More than half of Australian drivers who collide with parked vehicles fail to notify the owner, according to new research released by comparison site Money.com.au.
The nationally representative survey found that 57 per cent of drivers who admitted to hitting an unattended, parked car did not report the incident. Only 43 per cent said they either left their contact details or reported the damage directly to the vehicle owner.
The findings suggest that minor car park collisions are far more common and more frequently ignored than many drivers realise. Nearly one in four Australians (24 per cent) surveyed said they had bumped or scratched another vehicle at some point, while a further 12 per cent reported witnessing damage to a parked car. Sixty-four per cent said they had never been involved in such an incident.
Money.com.au finance expert Sean Callery said drivers often dismiss low-speed car park incidents as insignificant, despite the potential consequences.
“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,” Mr Callery said.
He noted that even cosmetic damage can affect a vehicle’s resale value, particularly when the car is subject to finance.
“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,” he said.
Younger drivers least likely to report incidents
The survey identified a clear generational divide in reporting behaviour. Among drivers who admitted to hitting a parked car, Gen Z respondents were the least likely to report the incident, with 84 per cent saying they did not notify the owner.
This compares with 56 per cent of Millennials, 54 per cent of Gen X, and 40 per cent of Baby Boomers who said they failed to report similar incidents.
“Accountability appears to decline sharply among younger drivers, with Gen Z twice as likely as Baby Boomers to admit leaving a bingle unreported,” Mr Callery said.
He added that the behaviour runs counter to commonly held expectations around responsibility.
“Australians pride themselves on doing the right thing, so quietly driving off after hitting someone’s car — even if there’s no damage immediately visible — doesn’t sit well with that idea,” he said.
“Driving off after actually damaging a car leaves another person to deal with any financial fallout. Leaving your details is about being honest and not passing the cost onto someone else.”
Under Australian road rules, drivers are generally required to report a collision or leave their contact details if they damage a parked vehicle, and the owner is not present. Failing to do so can result in penalties, depending on the circumstances and which state or territory the incident occurred.
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