I Got a License Plate Number from Hit and Run – Now What?
Last Updated on October 19, 2026
Hit and runs are frustrating and stressful. If you’re lucky, however, you might catch the other driver’s license plate before they disappear.
So you’ve been in a hit and run accident—but you have a license plate number. What should you do next? Below, we explain the steps you should take after a hit and run if you have any information about the other driver.
- Always record as much information as possible after a hit and run—especially the license plate number, vehicle description, location, and witness details.
- File a police report right away; police and insurers both rely on it, and it’s often required for hit and run claims.
- Your own insurer typically handles the claim under your collision coverage; you’ll usually pay your deductible unless it’s waived.
- A license plate number helps police and insurers identify the driver and their insurer, which can lead to reimbursement and legal consequences for the hit and run driver.
Record All Information Possible
A hit and run occurs when another vehicle hits you and then leaves the scene without stopping to exchange information or render aid. Hit and runs can involve:
- Vehicles hitting other vehicles
- Drivers who hit a pedestrian and flee
- Collisions on highways, side streets, or in parking lots
Leaving the scene of an accident is illegal, but many hit and run drivers get away—unless good documentation exists.
Right after the incident (if it’s safe to do so), write down or record everything you remember about the vehicle and driver, including:
- Make
- Model
- Approximate year
- License plate number (even partial information helps)
- Color of the car
- Any physical characteristics of the driver
- Names and contact information of witnesses
- Time, date, and exact location of the incident
- Damage to your vehicle, yourself, passengers, or pedestrians
If your vehicle was hit while you were driving, first make sure everyone is safe. Move to a safe area, then talk to any witnesses—such as pedestrians or other drivers—who may have seen the impact or captured it on dashcam.
If your car was parked when it was hit, you may have limited information to collect. Still, you should:
- Look for notes left by the other driver (even if it’s a long shot)
- Ask nearby people if they saw anything
- Check with local businesses for security camera footage
Always take photos of your vehicle, surrounding damage, and the location if it’s safe to do so. Once you’ve gathered as much information as possible, your next step is to report the incident to the police.
Reporting the Hit and Run to Police
Leaving the scene of an accident is a serious crime. The other driver may face fines, license suspension, or even jail time—but only if they’re caught.
The first step in holding the driver accountable is to file a police report. Provide as much detail as possible:
- The license plate number (even partial if that’s all you have)
- Description of the vehicle and driver
- Location, time, and circumstances of the crash
- Any injuries or damage
Contact the police immediately after the accident. For serious crashes, officers may respond to the scene. For minor incidents, they may ask you to come into a station or file a report online, depending on local procedures.
Police can often connect a license plate to a registered owner quickly. However, keep in mind:
- The car might be stolen
- The registered owner may not be the person who was driving
Police and insurers know this and will investigate accordingly. Insurance companies also require a police report for most hit and run claims to help prevent fraudulent claims.
Reporting the Hit and Run to Your Insurance Company
In most hit and run cases, your own insurance company will handle your claim—even though the other driver is at fault.
Typically:
- Your claim is processed under your collision coverage
- You’ll pay your collision deductible
- Some insurers may waive the deductible for verified hit and runs
If you only carry basic liability coverage and no collision, your insurer usually will NOT pay for hit and run damage to your car, unless your policy includes uninsured motorist property damage coverage. Progressive’s hit-and-run explainer lists the coverages that can respond, depending on your policy and state: collision (after your deductible), uninsured motorist property damage (usually with a smaller deductible, and some states require the at-fault driver to be identified before it applies), uninsured motorist bodily injury for your injuries (usually no deductible), and medical payments or personal injury protection, which pay regardless of fault.
Be sure to:
- Report the accident to your insurer as soon as possible
- Provide the police report number
- Give them any photos, witness information, and the license plate number you recorded
What to Do With the License Plate Number
If you have the other driver’s license plate, that’s a huge advantage. It may allow you (or more appropriately, the authorities and insurers) to:
- Identify the registered owner and address
- Potentially obtain their insurance information
Make sure you’ve already given this plate number to police in your report. From that point, the best approach is to:
- Let law enforcement handle the investigation and attempt to locate the driver
- Provide the plate number to your insurer, so they can:
- Try to identify the at-fault driver’s insurance company
- Potentially pursue reimbursement (subrogation) against the hit and run driver’s insurer
Do not attempt to track down or confront the other driver yourself.
FAQs
Final Word on Hit and Runs and License Plate Numbers
Many hit and run victims are left with no information about the driver who hit them. If you managed to record a license plate number or other identifying details, you’re in a much stronger position.
By promptly documenting the scene, filing a police report, and notifying your insurer, you give yourself the best chance of:
- Identifying the at-fault driver
- Processing the claim through their insurance company (instead of your own)
- Seeing a hit and run driver held accountable
While hit and runs are stressful and unfair, having a license plate number gives you and your insurer a clear path forward.
My advice is to call the police before you call anyone else, even for a parking-lot dent. A report filed the same day is the strongest evidence you can give your insurer that the damage happened the way you say and that the other driver left; it makes it easier for the adjuster to classify the loss as not your fault, apply a deductible waiver where your policy offers one, and go after the other driver’s company if the plate leads somewhere. A report filed a week later, after you’ve already talked to the adjuster, carries a lot less weight.
Sources
Checked October 12, 2026
