Crash Guide

Hit and run: what to do

Crash Guide Editorial TeamPublished 10 September 2026Last reviewed 10 September 2026General information only. Crash Guide is not a law firm, an insurer or a medical service.

Short answer

What do I do after a hit and run?

Record everything you can about the vehicle immediately — registration, make, colour, damage and direction of travel — then report it to police and get an event number. Look for witnesses and nearby cameras straight away, because footage is usually overwritten within days. Tell your insurer promptly; cover for an unidentified driver depends on your policy.

The first ten minutes decide this

  1. Write down or dictate the registration number before you doubt yourself. A partial plate is still useful.
  2. Note the make, model, colour and any distinctive damage or markings.
  3. Note the exact time, street and the direction they left in.
  4. Photograph your own damage and the scene.
  5. Ask anyone nearby whether they saw it, and get a mobile number.
  6. Look up: service stations, shops, bus stops, homes with doorbell cameras.

Do not chase the other vehicle. Pursuit is dangerous, and it will not help your claim.

Report it to police

Report a hit and run to police and obtain the event or report number. Insurers commonly require it, and it is what allows police to act if the vehicle is identified.

Reporting requirements and thresholds vary between states and territories — check your state hub for the correct process.

Chase footage today, not next week

Most CCTV and dashcam systems overwrite within days. Ask nearby businesses immediately and politely, tell them the exact time window, and ask them to preserve rather than hand over — police can request it formally.

Insurance where the driver is unidentified

  • Comprehensive: usually covers you, though an excess may apply and may not be refundable if the other driver is never identified.
  • Third party property: an uninsured motorist provision generally requires the other driver to be identified, so it often will not assist in a hit and run.
  • Personal injury: CTP schemes have arrangements for injuries caused by an unidentified vehicle, and these differ by state.

Common questions

Will police find the driver?

Sometimes, particularly with a full registration number or clear footage. Report it regardless — without a report there is no possibility at all, and your insurer will usually want the reference.

Does my no-claim discount suffer?

It can, where the other driver is never identified, because there is no one for your insurer to recover from. Ask your insurer how they treat an unidentified-driver claim.

Sources

Crash Guide checks state rules against primary government and regulator sources. If something below has changed, tell us and we will correct it.

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