Hit & ran - car insurance claim

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Hello Mums,

My car was hit while I was parking on the street. I was visiting my friend at that time and the street was free to park at that time. I am not breaking any law.

When I go back to the car, there was a note left on my car window. The note said that the person saw someone hit my car around 2:00PM. She kindly noted the registration number and her telephone number. I contacted her and she explained what happened precisely. I had a dent and scratches on my right side of car body. The driver was a young lady in a silver small car. I checked the registration number and found out that the car is insured on data base.
I would like the person to cover the repair using her insurance. What is the best way to do this while I do not lose my no claim bonus as well as my car insurance premium staying the same for next year? She might not admit it given that she hit and ran. And who should approach her? Someone said that if I report this incident to my insurance company, I will lose my no claim bonus and my premium will go up for a while also I need to pay the excess while I do not have any fault with this.
I have been having very bad year this year with number of very bad things and this incident to end my very unlucky 2020.... Your advice is much appreciated.

You can't deal with this without involving the insurance companies but your claim against her can include getting her insurance to cover your excess eventually (you will need to pay the excess initially but you will then get it back)

The witness needs to confirm the details of what she saw to the police and to your insurance company.

The insurance company will sort it out. You have to pay for insurance anyway so you might as well use the service they provide when something happens.

If you don't declare it, you risk your insurance company declaring your policy to be void next time something happens on the grounds that you failed to disclose full information. It is a bad idea. The increase in premiums won't be much.

You need to go through your insurance

Insurance company has to deal with this- you have to hope that she admits it.

Unfortunately although you should theoretically keep your NCB there is no way to ensure your premiums will not increase. This is what happened when something similar happened to me although the guy admitted it straight away. In the end I persuaded him to pay us cash instead of involving insurance. This is always worthwhile if damage under about £500 and both parties willing IMO.

Thank you very much for your kind and quick response. This is very helpful. I should be able to find out the car owner's name and address through DVLA. Do you think it is worth writing a letter to her and give her a chance to settle by cash? I am not sure how much my repair will cost yet but I can find out.
Also, if she does not admit it, is she free to go? Although I have a witness and her car registration number is identified, I guess she can deny coming up with any excuses to avoid her obligation... Is it not good for a dishonest person does not take any responsibility and free to go.

Probably not in this case because she might not reply and it is in your interests to tell the insurance company as soon as possible. If she was the owning up type she would have left a note on your car. When it's happened to me it was right in front of my eyes and the person admitted it straight away so much more straightforward.

I don't think she's necessarily free to go no. Is there any tell tail paint on your car? If so you need a picture of that to send to insurers asap. The witness is key here so I hope she is helpful (sounds like she is) when insurance/police call.

Am fairly sure that hitting a car and driving off is against the law so police might need to get involved. Insurance should pay your damage regardless but I THINK it's difficult to hold on to your NCB unless the other party admits fault. She probably is not aware there is a witness so when she insurance company calls her and says that there is a witness I think chances she will admit is are probably reasonable to high.

You won’t be able to get her name and address off DVLA. your insurance company and the police can get that info but they shouldn’t give it out to a random private person.

The DVLA won’t give you her details so if you want to pursue her it has to be via your Insurance co

That information won't be available on the DVLA - you need to give the info to the insurers and leave it with them. Also contact the police and show them the note and contact info for the witness as they will want to investigate not stopping

BUT it will be their word against the witness - very hard/impossible to prove without film footage or reciprocal damage on her car. Also bear in mind the "witness" Could quite easily have also been the person who hit your car.....most people don't have time to process what they are seeing - ie one car scrape another and then remember the number plate as it merrily continues driving on its way....

Just contact your insurance company. Fannying and trying to get cash out of someone who didn't leave their details will fail.

I reported the incident to police and my insurance company. I feel sad people being dishonest and try to run away from responsibility. I was worried my premium will go up even though this is not my fault but I need to be honest and do the right thing. My lesson from this incident is;
I should consider installing a dash cam.
I should consider adding no claim bonus protection.

Frazzled 2207 - My witness is very helpful and is happy to help me. Thank you very much for all your advice!!

SoddingWeddings - I understand. Very true. It is not my intent not to report to an insurance company and try to get a cash from the person who did this.

I hope things will get sorted soon... Thank you very much for kindly helping me here!

The driver has committed an offence as they have failed to stop and provide details, or alternatively report it to police within 24 hours.

You don't have to involve the insurance company if you don't want to. Once you establish the driver or at least the car, you can claim direct from them but their insurer will be liable. You can make a claim in the small, claims court if you wish but you will find almost certainly that for a damage only their insurer will settle it

One persons word against another. Um not strictly correct. If it was your word against another then that's true. But this witness was independent and no axe to grind so her word would have a higher standing at court, although not necessarily definitive.

See what happens from the police investigation as she could be fined for her failure

Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge. My insurance company was able to reach out to the driver. She admitted it. Her insurance will cover the repair. The process was fairly quick and I was very impressed with the service. I was informed I will not lose my NCB nor pay the excess. Not sure if my premium will still go up for next year though... I cannot appreciate more for the witness who kindly stopped and left a note for me. The person has been very helpful and sympathetic with me. Without the note, it must have been very difficult. The young driver must have learned the lesson that you should not run away from what you have done. I feel much better now. Thank you very much for your help and advice!

Your premium will go up next year -firstly because most people's does - and also because they work on stats. If you've been hit before you are more statistically likely to be hit again.