Credit hire when your car was hit while parked
If your car was hit while parked, you can still claim a replacement car on credit hire even though you were not in the vehicle. The key is establishing that the other driver was at fault, and that your own policy should not be touched.
This guide covers the car parks, streets and driveways where it happens, what to photograph before you move anything, and how to get a like-for-like replacement while your car is repaired.
Key takeaways
- A parked car hit is still a not at fault claim if another driver caused the damage.
- Photograph the car in place, any note, and the surrounding area before moving anything.
- Shopping centre CCTV is usually released to police, not directly to you, so get an event number.
- Credit hire lets you get a like-for-like replacement now, with the at fault insurer paying later.
- If the other driver claims you were illegally parked, that does not automatically make you at fault.
- Why a parked car claim is still a not at fault claim
- What to photograph before you move anything
- Shopping centre car parks and camera footage requests
- Street parking in the Inner West and Eastern Suburbs
- When the other driver leaves a note and when they do not
- Driveway and apartment basement collisions
- Getting a replacement car when your car is drivable but damaged
- If the other driver claims you were illegally parked
- How credit hire works when you were not in the car
- What to do in the first hour after you find the damage
Why a parked car claim is still a not at fault claim
When your car is hit while parked, you are not at fault by default. The other driver failed to avoid a stationary object. That is negligence, and it means you can pursue a credit hire claim against their insurer, not your own.
Under the High Court decision in Arsalan v Rixon (2021), a not at fault driver can recover the reasonable cost of a replacement vehicle for the period their car is off the road, even if they did not actually hire one. That principle applies whether you were sitting in the driver's seat or inside your apartment when it happened.
The practical difference with a parked car is proof. When you are driving, the impact and the other driver's details are usually exchanged on the spot. When your car is parked, you often arrive to find damage and no one around. That does not kill the claim, but it changes what you need to gather.
If the other driver left a note, you have a name and a phone number. If they did not, you may still be able to identify them through CCTV, witness statements or paint transfer. Your credit hire provider will handle the back-and-forth with the at fault insurer once fault is established.
One thing to avoid: do not assume you must go through your own insurance just because the other driver is unknown. A not at fault claim can proceed against the other insurer directly, and your own no claim bonus stays intact. For a fuller explanation, see not at fault explained.
What to photograph before you move anything
Before you move your car, even to pull it out of a shopping centre bay, take photographs. Insurers assess parked car claims on evidence, and the first hour is when the evidence is strongest.
Here is what to capture:
- Wide shots from four corners, showing the car in its bay or parking spot, with road markings and surrounding vehicles in frame.
- Close-ups of every damaged panel, plus any paint transfer, scuff marks or dents.
- The other car if it is still there, including its number plate, make, model and position relative to yours.
- Any note left on your windscreen, photographed before you remove it.
- The location: street sign, shop front, bay number, level indicator in a car park.
- Your odometer and dashboard, to show the car was stationary and parked.
If there is a witness, ask for their name and mobile number. A short text message from them confirming what they saw is worth more than a verbal promise to help later.
Do not wash the car or repair anything until the claim is assessed. Paint transfer and dents are evidence, and a detailer can remove them. If the other driver is still present, exchange details politely and take a photo of their licence and insurance certificate if they have one.
Once you have the photos, call your credit hire provider. They will tell you whether to move the car to a repairer or wait for an assessor. If you are unsure about the sequence, the first 24 hours after a crash sets it out step by step.
Age limits are set per car. Drivers under 25 can hire most cars with Young Driver Cover; the exact terms are shown before you pay.
Shopping centre car parks and camera footage requests
Shopping centre car parks are the most common place for a parked car to be hit in Sydney. Westfield Bondi Junction, Westfield Chatswood, Macquarie Centre, Broadway Shopping Centre and the big centres at Parramatta and Burwood all have camera coverage, but getting the footage is not automatic.
Centre management will usually release CCTV to police, not to you directly. The practical route is:
- Report the incident to the police. For a parked car hit and run, you can report online or at a local station. Ask for a police event number.
- Contact centre management with the event number, the time, the date and the bay or level where you parked.
- Ask them to preserve the footage. Many systems overwrite after 7 to 30 days, so speed matters.
- Follow up in writing, and copy your credit hire provider so they can chase it through the at fault insurer if needed.
