Hit a parked car, or came back to a dent? What to do next

If you hit a parked car

Even a tap that leaves a scuff counts. The rule almost everywhere in North America is the same: stop, and make sure the owner can find you.

1. 1Stop and check the damage. Pull over safely and look at both cars. Take photos of the damage, the position of the cars and the license plate.
2. 2Try to find the owner. Ask in the nearest store or building. If the car has an Autter QR code, scan it, choose "I noticed damage to your vehicle" and explain what happened. Share your number so they can call you back.
3. 3Leave a written note anyway. Put it somewhere it won't blow away, like under a wiper. Include your name, how to reach you and a short description of what happened. Where the law asks for an address, include it.
4. 4Report it if required. California says the driver must notify the local police or CHP "without unnecessary delay". In Ontario, you must report a collision to police when total damage looks to be over $2,000. Check your state or province.
5. 5Tell your insurer. Your policy probably requires you to report it, even if you plan to pay out of pocket.

If someone hit your parked car and left

Coming back to a fresh dent with no note is one of the most common searches drivers make after a bad day. Here's the order that gives you the best chance of getting it paid for.

1. 1Don't move the car yet if you can avoid it. Photograph the damage up close and from a distance, with the surroundings and any paint transfer.
2. 2Look for witnesses and cameras. Ask nearby shops, parking attendants and neighbors. Footage gets overwritten fast, often within days.
3. 3File a police report. Even if police can't find the driver, the report number is what most insurers ask for.
4. 4Call your insurer. Depending on your coverage, a hit-and-run on a parked car may fall under collision or uninsured motorist coverage. Ask which one applies and what the deductible is.
5. 5Get a repair estimate. It helps you decide whether to claim at all.

If you saw someone hit a parked car

Witnesses are often the only reason a hit-and-run on a parked car gets solved. If you see it happen:

• Note the other vehicle: plate, make, model, color and direction it left in. Take a photo if it's safe.
• Tell the owner. If the damaged car has an Autter QR code, scan it, choose "I noticed damage to your vehicle", describe what you saw and share your number if you're willing to be a witness. Otherwise, leave a note with what you saw.
• Report it to police if the driver left without leaving their details.

Why so many drivers leave without a note

Some people just don't care. But plenty of drivers who hit a parked car hesitate for practical reasons: no pen, no paper, rain, a line of cars honking behind them, or worry about writing their phone number for a stranger. Online forums are full of drivers asking whether they should leave a note at all.

Every bit of friction you remove makes an honest response more likely. A QR code in your windshield removes most of it: the other driver can tell you in 20 seconds, from their phone, without searching for paper. They can stay anonymous at first and share their number when they're ready.

Paper note vs. QR message

Make your car easy to report

You can't stop people from dinging your car in a tight lot. You can make it easier for them to own up. Put a free Autter QR code on your windshield. The alert reaches you while the other driver may still be nearby, which is when a calm conversation is still possible.

Your QR code doesn't contain your name, number or plate, so it doesn't expose anything about you. If someone abuses it, block them or replace the code in one tap.

Parked-car damage questions