Car hit in my driveway: who pays?

The driver who caused it, through their property damage liability insurance. California's Department of Insurance says that coverage pays for damage you cause to someone else's car. If the driver can't be identified, your own collision or, in some states, uninsured motorist coverage is the fallback.

Does homeowners insurance cover my car if it's hit in my driveway?

The car itself is a matter for auto insurance, either the at-fault driver's or your own. Your home policy is the one to call about damage to the house, garage, or fence, and if another driver caused it, their liability insurance should pay for that property as well.

Someone hit my car in my driveway and drove off. What now?

Report it to police, collect any camera footage, and file under your collision coverage, or uninsured motorist coverage if your state's version covers hit-and-runs. Washington requires a phantom vehicle accident to be reported to police within 72 hours for an insurance claim. California's uninsured motorist property damage coverage only pays if the driver is identified.

Will my insurance go up if someone hits my car in my driveway?

A claim paid by the other driver's insurer is not a claim on your policy. If you file on your own policy, it depends on your insurer and state. In California, the Department of Insurance says your company does not charge you more for an accident that isn't your fault.

Do I need a police report for a driveway accident?

It helps, and sometimes it's required. California's Department of Insurance says that if anyone is injured or vehicle damage exceeds $750, the accident must be reported to the DMV within 10 days. For a hit-and-run, a police report is the record your insurer will ask for.

Someone Hit My Car in My Driveway: Who Pays?

Updated 2026-10-11 · This article is for general educational information only and is not insurance advice.

If someone else hit your car in your driveway, their auto liability insurance pays for the damage, the same as if your car had been parked on the street. A driveway is private property, but that doesn't change whose insurance is responsible: the driver who caused the damage owes for it. If that driver left without a trace, your own collision or uninsured motorist coverage is the backup. The situation that really changes the answer is when the person who hit your car lives with you, because then the claim usually runs through your own policy.

If a visitor or another driver hit it

This is the simplest version. The Texas Department of Insurance explains that liability insurance pays to repair or replace the other driver's car, or other damaged property, when the policyholder is at fault. California's Department of Insurance puts it plainly: property damage liability pays for damage you cause to someone else's car, or to objects and structures that your car hits. So a delivery driver who backs into your car, a guest who misjudges the turn, or a neighbor who clips it on the way past is responsible through their own policy.

Get the driver's name, phone number, insurance company, and policy number. Texas's regulator suggests photographing the other driver's insurance card and driver's license.
Photograph the damage, both cars, and where everything sits in the driveway.
File a claim with the other driver's insurer and let your own company know what happened.
If the other insurer won't pay, Texas's regulator says to ask for the reason in detail and in writing; your next option is a claim on your own policy.

A claim against the other driver's insurance carries no deductible for you. Texas's guide says the other driver's insurance should pay for your car repairs, medical bills, and a rental car, though there is no guarantee it will.

If the driver left without stopping

A driver who hits a parked car is expected to stop and identify themselves. California's insurance department says that if the owner of a damaged car or property can't be located, the driver should leave a note with the names and addresses of the driver and owners of the involved cars. When no one does, treat it as a hit-and-run: check doorbell and security cameras, ask neighbors, and report it to the police so there is a record.

Without the other driver, your own policy is the route. Collision coverage pays to repair your car minus your deductible. Uninsured motorist coverage may help, depending on your state: Washington's insurance regulator says it may help pay for damage and injury from a hit-and-run accident or a phantom vehicle, and requires that a phantom vehicle accident be reported to police within 72 hours if you are making a claim. California's uninsured motorist property damage coverage, by contrast, only pays if the uninsured driver is identified. If you carry liability only, an unidentified driver may leave you paying for the repair yourself.

If someone in your household hit it

The common driveway accident is a family one: backing out of the garage into a spouse's car, or a teenager clipping a parent's car on the way out. Liability coverage is built to pay for damage you cause to other people's property, so damage to a car owned by you or by someone in your household is usually handled under collision coverage instead, with a deductible. How your insurer treats two cars on the same policy depends on the policy wording, so ask before you assume either way.

If you hit a car parked in your driveway or blocking it

When you're the one who backs into a guest's car, the roles flip: your property damage liability pays for their car, and your collision coverage pays for yours. If the owner isn't around, leave a note with your contact details as California's regulator describes. A car blocking your driveway may be illegally parked, but don't count on that excusing a collision you cause. Calling parking enforcement or a tow company is cheaper than an at-fault claim.

What about your homeowners insurance?

A claim for the car itself belongs to auto insurance, even though it happened at home. If the driver also damaged your garage door, fence, or house, Texas's regulator notes that the at-fault driver's liability insurance pays for other damaged property too, so include that damage in the same claim. If you hit your own house with your own car, your liability coverage won't pay for property you own; call your home insurer and ask how your policy treats that damage.

Should you file a claim at all?

Another identified driver hit you: file against their insurance. There is no deductible for you, and it isn't a claim on your policy.
Hit-and-run: compare the repair estimate with your collision deductible before filing on your own policy.
Household member: weigh the repair cost against the deductible and how an at-fault claim could affect your rates. Texas's guide says insurers charge more if you've had accidents.
In California, the Department of Insurance says your insurer does not charge you more for an accident that isn't your fault; a surcharge applies when you are at least 51% at fault.

The bottom line: a driveway doesn't move the bill. Another driver's damage is their insurer's problem, a hit-and-run falls to your collision or uninsured motorist coverage, and damage within the household usually runs through your own collision coverage. Get the other driver's details while they're standing there, and photograph everything before anyone moves a car.