What to Do If You Scratched a Car and Left?
2 Answers
Solutions for when you can't find the person responsible after your car gets scratched: 1. Check the dashcam. High-quality dashcams can clearly record all-around real-time situations. By reviewing the footage and screenshots, you can identify the target and find the responsible party. 2. Report to the police promptly. After filing a case, the police will investigate using various technical means. 3. Contact your insurance company. Note: If the scratch is minor, try to avoid making a claim because payouts are calculated based on the number of claims, which could lead to increased premiums later. If your car gets scratched, stay at the scene; leaving may result in only receiving 70% of the payout. For serious damage, you can claim under the vehicle damage insurance. Before contacting the insurance company, assess whether it's cost-effective.
I remember my neighbor Lao Wang had this happen last month—he scraped someone's car and drove off without leaving a note. Later, surveillance caught his license plate, and he not only got fined and penalized with points but also had to pay double the repair costs. If you've just driven away not too far, quickly turn back to check if the owner is around. If the car is still there, leave a note with your contact info under the windshield wiper—this counts as proactive remediation if the owner reaches out. If the car has been gone for over a day, it's best to directly report to the traffic police and take responsibility for the repairs. A friend of mine handled it this way—though fined 500 yuan, he avoided license suspension. Never wait for the other party to report it; if hit-and-run is investigated, the trouble will be much worse.
