Does Car Insurance Cover Hit-and-Runs?

Last Updated on May 15, 2026

A hit-and-run can leave you with vehicle damage, medical bills, missed work, and very little information about the driver who caused the crash. In New York, your own policy may still help, but the coverage that applies depends on what was damaged, whether anyone was hurt, and which optional coverages you purchased.

As of 2026, New York requires drivers to carry liability insurance, no-fault personal injury protection, and bodily injury uninsured motorist coverage. The key point is that these coverages do different jobs. Liability insurance protects other people when you cause a crash, while collision, no-fault, and uninsured motorist coverage may help you after a hit-and-run.

Does Liability Insurance Cover a Hit-and-Run?

No. Your own liability insurance does not pay to repair your car or treat your injuries after someone else hits you and leaves. Liability coverage pays other people when you are legally responsible for their injuries or damage.

New York’s required liability limits are part of the state’s broader New York coverage requirements. The minimum required liability coverage includes property damage liability and bodily injury liability, but those benefits are designed for claims made against you, not claims for damage to your own vehicle.

That is why a minimum policy can leave important gaps after a hit-and-run, especially if your parked car is damaged and the other driver is never identified.

Which Insurance Coverages Can Help After a Hit-and-Run?

The right coverage depends on whether you are dealing with car repairs, injuries, lost income, or all three. The table below summarizes how the most common New York auto insurance coverages usually apply.

Coverage	What It May Pay For	How It Usually Applies to a Hit-and-Run
Collision	Damage to your own vehicle	Often the main coverage for repairing your car after another vehicle hits it and leaves, subject to your deductible.
No-Fault / PIP	Medical expenses and qualifying economic losses	May apply to injuries regardless of who caused the crash, but it does not repair your vehicle.
Uninsured Motorist	Bodily injury	May apply when you, passengers, or covered household members are injured by an uninsured or hit-and-run driver.
Supplementary UM/UIM	Additional bodily injury protection	Optional coverage that may provide higher injury limits, depending on your policy and the facts of the crash.
Comprehensive	Non-collision losses such as theft, vandalism, fire, or weather	Usually not the main coverage for impact damage caused by another vehicle, though claim handling can vary by insurer and policy wording.

Collision Coverage

Collision coverage is usually the most important coverage for hit-and-run vehicle damage. It can pay to repair or replace your car after a crash with another vehicle or object, even when the other driver is unknown.

Collision is optional unless your lender or leasing company requires it. If you do not carry it, your insurer may have no way to pay for body damage from an unidentified driver, even if the crash was clearly not your fault.

Personal Injury Protection and No-Fault Benefits

New York is a no-fault state, which means personal injury protection may pay eligible medical expenses and certain economic losses after a covered auto accident regardless of fault. Basic PIP is required in New York and generally provides up to $50,000 in no-fault benefits.

PIP can help with medical bills and, when eligible, lost wages. It does not pay to repair your car. New York no-fault rules also have strict notice and documentation deadlines, so report injuries to the appropriate insurer quickly and follow the claim instructions carefully.

For more detail on how first-party injury benefits work, review New York’s no-fault insurance rules and the New York Department of Financial Services’ consumer guidance on no-fault claims.

Uninsured Motorist Coverage

Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage can be especially important after a hit-and-run that causes injuries. New York requires bodily injury uninsured motorist coverage, and the Department of Financial Services explains that this coverage can apply when you or covered passengers are injured by a hit-and-run motorist.

However, New York’s mandatory uninsured motorist coverage is for bodily injury. It does not pay for auto body damage to your car. For vehicle repairs, collision coverage is usually the coverage to review first.

Will You Have to Pay a Deductible?

It depends on which coverage pays the claim. A hit-and-run vehicle damage claim paid under collision coverage usually requires you to pay your selected deductible. For example, if your repair bill is $3,000 and your collision deductible is $500, the insurer would generally pay the covered amount above the deductible.

PIP and uninsured motorist injury claims work differently from collision claims. They may not involve the same type of repair deductible, but policies can include endorsements, offsets, exclusions, and documentation requirements. Review your declarations page and ask your insurer how your policy applies before assuming a claim will be paid in full.

Will a Hit-and-Run Claim Raise Your Rates?

A hit-and-run claim is different from an at-fault accident, but it can still affect your insurance record, renewal review, or claim-free discounts. Whether your premium changes depends on your insurer, your claim history, your coverage, the amount paid, and state rating rules.

Before filing a small vehicle damage claim, compare the repair estimate with your deductible and ask your insurer how a not-at-fault hit-and-run may be treated. Paying a minor repair out of pocket can sometimes make sense, but do not delay reporting an injury, a required police report, or a claim that your policy requires you to report promptly. For more context, see how a rate increase after an accident can vary by situation.

What Should You Do After a Hit-and-Run in New York?

After a hit-and-run, your first priority is safety. Do not chase the fleeing driver. Move to a safe location if possible, check for injuries, and call 911 if anyone is hurt or the crash creates a hazard.

Step	What to Do	Why It Matters
1	Call police and request a report.	A police report can document that the other driver left the scene and may be required by your insurer.
2	Write down what you remember.	Note the plate number if available, vehicle description, direction of travel, time, location, and any witness information.
3	Photograph and preserve evidence.	Take wide and close-up photos, save dashcam footage, and ask nearby businesses about security video.
4	Notify your insurer promptly.	Your policy may have notice requirements, especially for collision, PIP, and uninsured motorist claims.
5	File required DMV paperwork.	In New York, a DMV crash report is required when someone is injured or killed, or when property damage to one person exceeds $1,000.

The New York DMV says drivers must file a motorist crash report when a crash in New York causes injury, death, or more than $1,000 in damage to one person’s property. You can learn more about when and how to report a car accident in New York, and you can review the DMV’s official motorist crash report instructions.

Good documentation can make a major difference in claim handling. Keep copies of the police report, DMV filing confirmation, repair estimates, medical records, receipts, photos, and communications with your insurer. Use a consistent process to document damage for a claim so the adjuster can evaluate the loss more efficiently.

How the Claims Process Usually Works

Once you report the hit-and-run to your insurer, the company may ask for the police report number, photos, repair estimates, medical documentation, and a recorded statement. For vehicle damage, the insurer may inspect the car or direct you to submit photos through an app. For injury claims, the insurer may send no-fault forms and request medical bills or wage documentation.

The payment timeline depends on the coverage involved, how quickly documentation is submitted, whether liability or coverage is disputed, and whether your vehicle is repairable or a total loss. Learn more about the typical claim payment timeline so you know what to expect after the adjuster opens the file.

How to Reduce Your Risk Before a Hit-and-Run Happens

You cannot control whether another driver leaves the scene, but you can reduce your financial exposure before a loss occurs. Review your policy at renewal and make sure your coverage matches how you actually use your car, where you park, and whether you could afford a major repair without insurance.

For many New York drivers, the most important upgrades to consider are collision coverage, higher uninsured motorist or SUM limits for injuries, additional PIP options, rental reimbursement, and roadside assistance. These optional coverage choices can increase premium, but they may provide meaningful protection after a serious hit-and-run.

Coverage rules vary by policy, insurer, and state. Before changing your policy, compare quotes, review the declarations page, and ask your agent or carrier how your policy handles hit-and-run vehicle damage, injuries, deductibles, reporting deadlines, and rental car costs.

FAQs on Hit-and-Run Car Insurance Coverage in New York