I accidentally clipped someone's car and need to own up

[recyclingbag]

I think I accidentally clipped someone's car yesterday and I drove off.

I was in my husband's car and thought I'd clipped a shopping trolley barrier. Ingot out and had a look and there was no damage to my car.

However when I got home there's a small scratch on the boot on the other side which means I may have clipped the car on the other side. It didn't occurs to me at the time as I was sure it was the other side.

My husband's car has a boot and mine doesn't.

I don't know what to do. I need to own up don't I. Should I own up to the supermarket?

It is on private properrty and no-one was injured so definitely not a police matter.It was good of you to ring up, but most people would not have done

My brand new car has been hit like this twice in three weeks. Yesterday someone left me a note with their number plate and make, colour and model. It's annoying but at least you are trying to do the right thing.

Ilovesooty it is only a criminal offence if someone is injured.

this op has made a genuine mistake, done all she can to rectify it. Don't make out that she's a fugitive from the law

It's an offence whether someone is injured or not. In my early days of driving I did it inadvertently and received a visit from the police who thankfully didn't take it any further.

Ilovesooty was that on private property?

It was in a car park.
You can't assume supermarket car parks are private property

www.thamesvalley.police.uk/faq-answer?id=Q660

According to that link as OP has now reported to/left details with the shop presumably she doesn't need to report to the police
"You must stop and provide your details and in some cases produce your insurance certificate. If you don't you must report the matter to the police "

You only need to report the accident to the police if someone was injured.

If you have caused damage you are legally obliged to give your details. If you genuinely believed at the time that no damage was caused, the law does not expect you to leave details. And the op can prove here that she a. Didn't know she'd caused damage and b. Took reasonable steps to give her details.

She doesn't need to inform the police.

Op forget it now

And when I say " leave your details" I mean with the other party. Not the police.

I agree that if no one was injured she doesn't need to report it to the police if she has left her details. I'm unsure whether reporting to the supermarket is sufficient. I'm also unsure whether she could prove she was unaware.
What I don't agree with is the blasé attitude of Ellreejeee that you can go about bumping cars and everyone should just accept it but obviously the OP doesn't share that view.

Seriously? People are suggesting wasting the Police's time with a 'I may have clipped someone's car in a car park, but I can't be sure'?!!! OP, you have done all you can do and more than most will have done in this situation. As pp has said, it may have been that it was some one else who clipped your boot, not the other way round and you are certainly not running to the police to report and trace the driver. It's likely that nothing will come of it and I suggest you relax and enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Come on ilovesooty the op was not blasé about it at all. She checked at the time, reported it when she realised, was up in the night worrying, and posted here for advice.

I know it's annoying when your car gets clipped but you're making out the op is a criminal who goes about regularly dinging cars and not giving a shit. She's not.

BitOutOfPractice if you read back I said Ellreejeee was blasé and made a point of saying that the OP evidently wasn't of that view.

Well done OP for calling supermarket. Seems odd you didn't check all sides of the car though. But you've done your best in retrospect

ts a bump no one with a sane mind cares about them. If they did id be bankrupt by now! what an ignorant and shockingly selfish attitude. Someone hit my car while I was in the shops. Luckily I caught them as the were trying to drive off! The whole door of my car and the wing had to be replaced. Luckily I got this through the man's insurance.

And Ellreejeee if you're forever bumping people's cars when you are parking or driving, then you clearly don't know the size of your car and shouldn't be driving or you should get some additional lessons until you can park without bumping people's cars. Just because you don't care about YOUR car, doesn't mean you can go around bashing other people's cars because you are an incompetent driver.

Oh I apologise, I thought you meant that the OP doesn't share your view (that you can't be blase about bumping cars) - it was a bit ambiguous!

^^ that was to ilovesooty btw

I see what you mean looking back. When you know what you meant you don't always see how it might be read differently.
Yes, I meant that the OP is obviously really worried and asking about what she should do to address the situation. I've no time whatever for the likes of Ellreejeee and her attitude.

I agree with all that - sorry I misunderstood you

Disappointed - because as I swung out of the space, I think I clipped something with the boot as I'm not used to having to take the extra into account

Please please please go to an empty car park later on today and practice reversing into spaces. It's not fair that your lack of practice means someone else's property is at risk of damage.

I can't bear sloppy parkers or those who don't know how big their cars are. There's no excuse and it makes you a liability.

I totally agree dissapointed