Does car insurance cover car doors dinging another car? (2024)

Accidents happen occasionally, and you may have inadvertently hit another car with your door when getting in or out. You’ll want to know how to rectify the damage and may be thinking about contacting your insurance company in this case.

If you’re wondering, “My car door hit another car parked. Will insurance cover it?” the answer is yes. Liability insurance will pay for the damages in this case.

So, what do you do if your car door hits another car and damages it? You may also be wondering what to do if someone opens their car door into yours. Keep reading to find out these answers and more. You can also enter your ZIP code into our free quote tool above to shop for cheap door dings insurance near you.

Liability Insurance Covers Car Door Hitting Another Car

Does car insurance cover door dings? Liability insurance pays for damages if your car door scratched another car. For instance, if your car door hit another car due to wind, the vehicle owner can file a claim on your insurance. The coverage would also apply if you accidentally opened your car door into another car.

A search for “What happens if I accidentally hit someone’s car with my door?” on Reddit finds most users say you should leave a note with personal information, such as your name and phone number, to ensure your liability insurance pays for their damages.

You must file a claim under your property damage liability coverage if you want to involve your car insurance company. This type of coverage will pay for any damage you cause to another vehicle or property.

Some people think the situation can vary based on whether you live in a no-fault state or an at-fault state. However, this difference only applies to a claim for bodily injury, where each insurance company will cover the claim on behalf of the client. When it comes to property damage, auto insurance companies handle these claims the traditional way, no matter which state you live in.

You might be wondering, “If my car was hit while parked, will my insurance go up?” If you end up filing a claim, your insurance will likely increase. However, your rates won’t go up if you don’t file a claim.

What to Do if Your Car Door Hits Another Car

You may be thinking, “I accidentally hit someone’s car with my door. What do I do?” If you are responsible for damage to another vehicle, you should always try to contact the owner. Many of these incidents happen in shopping mall parking lots where cars are lined up very close to each other. 

In this case, you should go into the shopping mall and ask the staff to try and locate the owner of the vehicle for you. If this proves impossible, leave a note on the other car’s windshield with your contact details.

If you decide to file a claim with your insurer for the damages caused to the other car, gather as much information as you can first. You will want the contact details of the other party, together with information about the vehicle. It would help if you also took photographs of the damage and the general location.

Next, call your insurance company and talk to an agent. They will provide you with the relevant forms to fill out so they can process the claim for you.

What to Do if Someone Hits Your Car With Their Door

You may be wondering, “What do I do if someone hit my car with their door and left?” Sometimes, you may be the victim of a parking lot hit-and-run. In this case, you need to assess the extent of the damage and decide whether you want to file a claim against your insurance.

One Reddit user asked the r/Insurance subreddit what type of insurance would pay for their damages after being the victims of car door damage in a parking lot. According to use responses, if someone dings your car with their car door and you can’t find who did it, you’ll file the claim under your collision coverage.

However, as another user on Reddit notes, you should get an estimate to see if it’s worth filing a claim, as it might make more sense to pay out of pocket. After all, you may have to pay increased rates in the future following such a claim.

Unless you must have a pristine car, it is probably not worth the effort to pursue an insurance claim. Often, most incidents where a driver opened a car door into another car, no damage was sustained and it is perhaps not worth the hassle or expense of involving your insurance company.

Now that you know what happens if someone hits your car with their door, we’ll overview some real-life case studies that explains how coverage works if a door dinged someone car.

Check out the case studies below for a list of real-life scenarios where you may need coverage.

• Case Study 1: Liability Coverage: John accidentally hit a car door in a parking lot. The owner of the damaged car files a claim with John’s insurance company. Since John is at fault, his liability insurance kicks in. The insurance company covers the cost of repairs to the other vehicle. John’s liability insurance protects him from paying out of pocket.
• Case Study 2: Collision Coverage: Sarah is parked on a busy street when another driver swings their car door open and hits Sarah’s car. Sarah contacts her insurance company to file a claim. She has collision coverage, which covers damages, regardless of who is at fault. The insurer assesses the damage, determines the cost, and covers the expenses minus the deductible. (For more information, read our “How do I assess car damage for insurance purposes?“).
• Case Study 3: Comprehensive Coverage: Mark’s car is parked in a parking lot when a strong wind causes a shopping cart to slam into his car door, causing a dent and paint damage. Mark has comprehensive coverage. He contacts his insurance company and files a claim. The comprehensive coverage covers damages to Mark’s vehicle that are not caused by a collision, such as theft, vandalism, or weather-related incidents.
• Case Study 4: No Coverage: Emily parks her car on the street and returns to find her car was hit by another car door. Unfortunately, Emily doesn’t have any collision or comprehensive coverage. In this case, Emily is responsible for repair costs herself. She must pay out of pocket or negotiate with the other driver’s insurance company if they’re willing to accept liability.

Read More:

• Compare Ding & Dent Car Insurance: Rates, Discounts, & Requirements
• Is it worth claiming a scratch on your car insurance?

What You Should Do if Your Car Door Hits Another Car

What happens if you hit a car with your door? If you accidentally hit a car with your door, you’re responsible for the damage if you or your passenger opened a door into a car. If the other driver is there, you can discuss the issue with them and decide whether you will pay for the damage out of pocket or file a claim with your insurer. 

If the other driver is absent, you should take steps to try to locate them or leave your details on a note attached to the windshield. It may be better for you to settle out of pocket rather than pay your deductible and risk higher insurance rates in the future.

If you’re wondering, “Someone hit my car with their door and drove off, but I don’t have coverage. What do I do?” enter your ZIP code into our free quote tool below to compare prices from the top providers and ensure you have full protection in all scenarios.