Finding scratches or dents on your parked car in the UAE can leave you with two questions: Who caused the damage, and will your insurance pay for the repairs?
Your car gets a scratch while parked in a parking lot in the UAE; your car insurance will cover the dents or scratches or any damage if:
- you have comprehensive car insurance
- and you have a police report (with or without evidence of who scratched your car)
Third-party insurance does not cover damage to your own car.
What Should You Do If Someone Scratches Your Parked Car in the UAE?
Follow these simple steps if someone has scratched or damaged your car parked in a parking lot in the UAE.
- Photograph the scratches and surrounding damage
- Check for CCTV footage or witnesses
- Report the damage to the relevant police authority
- Contact your insurer before arranging repairs
What To Do When Someone Scratches Your Parked Car and Leaves
If someone has scratched your car and has left already(a hit-and-run case), there are two situations:
- You get evidence against the culprit from CCTV cameras so it is a hit-and-run case in the UAE.
- You do not get any proof of who has scratched your parked car; there is no CCTV camera footage available.
You Get Evidence of Who Scratched Your Car
If you have proof of who scratched the car, call the police to report the case with appropriate and clear photographs and evidence.
After the police report, the responsible person will pay the damages. You or your insurance will not be involved in such cases.
You Do Not Know Who Scratched and There Is No Evidence
Now, this is something that most people in the UAE face if there are no cameras around and there is no evidence.
If someone scratches your car deliberately or accidentally, you have two situations.
You have Comprehensive Car insurance
Your insurance will pay for the damages, but you need to have a police report for the incident against an unknown person.
Your comprehensive insurance will not cover any scratches if there is no official police report.
Read on how to file a car insurance claim in the UAE.
Looking for comprehensive car insurance in the UAE? Compare available policies and review their coverage, excess and benefits before choosing a plan.
You Have A Third Party Car Insurance
It will not cover any scratches or any damage to your car, no matter it is parked or on the road.
Third party car insurance only covers the third party’s vehicle damage and not yours.
If you’re unsure whether third-party or comprehensive insurance is more suitable for your car, read our guide to the difference between third-party and comprehensive car insurance
How To Find Out Who Scratched Your Parked Car
To find who scratched your parked car, you need to first:
1. Establish when the damage happened.
Note when you last saw your car without the scratch, where it was parked and when you discovered the damage. This gives you a time window to investigate.
2. Check your dashcam.
If your car has a dashcam with parking-mode recording, check whether it captured the incident. Make sure the recording is saved before the system overwrites it.
3. Ask building security or the parking operator about CCTV.
Look for cameras covering your parking bay, nearby entrances, exits and adjacent spaces. Ask management if the footage exists and if it can be saved. You may need the police to obtain or review it.
4. Ask nearby witnesses.
Security guards, parking attendants and nearby shop staff may have noticed something. Ask for eyewitnesses who saw the incident rather than accusing a particular person.
5. Record any evidence you find.
Keep original footage, photographs, relevant dates and witness details. Give all evidence to the authorities and follow their instructions.
6. If you find nothing, move to the unknown-party reporting process.
If no one is found responsible for the scratches, move on and report to the police so you can claim your damage from your comprehensive car insurance.
How To Report Unknown Vehicle Damage in the UAE
Reporting unknown vehicle damage such as hit-and-runs, parking dents, or scratches where the culprit fled is handled digitally or via designated on-the-go locations in the UAE
Step 1: Document the Scene
Before filing, gather the necessary details:
- Photos: Take clear close-ups of the damage and wide shots of the vehicle’s surrounding parking context.
- Location & Time: Note the exact area, date, and approximate time you discovered the damage.
- Evidence Check: Look around for visible CCTV cameras on nearby buildings or shops.
Step 2: File by Emirate
Dubai
- Via App (Recommended): Open the Dubai Police App or Dubai Police Website, log in with UAE Pass, and go to Services > Traffic Accidents Report > Accident Report for Unknown Party.
- In-Person Option: Visit a participating ENOC, ADNOC, or Emarat petrol station. A station employee will take photos, scan your registration, and file the report for you on-the-go.
- Cost: AED 420.
Abu Dhabi
- Via App: Download the Saaed App or access Abu Dhabi traffic services via the TAMM Platform. Select Report Accident and choose Unknown as the accident type.
- Offline Option: According to user consensus, if you face issues with the digital platforms, you can visit the Muroor Traffic Department directly to request the report.
- Cost: AED 400 online (up to AED 500 if processed offline).
Sharjah
- Via App: Use the Rafid App or call their dedicated traffic unit at 80092. Select the option for minor/unknown accidents and upload your vehicle documents.
- Cost: AED 400.
Northern Emirates (Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah)
- Via App: Log into the UAE Ministry of Interior (MOI) App. Navigate to traffic services to issue an “Accident Report Against an Unknown Person”.
- Cost: AED 400.
Will My Insurance Cover Scratches If I Had Got Them Myself While Parking Near A Wall
You scratched your car against a wall or a lamppost nearby; the insurers in the UAE normally cover it if you have comprehensive insurance and a police report.
How To Find If a Claim is Worthwhile For Minor Damage
In case of any minor damage to your car, a minor dent or scratch, with comprehensive insurance, check first what is the cost of reporting the case to the police as per your location.
Once it is estimated, take a rough estimate from a local garage about the repair cost and also bear in mind the insurance excess you have to pay for the repair.
Understand Your Insurance Excess
If the cost of repairs is less than the cost of a police report plus the insurance excess payment, go for direct repairs from your garage.
If, however, the cost of repairing a dent or scratch exceeds the cost of a police report and the insurance excess, go for claiming insurance.
How To Avoid Hit and Run Damages To Your Car
You can avoid paying for the damages to your car in a parking lot by having a dashcam. You will get the real footage of the incident, and it can help report a case to the UAE police.
After identifying the person responsible, police will charge that person for your car repairs.
How to Claim For Deliberate Scratches or Vandalism In UAE
If you suspect someone deliberately scratched or vandalised your car, document the damage and report the incident through the appropriate authority.
Contact your insurer to confirm about the damage cover.
Choose car insurance with the coverage you need. Compare car insurance quotes in the UAE and check the coverage, exclusions and excess before you buy.
FAQs
Yes, comprehensive car insurance can cover scratches by someone else if there is a police report for the same(against an unknown or known driver with proof).
No, third party does not cover any damage, may it be scratch or dent for your own car; it is explicitly for the sake of covering the legal liability in the UAE to provide compensation damages to the third party and not the policyholder.
If someone has scratched your car and left you can file a hit and run case with the police. If police gets evidence against someone, the damage will be covered by the person responsible.
If there is no culprit found, unfortunately you have to pay out-of-pocket expenses or you can involve your insurer if you have comprehensive insurance.
Yes, comprehensive car insurance covers deliberate scratches and vandalism.
[…] 02m ago […]