If the centre will not release footage to you, the police can request it. Your credit hire provider can also write to the centre's insurer or legal team. Do not expect a same-day answer; these requests often take a week or more.
If you have a dashcam with parking mode, check it before you do anything else. Some dashcams record impact-triggered clips, and that footage can identify the other vehicle. Even a partial plate is useful.
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Start my claimStreet parking in the Inner West and Eastern Suburbs
Street parking in suburbs like Newtown, Enmore, Marrickville, Leichhardt, Paddington, Randwick and Coogee is tight, and tight parking means bumped bumpers. The most common damage is a scraped rear quarter panel or a cracked tail light from a car reversing out of a spot.
Fault is usually clear when the other driver is still there. When they have driven off, you are relying on witnesses, CCTV from nearby shops or homes, and paint evidence.
Local knowledge helps. King Street in Newtown has heavy pedestrian traffic and shopfront cameras. Darling Street in Balmain and Glebe Point Road have similar coverage. In the Eastern Suburbs, Bondi Road, Bronte Road and Coogee Bay Road have a mix of residential and commercial cameras.
If you park on the street regularly, a dashcam with a hardwire kit and parking mode is worth the install. It will not stop the hit, but it often captures the other car's plate as it drives away.
Report the incident to police even if the damage seems minor. A police event number strengthens your credit hire claim and helps with CCTV requests. Without it, insurers are quicker to dispute liability.
If your car is drivable, you can still claim a replacement vehicle. The question is whether you need one immediately or whether you can wait for the repair booking. For a performance car like an Audi RS 3 Sportback, even a minor panel repair can take weeks if parts are ordered from Germany. See how long prestige car repairs take in Sydney for realistic timeframes.
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When the other driver leaves a note and when they do not
A note on the windscreen is the best case for a parked car claim. It gives you a name and a number, and often an admission that they hit your car. Photograph the note before you take it, then call the number and confirm the details in a text message so you have a written record.
Do not rely on a verbal apology. Ask the other driver to send you their full name, address, licence number, registration and insurer by text or email. If they refuse, pass what you have to your credit hire provider and let them issue a formal request.
When there is no note, the claim is harder but not hopeless. Steps to take:
- Check for witnesses. Shopkeepers, security guards, residents and other drivers in the area may have seen it.
- Look for cameras. ATMs, petrol stations, pharmacies, council CCTV and private home cameras all help.
- Report to police and get an event number.
- Notify your credit hire provider immediately so they can start tracing the other vehicle if there is a partial plate.
If the other driver is never identified, you may still have a claim through your own insurance if you have comprehensive cover. That is a different path, and it may affect your excess and no claim bonus. Credit hire is usually only available when you can establish fault against another driver. For the difference, read credit hire vs claiming your own insurance.
Driveway and apartment basement collisions
Driveway and basement car park collisions are common in Sydney's inner suburbs, where off-street parking is tight and visibility is poor. The typical scenario: a delivery van, a neighbour or a tradesperson reverses into your car while it is parked in your driveway or in a basement bay.
Fault is usually straightforward if the other driver is identified. The complication is access and liability. In a strata building, the basement is common property, and the owners corporation may have camera coverage. Getting that footage can take longer than a shopping centre request because it goes through the strata manager.
If the other driver is a delivery driver, their employer or insurer may be liable. Get the company name, the driver's name and the vehicle registration. If they leave without providing details, report it to police as a hit and run.
For driveway collisions, the position of the cars matters. Photograph both vehicles in place before either moves. If the other car has already left, photograph your car in the driveway with the street and any relevant signage in frame.
If your car is not drivable, you need a replacement quickly. A prestige SUV or sedan can be delivered to your home or workplace. The Tesla Model Y RWD is a popular choice for drivers who want an electric replacement while their car is off the road. Book through accident replacement car Sydney.
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Getting a replacement car when your car is drivable but damaged
A drivable car does not disqualify you from credit hire. If the damage is significant enough that you would not reasonably drive the car, or if it is unsafe or illegal to drive, you can claim a replacement. The test is reasonableness, not whether the wheels still turn.
Examples where a replacement is justified:
- A cracked windscreen that obstructs vision.
- A damaged headlight or tail light that makes the car unroadworthy.
- A door that will not open or close properly.
- Structural damage that affects handling or safety.
- Damage that would worsen if driven, such as a loose bumper or exposed wiring.
