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Who pays for the damage after a hit-and-run in Germany?

In short

If the driver who fled is traced, their liability insurance pays your damage in full. If they stay unknown, only your comprehensive cover (Vollkasko) pays for your car, minus the deductible. The traffic victims fund (Verkehrsopferhilfe) mainly pays for injuries, and for car damage only in exceptional cases with serious injuries, with a EUR 500 deductible.

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Who pays for the damage after a hit-and-run in Germany?

What it costs

What you carry yourself after a hit-and-run by an unknown driver, based on published figures for 2026.

Example	Typical range
Property damage via the fund, with serious injuries	EUR 500 deductible
Maximum paid by the fund for property damage	up to EUR 500,000
Repair of a rear bump with sensors	about EUR 2,100 to 5,100
Repair of a front bump with headlight	about EUR 3,000 to 8,000

Figures for the traffic victims fund and workshop prices from a market survey published in February 2026. The deductible on comprehensive cover and the extra premium in the worked example are guide values from our quoting practice.

Worked example

Side damage overnight, driver unknown, comprehensive cover in place

The car was parked on the street, in the morning the door and wing are dented. The police cannot find the driver.

Repair of door and wing	about EUR 3,500
Deductible on comprehensive cover	EUR 500
Paid by your insurer	about EUR 3,000
Extra premium over three years after the drop in class	about EUR 400 to 900

Without comprehensive cover you would have paid the EUR 3,500 alone. The fund pays nothing here because nobody was hurt.

If the driver is traced

The motor liability insurer (Kfz-Haftpflicht) of the driver who fled still has to pay your damage. That is the best outcome for you: full repair, assessment, hire car or loss of use, and no drop in your own no-claims class.

Their insurer can then claw back part of the payment from its own customer, usually up to EUR 2,500 and up to EUR 5,000 in serious cases. That only affects the driver who fled, not you.

If the driver stays unknown

Nobody outside pays for damage to your car. Your comprehensive cover pays, because it includes damage by unknown persons. You bear the deductible and your no-claims class drops.

The Verkehrsopferhilfe is a fund run by German motor insurers for victims of unknown or uninsured vehicles. After a hit-and-run it mainly pays medical costs and loss of earnings. It only replaces damage to your car if there are also serious injuries, and then with a EUR 500 deductible. Compensation for pain and suffering is paid only in particularly severe cases.

Damage	Driver traced	Driver unknown
Your car	their liability insurer	your comprehensive cover, or you
Medical costs and lost earnings	their liability insurer	traffic victims fund
Pain and suffering	their liability insurer	only in particularly severe cases
Clothing, luggage, fence	their liability insurer	only with serious injuries, EUR 500 deductible

Why the police report matters

Always report it to the police, even for small damage. It is the only way the driver can be traced, and both your insurer and the fund ask for proof. The file will be in German, so keep the reference number and bring someone who can translate if you need to.

Witnesses, camera footage, paint traces and parts on the road help. Write everything down at once, memories fade quickly.

When comprehensive cover is not worth it

For an older car worth a few thousand euros you often pay more in premium than you would get back in a few years. Then carrying the hit-and-run risk yourself is the better deal.

For small damage a claim rarely pays, because the drop in class applies regardless of the amount. Compare the extra premium over the next years with the repair.

Step by step

Leave things as they are and photograph the damage and surroundings.
Speak to witnesses and ask about cameras nearby.
Report it to the police and note the reference number.
If you are hurt, see a doctor and keep all receipts.
Inform your comprehensive insurer or, with injuries, apply to the traffic victims fund.

Checklist

Police reference number
Photos, witnesses and clues to the driver
Repair quote or assessment
Medical records if you were injured
Deductible and drop in class from your policy

Common mistakes

Not reporting to the police because the damage looks small
Assuming the traffic victims fund pays for the car
Expecting partial cover to pay after a hit-and-run
Ordering the repair before your insurer knows about it

Questions and answers

Frequently asked

Does partial cover pay after a hit-and-run?

No. Damage caused by another vehicle is only covered by comprehensive cover.

What if the driver is found later?

Your insurer then recovers the money from their liability insurer. Ask whether your deductible and no-claims class are restored.

How long do I have to claim from the fund?

Claims become time-barred after three years. Apply early anyway, because evidence gets harder to gather.

Does the fund pay for pain and suffering?

After a hit-and-run only if the injuries are particularly severe and refusing would be grossly unfair.

Is comprehensive cover worth it because of hit-and-runs?

For new, financed or valuable cars usually yes. For older cars of low value often not.

Sources

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