After a hit and run on your parked car, photograph the damage and scene, look for a note, witnesses and cameras, and file a police report. The City of Austin takes hit and run reports online or through 3-1-1. Texas Transportation Code §550.024 requires a driver who damages an unattended vehicle to find the owner or leave a note. The Texas Department of Insurance says uninsured motorist coverage won't pay for an unreported hit-and-run.
You come out of the grocery store and there it is: a crushed corner, a streak of someone else's paint, and no note under the wiper. A hit and run on a parked car is maddening, but what you do in the next hour decides whether insurance can help you later.
First steps after a hit and run on your parked car
Before you move the car, if it is safe to stay where you are:
- Check for a note. Look under the wipers, in the door handle and on the ground nearby.
- Take wide photos first. Show where the car is parked, the space around it, and any landmarks or signs.
- Then take close-ups. Photograph every dent and scratch, paint transfer in another color, and any broken pieces on the ground. A piece of someone else's grille or light can help identify the vehicle.
- Note the time window. Write down when you parked and when you found the damage.
Keep any debris you find. Don't try to buff off the transferred paint, since it is evidence of the other vehicle's color.
Who might have seen it or caught it on camera?
Look around. People sitting in parked cars, store employees, a security guard or an apartment office may have seen or heard the impact. Get their names and phone numbers, even if they only saw part of it.
Then think about cameras. Ask nearby businesses, parking garages and apartment managers whether they have footage covering your spot. If you were parked on a residential street, check for doorbell cameras on the houses facing it. Ask right away, because many systems record over old footage after a set period. If you have a dash camera with a parking mode, save that file before it is overwritten.
How do you report a hit and run to Austin police?
The City of Austin's file a police report page lists online reporting for non-emergency crimes, meaning crimes no longer in progress with no immediate threat to anyone, and hit and run is one of the offenses it names. You can also report by phone through Austin 3-1-1 or at 512-974-2000. If anyone is hurt or the situation is unsafe, call 911.
Include the time window, the location, your photos, witness contacts and any camera footage. Write down the report or case number you get. Your insurer will ask for it.
Don't skip this step even if the damage looks small. The Texas Department of Insurance states in its auto insurance guide that your uninsured motorist coverage won't pay for a hit-and-run accident if you didn't report it to police.
What Texas law says the other driver had to do
Under Texas Transportation Code §550.024, a driver who collides with and damages an unattended vehicle must immediately stop and either locate the owner or operator and give them the name and address of the driver and the owner of the striking vehicle, or leave a written notice in a plainly visible spot on the damaged vehicle with that same information and a statement of the circumstances of the collision.
The same section makes failing to do so a Class C misdemeanor if the damage to all vehicles involved is less than $200, and a Class B misdemeanor if it is $200 or more. You don't prosecute it yourself, but a police report is how the case gets started if the driver is found.
If the driver did leave a note, you have what you need to contact them and file a claim against their insurance.
Will uninsured motorist coverage pay for it?
If you carry uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, it may. The Texas Department of Insurance explains on its uninsured motorist coverage page that this coverage pays if you're in a hit-and-run accident and the other driver can't be found, that it pays for car repairs, and that its deductible is $250. TDI also notes that insurers must offer this coverage, and you have to turn it down in writing if you don't want it.
So check your declarations page. If uninsured motorist property damage is listed, it may be your lowest-cost route. If you rejected it, collision coverage, if you carry it, is the other place to look, with your collision deductible. Your agent can tell you exactly what your policy covers.
Whichever coverage pays, you choose the body shop. Texas Insurance Code §1952.301 gives you the right to pick the repair shop, and §1952.302 bars insurers from requiring or suggesting a specific one. Our guide on choosing your body shop in Texas covers the details.
Should you file a claim or pay cash?
Get a repair estimate before you decide. Then compare it to the deductible that would apply. If the repair costs a little more than a $250 uninsured motorist deductible, a claim may make sense. If it barely exceeds a $1,000 collision deductible, paying yourself may be simpler. Our post on filing a claim or paying cash for minor damage walks through that choice.
Two cautions. Hidden damage behind a bumper cover can raise the price once the cover is off, so a quick look is not always the final number. And file the police report right away, whatever you decide, so the claim option stays open.
If you'd like a number before you call your insurer, text photos of the damage to 512-837-8174 or stop by the shop at 8415 N Lamar Blvd. Walk-in estimates are free and take 5 to 15 minutes, and we work with both insurance and cash customers. See our insurance claims page for how we work with adjusters.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do if someone hit my parked car and drove off?
After a hit and run on your parked car, photograph the damage and the scene before moving the car, look for a note, and ask nearby people and businesses about witnesses and camera footage. Then file a police report and keep the report number. The Texas Department of Insurance says uninsured motorist coverage won't pay for a hit-and-run you didn't report to police.
Do I need a police report for a hit and run in Austin?
Yes, if you want any chance of using uninsured motorist coverage, since the Texas Department of Insurance says that coverage won't pay for an unreported hit-and-run. The City of Austin accepts hit and run reports online through its file a police report page, or by phone through Austin 3-1-1 or 512-974-2000.
Does uninsured motorist coverage pay when my parked car is hit?
According to the Texas Department of Insurance, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage pays if you're in a hit-and-run accident and the other driver can't be found, and it carries a $250 deductible. You must have this coverage on your policy, and the accident must be reported to police. Check your declarations page or ask your agent.
What if the driver who hit my parked car left a note?
Texas Transportation Code §550.024 requires the driver to leave their name and address and the vehicle owner's name and address. Contact them to get their insurance information and file a claim with their insurer. If they won't cooperate, file a police report and a claim with your own insurer.
Is it worth filing a claim for a small dent from a hit and run?
Get a repair estimate first and compare it to the deductible that would apply, which is $250 for uninsured motorist coverage according to the Texas Department of Insurance, or your collision deductible otherwise. If the repair is close to the deductible, paying yourself may be simpler. File the police report either way so the option stays open.