Study finds nearly 60 per cent of Aussies admit to hit-and-run

More than half of Australians have fled the scene after hitting an unattended car – without leaving a note or waiting for the owner – according to a new research study.

New research from Money.com.au revealed that as many as 57 per cent of Australians who’ve previously bumped or scratched another car didn’t report it.

And it suggests younger people are more dishonest than most.

Whether your door caught some wind and flew into the side of another vehicle or you just weren’t paying attention and your trolley rolled into someone else’s car, minor bingles and car park scrapes are (unfortunately) commonplace.

About one in four drivers surveyed admitted to bumping or scratching another vehicle, while 12 per cent said they’d witnessed damage to a parked and unattended car, and around 64 per cent said they’ve never hit a parked vehicle.

However, you only need to see one of the hundreds of videos posted by Tesla owners online – captured directly from their vehicle’s plethora of cameras – of passersby hitting, bumping, scratching or driving into their electric car to see just how often it happens. And those are the ones you see.

However, you only need to watch one of the hundreds of videos posted online by Tesla owners – captured directly from their vehicle’s array of cameras – showing passersby hitting, bumping, scratching or driving into their car to understand just how often it happens. And those are just the ones you see.

According to the financial comparison site, even minor damage can lead to expensive repairs, and not fessing up means you’re passing the cost of your mistake onto someone else.

“A lot of people see a small knock as no big deal, especially in a car park, but even minor damage can lead to expensive repairs and insurance complications for the vehicle owner,” Money.com.au finance expert Sean Callery said.

“Depending on the size of the dent or scratch left, it can be a hit to a car’s resale value, and that can be a problem if the vehicle is secured against finance,” Callery said.

The study found Gen Z (born between1996-2010) to be the least likely age group to confess to damaging another vehicle, with 84 per cent admitting to leaving an incident unreported, compared to Millennials (56%), Gen X (54%), and Baby Boomers (40%).

“Accountability appears to decline sharply among younger drivers, with Gen Z twice as likely as Baby Boomers to admit leaving a bingle unreported,” Callery said.

According to Money.com.au, you’re generally required to report any damage to the vehicle owner or at least leave a note with your contact details if the car is parked and no one is around.

Leaving the scene without properly reporting the incident can result in penalties in some cases, it said.

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