Car Hit While Parked and the Driver Is Unknown: What to Do in Istanbul

You left your car on the street or in a car park and came back to a scratched bumper or a dented wing — no note, no sign of the other car. This is one of the most common types of damage in the city, and most drivers are unsure what to do first. This guide explains, from an insurance point of view, what to do when your parked car is hit and the other party is unknown or might still be identified later.

Step one: record the damage and the location

Before moving the car, document everything. Whether you claim on your own kasko (comprehensive motor insurance) or the other driver’s insurance, these records form the basis of the file:

• Wide shots showing where the car was parked and its surroundings,
• Close-ups of the damaged area,
• Any paint transfer from another vehicle,
• Broken pieces of light, glass or bumper on the ground,
• Any note left on the car.

Cameras and witnesses: finding the other driver

Whether the other driver can be identified directly affects whose insurance pays. In the first hours, check:

1. Your dashcam: if it records in parking mode, back up the footage immediately; some devices overwrite older recordings.
2. Car park and building cameras: in a shopping mall, office tower or residential complex, contact security and ask them to keep the footage.
3. Nearby businesses: on the street, shop cameras may have caught the incident.
4. Witnesses: take the name and phone number of anyone who saw it.

Viewing footage sometimes requires a formal request, so ask for it to be preserved and report the incident to the police. Recordings are kept for different periods in different places; the sooner you ask, especially after a weekend incident, the better your chances. The office towers and complexes around Maslak usually have camera systems, which improves the odds of identifying the other car.

Why a police record matters

If the other driver is not there, you cannot complete a joint accident report together. You need to report the incident to the police (or gendarmerie) and obtain an official record. This record:

• Documents when and where the damage was discovered,
• Supports identifying the other driver from camera footage,
• Becomes the basis of your kasko claim if needed.

If the other driver did leave a note, do not settle things verbally. Contact them and complete a joint accident report or obtain an official record; it protects both sides.

If the other driver is found: their traffic insurance pays

If footage or a witness identifies the plate, the material damage to your car can, as a rule, be claimed from that vehicle’s compulsory traffic insurance. Under Law No. 2918, the Highway Traffic Law, traffic insurance is compulsory for motor vehicles and covers damage caused to third parties. The official record showing the plate and your photos are the key documents. For the claim steps, see the motor claim process, documents and steps.

If the other driver is not found: kasko and your options

If the car that hit you cannot be identified, your strongest protection is kasko. Within the policy terms, kasko covers damage to your car whether or not the at-fault party is known. Keep in mind:

• No-claims discount: a kasko payment may affect your discount at renewal. For small damage, weigh this with your agent.
• Deductible: if your policy has one, you bear that part.
• Contracted garage clause: where the repair must be done depends on your policy.

Without kasko, and with no identified driver, getting the material damage paid is often not possible, because your own traffic insurance covers the damage you cause to others, not damage to your own car. Parking damage is one of the clearest examples of why kasko is worth having. Folding your mirrors on narrow streets, choosing car parks with cameras and using a dashcam with parking mode all reduce both the risk and the uncertainty in any claim.

The order to follow

In short: document, look for cameras and witnesses, report to the police, notify your insurer, wait for the expert inspection, then repair. Following this order speeds up both a claim against the other driver and a kasko claim.

If your car was damaged while parked, or you want to know how your kasko handles this situation, visit our comprehensive car insurance (kasko) in Maslak page. You can call us on +90 530 375 89 61 or send a message on WhatsApp — English support is available, and we can plan the next steps together at our office in Maslak Atatürk Oto Sanayi Sitesi.