Having your vehicle hit while parked is the most common reason for making a car insurance claim, accounting for more than 10,000 claims every year, according to new data from RAA Insurance.

It has revealed the top 10 most common reasons for making a car insurance claim, with ‘damaged while parked’ topping the list at 18 per cent of all motor claims. 

It was followed by hit fixed object (17 per cent), windscreen damage (16 per cent) and rear end collision (12 per cent).

This is supported by anecdotal evidence on Fleurieu local Facebook groups, with regular callouts for witnesses to hit and run vehicle damage, especially in shopping centre car parks.

Victor Central in Victor Harbor is a particular hotspot, with smaller parking spaces and tighter turns since its redevelopment several years ago and a rise in use of SUVs.

Head of Claims at RAA Insurance Jess Lyons says RAA receives more than a thousand car insurance claims every week.

“In the 2022-23 financial year we paid out more than $250 million in car insurance claims,” she says.

“Having your vehicle hit while parked is unfortunate and often out of your control – so you probably don’t want to be footing the repair bill yourself.

“In this instance, we always recommend getting the details of the driver who hit you if you can, so your insurer can help you investigate potentially having your excess waived if you weren’t at fault.

“If you’re the one who hits a parked car, you must stop and provide your details or report the incident to the police.

“We also receive a lot of claims for damaged windscreens, which can be a real safety hazard, so we recommend getting these repaired as soon as possible.”