What happens if you don't have collision insurance and someone hits you?

If you don’t have collision insurance and someone hits you, their liability insurance will cover your expenses. Collision insurance could still be helpful if someone hits you and the cost to repair or replace your vehicle exceeds the limits of that person’s liability policy. And if the other driver is uninsured or unidentified, collision insurance is one way to avoid paying out of pocket for repairs.

You can use uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage to pay for repairs if you don’t have collision insurance and you’re hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver. Most states will also allow you to use uninsured/motorist insurance to repair your car if you’re the victim of a hit and run. However, some states – like California and Illinois – do not allow this if the driver is unidentified. If you’re hit by an unidentified, uninsured, or underinsured driver and do not have collision or uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, you will have to pay for any repairs yourself.  

Finally, if you’re hit by another driver and you don’t have collision insurance, it’s important that you document the accident as much as possible in order to file a successful liability claim. In addition to collecting the at-fault driver’s insurance information, you should take pictures of the damage and the scene of the accident. You should also file a police report and notify your insurance company about the accident.