Hit And Run Car Insurance Coverage

Does car insurance cover hit-and-run damage? Let's examine the steps to take in the wake of an accident.
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Ava Lynch

Insurance Analyst

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Ava joined The Zebra as a writer and licensed insurance agent in 2016. She now works as a senior insurance contributor, providing insights and data a…

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Beth Swanson

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Beth joined The Zebra in 2022 as an Associate Content Strategist. She is a licensed insurance agent whose goal is to make insurance content easy to r…

Hit and run car insurance

 

If you’ve been the victim of a hit-and-run car accident, you're familiar with the anger and confusion that follows. Unfortunately, these incidents are fairly common, so it’s important to understand the auto insurance implications of a hit-and-run. Let’s take a look at the steps to take to ensure your insurance covers you in the wake of a hit and run as well as how a hit and run affects the perpetrator's car insurance quotes if they're caught.

wrecked car
Key Takeaways
  • A hit-and-run accident should be covered as long as you carry collision and uninsured motorist coverage on your auto policy
  • If your vehicle is financed or leased, you probably already have this coverage in place
  • If you're the victim of a hit-and-run accident, try to get the license plate number and call the police immediately after the incident
  • If you've been charged with an at-fault accident or hit-and-run, expect your insurance rates to rise significantly 

Does car insurance cover hit-and-run incidents?

 

Car insurance does cover hit-and-run accidents, as long as you carry collision or uninsured property damage coverage. While these coverage options are not legally required, they’re fairly common. If your vehicle is leased or financed, you probably have this coverage by default.

While many insurance agents say collision and uninsured property damage coverages are identical, that's not always true.

policy comparison
Collision versus uninsured property damage coverage

Collision coverage and uninsured property damage (UMPD) are designed to cover damage to your vehicle. Each comes with a deductible. However, the difference lies in the fault. In the case of an accident, collision coverage denotes fault to an insurance company. This is why you’ll often see a premium increase after filing a collision claim.

By definition, UMPD covers you against the actions of an uninsured driver. Thus, you shouldn’t receive a substantial — more than a few percentage points — rate increase after filing a UMPD claim.

While your insurance agent might say collision and UMPD are basically the same, you should ask about the potential rate hike you would face after a UMPD claim vs. a collision claim to fully understand the difference.

Car Insurance Rates After a Collision Claim
Increase at 6 months Increase at 12 months Increase at 3 Years
+$309 +$617 +$1,851

What to do after a hit and run

Being victimized in a hit and run can be a nightmare,  but your car insurance after should be a steady and reliable source of protection. While there is a lot to consider, the big things to keep in mind after a hit and run include:

  • If the other driver flees the scene, call the police. A license plate number or vehicle description will be important.
  • Take photos of the accident and resulting damages.
  • Call your insurance company and provide pictures of the damages and the police report.

For more information, check out our step-by-step guide to what to do after a hit and run as well as our guide to filing an insurance claim.


Use our handy claims calculator to find out whether you should file a claim.


Cheapest hit and run car insurance coverage

If you’ve been charged with committing a hit-and-run violation, expect your car insurance premium to rise drastically. On average, your premium will increase by over 82% — making it the most expensive violation you can receive. Considering most insurance companies will charge you for three to five years after a serious violation, you could end up paying a penalty of an extra $1,200 per year in additional premiums alone.

Below are estimated car insurance rates for a driver with a hit and run on his or her record.

 

piggy bank
Company Avg. Annual Premium Avg. Monthly Premium
USAA $2,567 $214
State Farm $2,621 $218
Farmers $2,823 $235
Progressive $2,857 $238
Nationwide $3,064 $255
GEICO $3,192 $266
Allstate $3,520 $293

The Zebra’s Dynamic Insurance Rating Tool data methodology

The Zebra’s Dynamic Insurance Rating Tool for home and auto insurance rates utilizes the latest ZIP code-level rate filings from across the U.S., sourced from Quadrant Information Services and S&P Global. These filings, typically updated annually or biennially by insurers, are verified through Quadrant’s QA process and then integrated into The Zebra’s estimator.

The displayed rates are based on a dynamic home and auto profile designed to reflect the content of the page. This profile is tailored to match specific factors such as age, location, and coverage level, which are adjusted based on the page content to show how these variables can impact premiums.

For a comprehensive understanding, see our detailed methodology.

Getting car insurance after committing a hit and run will be very expensive — even pricier than being charged with an at-fault accident. Below are insurance rates from the same auto insurance companies after different at-fault accident scenarios and violations.

tow truck
Accident/Violation Avg. Annual Premium
Speeding 16 - 20 MPH over limit $2,190
At-fault accident - greater than $2000 $2,605
Reckless driving $3,187
Racing $3,291
DUI $3,441
Leaving scene of an accident/hit and run $3,476

Summary: car insurance with a hit and run

 

Car insurance after a hit and run can be a difficult process. Talk to your auto insurance provider and understand your coverage options. If you have uninsured motorist property damage coverage, use it. While this will come with a deductible, the rate increase will cost less than a collision claim. If your insurance company does increase your rate significantly after a hit-and-run claim, you should consider shopping around for car insurance. You shouldn’t be paying for a claim you did not cause.

If you have a hit-and-run conviction on your car insurance record, this will be one of the most expensive tickets you can receive. On average, your insurance premium will increase by about 82%. Your best option for finding cheap insurance going forward will be to shop around. Enter your zip code below to see insurance rates designed for your record.

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Compare rates from leading insurance companies.

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About The Zebra

The Zebra is not an insurance company. We publish data-backed, expert-reviewed resources to help consumers make more informed insurance decisions.

  • The Zebra’s insurance content is written and reviewed for accuracy by licensed insurance agents.
  • The Zebra’s insurance editorial content is not subject to review or alteration by insurance companies or partners.
  • The Zebra’s editorial team operates independently of the company’s partnerships and commercialization interests, publishing unbiased information for consumer benefit.
  • The auto insurance rates published on The Zebra’s pages are based on a comprehensive analysis of car insurance pricing data, evaluating more than 83 million insurance rates from across the United States.