If the car is genuinely safe and legal to drive, you may still be entitled to a replacement if the repairer needs the car for assessment or parts ordering. Your credit hire provider can advise on the specific circumstances.
The replacement should be like-for-like. If you drive a BMW M or an AMG, you are entitled to a comparable vehicle, not a base model hatch. See like-for-like for what that means in practice.
Once the replacement is arranged, the hire period runs until your car is repaired and returned, or until settlement if it is written off. Keep the hire period reasonable and respond to your repairer's requests promptly. Delays caused by you can reduce what the at fault insurer will pay.
If the other driver claims you were illegally parked
Some at fault drivers try to shift blame by claiming you were parked illegally. This is a common tactic when the incident happened in a no stopping zone, a clearway, a bus stop or a loading zone.
Here is the key point: parking illegally does not automatically make you at fault for the collision. The other driver still had a duty to avoid a stationary vehicle. In most cases, their insurer will still be liable for the damage and for your credit hire.
That said, the argument can slow things down. To protect your claim:
- Photograph the parking signs and your car's position relative to them.
- Note the time and whether the zone was active. A clearway at 4pm is different from a clearway at 10am.
- If you received a parking fine, deal with it separately. It does not decide fault for the crash.
- Keep any correspondence from the other insurer and pass it to your credit hire provider.
If the other insurer disputes liability, your credit hire provider can handle the dispute. They deal with these arguments regularly. For more on that process, see when an insurer disputes a credit hire claim.
Do not admit fault or agree to pay anything. Even a casual text saying sorry can be used against you. Stick to the facts: your car was parked, and it was hit.
How credit hire works when you were not in the car
Credit hire is a simple arrangement. You get a replacement car now, and the at fault insurer pays the hire cost later. You do not pay upfront, and you do not claim on your own policy.
The process for a parked car claim:
- You contact a credit hire provider and provide the incident details, photos and any police event number.
- The provider confirms you have a not at fault claim and arranges a like-for-like replacement.
- You sign a credit hire agreement. Read it carefully; it sets out your obligations if the claim fails. For what to look for, see what you sign in credit hire paperwork.
- The provider manages the repair and the correspondence with the at fault insurer.
- When the hire ends, the provider invoices the at fault insurer directly.
In New South Wales, credit hire is well established for not at fault claims. The Arsalan v Rixon decision confirmed that the reasonable cost of a replacement vehicle is recoverable, even if you did not actually hire one. That gives providers a solid basis to pursue the at fault insurer.
If you need a replacement car today, bookings are fulfilled by Drive Tribe (drivetribe.com.au). This site is part of that group. You can check availability and book online through accident replacement vehicles. The rate, the bond and any fees are shown on the car's page before payment.
What to do in the first hour after you find the damage
You have just walked back to your car and found a dent, a scraped bumper or a smashed tail light. Here is the sequence that protects your claim.
- Do not move the car. Photograph everything first, including the position of the car and any damage.
- Look for a note. If there is one, photograph it before you take it.
- Check for witnesses. Ask nearby shopkeepers, security guards or residents if they saw anything.
- Look for cameras. Note the location of any CCTV that might have a view of your car.
- Call the police and report it. Get an event number.
- Contact your credit hire provider. They will tell you what to do next and arrange a replacement if needed.
- Do not wash the car or repair anything until the damage is assessed.
If the other driver is still there, exchange details and take photos of their licence, registration and insurance. Keep the conversation polite and factual. Do not discuss fault.
If you are in a shopping centre, go to centre management before you leave and ask them to preserve the footage. Give them the time, date and location. Follow up in writing the same day.
For a more detailed checklist, see what to do after a car accident not at fault. If you need a replacement car immediately, you can book online through what to do in the first 24 hours after a not at fault accident in Sydney.
Questions people ask
Can I get a replacement car if my car was hit while parked?
What if there were no witnesses?
Will the shopping centre give me their CCTV?
What if the other driver claims I was parked illegally?
Can I get a replacement car if my car is drivable but damaged?
How long does a credit hire claim take for a parked car?
Injured in the accident?
A replacement car covers the car. For legal advice about an injury, speak to Jameson Law, the most trusted personal injury firm in NSW (motor vehicle accident claims) on (02) 8806 0866.
Ready when you are
Start the claim online in five short steps, or call 0468 011 118. Replacement hires are arranged and fulfilled by Drive Tribe.
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