Five million Aussie drivers left with bill for damages they didn’t cause
Almost a third of drivers have had their car damaged by another vehicle but the culprit fled the scene.
Millions of Aussie drivers have reported being left with an unfair repair bill after another vehicle hit their car but didn't stick around to exchange details.
A Finder survey of 1,007 people found that 28% had suffered mystery damage to their cars. That figure rose to 31% when only car-owners were asked.
The research also revealed that baby boomers are most likely to suffer damage to their vehicles (34%), while drivers in regional areas are also at a higher risk (32%).
South Australian residents should also be particularly careful, as 37% of drivers in the state reported that their car had previously been hit by someone else who didn't own up - the highest percentage of any region in the country.
Unfortunately, many of the drivers will have no help in covering the unexpected cost. According to Finder's Consumer Sentiment Tracker, a nationally representative survey of more than 15,000 respondents, almost 1 in 4 (24%) Australians don't have comprehensive car insurance.
Comprehensive car insurance is the only type of cover which will pay out if you sustain mysterious damage to your car - and it might not be as expensive as you think.
Cost research from the 2019 Finder Awards found that one budget car insurer averaged $682 a year for a comprehensive policy, while a different company hit a huge average of $3,325 a year.
That means you could save a huge $2,643 a year, just by comparing car insurance online.
Get a quote for comprehensive car insurance
Car insurance quotes have to be tailored to your vehicle, driving history, and risk factors. Click 'Get Quote' to see how much it might cost to fully protect your car.
