You come back to your parked car and there’s a dent in the door. Or someone clips you on the road and keeps driving. Hit and runs are frustrating because you’re dealing with damage you didn’t cause, inflicted by someone who didn’t stick around to take responsibility.

Here’s what to do, step by step.

At the scene

If you witnessed the driver leave

Act fast:

  1. Try to note the plate number, vehicle make, model, and colour. Even a partial plate helps. Say it out loud and record a voice memo on your phone immediately: you’ll forget details faster than you think.
  2. Don’t chase the other vehicle. It’s not worth the risk, and in some situations you could face charges for dangerous driving yourself.
  3. Look for witnesses. Anyone nearby who saw the other vehicle? Get their name and phone number.
  4. Check for cameras. Nearby businesses, ATMs, parking garage cameras, and doorbell cameras may have captured the incident.

If you found the damage after the fact

  1. Document everything before moving the vehicle. Photograph the damage from multiple angles, including wide shots showing the vehicle’s position.
  2. Look for paint transfer. If the other vehicle’s paint is on yours, that colour and location can help identify the other vehicle later. Take close-up photos.
  3. Check surrounding vehicles. Sometimes the hit-and-run driver struck other vehicles too: other victims might have better information.
  4. Look for notes. Occasionally a witness leaves a note with the other driver’s plate number or a description.

Filing a police report

In Alberta, you’re required to report a collision to police if anyone is hurt or the combined damage is $5,000 or more. Even below that, a police file number usually helps a hit and run claim. Our guide on where to report a collision in Sherwood Park and Edmonton lists the locations. For a hit and run:

  • Call the non-emergency police line (for Sherwood Park/Strathcona County, the RCMP non-emergency line) or visit a police station to file the report
  • Provide everything you have: photos, witness info, partial plate, vehicle description, time and location
  • Get the file number. You’ll need it for your insurance claim.

If the other driver is later identified, through camera footage, a witness tip, or matching damage on their vehicle, the police can pursue charges. Alberta treats leaving the scene of a collision as a criminal offence.

How insurance covers a hit and run

If you have collision coverage

Your collision coverage pays for the repair, minus your deductible. This is the most straightforward path:

  1. File a claim with your insurer
  2. Provide the police report file number
  3. Your insurer authorizes the repair
  4. You pay your deductible
  5. If the other driver is found, your insurer pursues them (subrogation) and recovers your deductible

A hit-and-run claim against your collision coverage should not increase your premiums since you weren’t at fault, similar to any not-at-fault collision claim. However, the claim does appear on your history.

If you only have comprehensive (no collision)

Comprehensive coverage typically does not cover hit and runs while your vehicle is in motion. It may cover damage to a parked, unoccupied vehicle, check your specific policy. Some Alberta insurers classify a parked hit and run under comprehensive; others don’t.

If you have no collision or comprehensive coverage

You’re responsible for the repair cost out of pocket, unless the other driver is identified and held liable.

Choosing a repair shop

As with any collision, you choose the shop in Alberta. Your insurer may suggest a preferred facility, but the decision is yours.

For hit-and-run damage, bring the vehicle to a shop that will do a proper teardown and inspection. What looks like a door dent might involve:

  • Damaged door internals (window regulator, lock mechanism, wiring)
  • Paint damage beyond the impact point
  • Structural damage to the pillar or rocker panel if the hit was hard enough
  • Sensor or mirror damage if the side was struck

A body shop can write a proper estimate and direct-bill your insurer, so you don’t have to manage the payment yourself.

Parking lot hit and runs

Parking lots are where most hit and runs happen. A few things that help:

  • Park farther out where there’s less traffic and more space
  • Park near cameras if possible: many lots have security cameras, especially near entrances
  • Use a dashcam with parking mode. A dashcam that records when it detects motion or impact while parked can capture the other vehicle, their plate, and the time of impact
  • Check the lot’s management. Shopping centres and commercial lots often have camera footage they’ll provide if you have a police file number

When the other driver is found

If police or camera footage identifies the other driver:

  • They face potential criminal charges for leaving the scene
  • Your insurer (or you directly) can pursue them for the repair cost
  • If you paid a deductible, subrogation recovers it
  • You may be able to claim diminished value from their liability insurance

The bottom line

A hit and run is frustrating, but the process is manageable: document the scene, file a police report, file your insurance claim, and get the vehicle into a shop you trust. Collision coverage handles the repair cost, and if the other driver is found, your deductible comes back.

Confirm all coverage details and claim procedures with your insurer. This guide is educational and may not reflect your specific policy.