don't have collision or uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD) coverage, your policy won't cover physical damage to your car in a hit-and-run accident. Your only hope for compensation is to file a claim with the at-fault driver's insurance.
Learn more about uninsured motorist coverage.
Example 1:You're driving on the highway when the car next to you blindly moves into your lane, causing you to swerve and hit a barrier. If you never came into contact with the vehicle responsible, UMPD coverage might not apply (depending on your state's rules), but your collision coverage may cover your vehicle's damage.
Example 2:You park your car overnight and someone hits it. They drive away without leaving any information. Some states require the at-fault driver to be identified before UMPD can cover a hit-and-run accident. Having collision coverage in those states would enable the hit-and-run to be covered, regardless of if the driver was identified or not.
Uninsured motorist bodily injury (UMBI):
UMBI covers injuries suffered in an accident caused by an uninsured driver, including hit-and-run scenarios where drivers are considered "uninsured," depending on the state.
Medical payments (MedPay) OR personal injury protection (PIP):
These coverages apply regardless of who's at fault in an accident, so they can be used in the event of a hit-and-run. Medical payments or personal injury protection (PIP) would cover injuries and may include a deductible. PIP may also cover things like:
- Income continuation
- Funeral expenses
- Rehabilitation costs
Coverage availability depends on your state; for example, some states require PIP coverage while other states don't offer it.
Learn more about personal injury protection and medical payments coverage.
How can UMBI, PIP, or MedPay help with medical bills?
If you don't have health insurance, UMBI and, depending on your state, PIP or medical payments coverages can help cover expensive medical bills. If you do have health insurance, they can help you pay for medical costs your health insurance won't cover. If you elect to not carry these coverages, your car insurance policy won't cover your injuries from a hit-and-run accident.
How do hit-and-run insurance claims work?
If you're in a hit-and-run accident, you'll typically file a claim with your insurance company because the at-fault driver is unidentified. Your insurer may want you to submit a police report with photos of the damage (depending on your state), witness statements, or evidence to verify what happened.
The same claim may involve any damages or injuries from the accident, but different coverages can apply to each. One coverage might help pay for vehicle repairs, and another coverage might help pay for injury-related expenses.
The timeline for your claim generally depends on the circumstances. Some claims could take longer to process if the insurer needs to investigate the accident to determine which coverages apply to your losses.
Insurers typically issue payment according to your coverage and policy terms. Payment may go directly to your auto body repair shop, medical provider, or you (as the policyholder). Learn how to file a hit-and-run insurance claim.
If you're concerned that you aren't properly protected with insurance for hit-and-run accidents, call us at 1-866-749-7436 or get an online car insurance quote for the right coverages.
Will I have to pay my deductible if I file a hit-and-run insurance claim?
Paying a deductible depends on a few factors, like your state, claim type, and type of coverage. Here's a breakdown:
| Coverage | Claim type | Deductible? | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| UMBI | Claim type Injury claim | Deductible?Likely no | What to knowThere's usually no deductible for injury claims under UMBI. |
| PIP | Claim type Injury claim | Deductible?Maybe | What to knowPIP may have a deductible depending on your state, but medical costs may still make filing worthwhile. |
| Collision | Claim type Vehicle damage claim | Deductible?Yes | What to knowCollision costs usually require a deductible, so compare repair costs first. |
| UMPD | Claim type Vehicle damage claim | Deductible?Likely yes | What to knowUMPD claims may also require a deductible if collision coverage doesn't apply. |
If at any point you learn new information about the other driver, relay it to your insurer. If the police or your insurer identifies the driver responsible, your insurer can instead file a third-party claim against that driver's liability coverage, saving you the potential cost of filing a claim through your own insurance.
Will a hit-and-run claim raise my rates?
That depends on your insurer and state. In some cases, your premium may not increase if you weren't at fault. In other cases, any accident can result in a rate increase — even for hit-and-run accidents where the other driver was clearly at fault.
Quote car insurance online or give us a call
Learn more about car insurance policies.
