More than a third of Kiwis have been a victim of a hit-and-run

Friday, 2 October 2020

The Automobile Association wants drink-drive testing to return to previous levels. About a third of all fatal crashes in New Zealand involve someone under the influence, but roadside testing has dropped off significantly in recent years.

New research has found that over one in three Kiwis have been the victim of a hit-and-run incident. That’s vehicle-on-vehicle, not vehicle-on-person, to clarify.

The study, by car insurance comparison website Finder, asked 1882 people across New Zealand about times their car was damaged by a driver who fled without exchanging details. Around 38 per cent of those said they had experienced such an incident, leading to the extrapolated national figure.

Over 27 per cent of those who have been hit by another car in the past said the offending driver stuck around.

More than a third of Kiwi drivers have been involved in a hit-and-run collision.

A further 35 per cent say they’ve never had their car damaged by another driver.

A crash in Renwick where another vehicle smashed into the car and left the scene.

* Asbestos, smells, crime rate Kiwi buyers' top turn-offs, survey shows

* One in six Kiwis lie about their car insurance

While you can’t control what others do, having comprehensive insurance cover is the best idea to prevent being hit hard in the pocket.

* Car insurance more costly for Auckland dwellers

Additionally, the survey found that five per cent of respondents were uninsured while a further 12 per cent don’t have comprehensive vehicle insurance.

The average cost of a panel beating job is around $1000 but can be as much as $3000–$5000 in extreme circumstances. Scratch repairs and paint damage removal will typically cost less than $1000.

If you're the victim of a hit-and-run and have comprehensive car insurance, your insurer should cover the cost of repairs. If not, you may need to get the police involved to track down the culprit, or fork out for the repairs on your own.

Kevin McHugh, Finder’s publisher in New Zealand, said: “If you’re unfortunate enough to be the victim of a hit-and-run, comprehensive car insurance can be your saving grace.

“To avoid paying an excess on a hit-and-run claim, you need to be able to prove that you weren’t at fault, and this can be difficult.

“You can avoid paying excess entirely if you can catch the offender, but you’ll need to involve the police.

“If your search to find the offender fails and you still need to fork out for excess, its reassuring to know that this is still generally cheaper than the repairs would have been without comprehensive cover.

“Without comprehensive insurance, you could end up forking out hundreds or even thousands of dollars to repair your vehicle.

“Unsure whether you’re covered? Make sure to check your inclusions and upgrade your policy if needed,” McHugh added.