Parking mad - 80 per cent of parked cars bashed

Eight out of 10 say their car has been damaged in a car park and nearly 1,000 of over 8,800 drivers quizzed in the latest AA/Populus poll would just drive away, if they hit an unattended parked car. Applied nationally, this equates to over 4 million unreported car park bashes, says AA Insurance.

The broker says that the number of insurance claims made nationally for damage in car parks is steadily rising, with around 3.24 million claims over the first half of 2009, 10 per cent more than over the same period last year.

But Simon Douglas, director of AA Insurance, believes this is just a fraction of the true picture.

"The survey found that 80 per cent of those interviewed have at some time had their car noticeably damaged while parked in a car park.

"Because it would affect their no claim bonus, many people wouldn't bother to claim for a small dink unless it was caused by someone else and they could claim against them. But often they can't even do that because whoever caused the damage ‘did a runner'," he says.

However, the survey of over 8,800 AA members revealed that two-thirds (66%) say they would leave a note if they accidentally hit an unattended parked car, women (67%) being slightly more honest than men (65%). Another 12% say they would take the car number and own up to the car park operator, police or their insurer.

"But a surprising number admit they would drive off: in fact, 11 per cent of the total which if translated to the driving population would be the equivalent of just under 4 million British drivers. And just over 10 per cent of those who say that they would drive off indicated that they would do so after leaving false contact details" Douglas adds.

Young drivers are least likely to own up (58%) while those aged between 55 and 64 are most likely to do so (69%). Regionally, those in the East Midlands are more likely to drive off (13%) than drivers in the South West and Scotland, who appear most likely to follow their conscience with only 9% saying they would leave the scene. Perhaps understandably, those on the lowest incomes are the most likely social group to not own up (14%).

"Car parking is a hazardous driving activity and our claims experience shows that hitting or being hit by another vehicle is by far the most common car-park claim, followed by collisions with walls, pillars, trolley shelters or barriers. There are also regular claims for damage from rogue shopping trolleys.

"Manoeuvring a car - especially in reverse - is something that many people aren't comfortable with and it would be good to see this play a more prominent part in the driving test. That way, perhaps future generations will be less likely to experience the frustration of seeing a dent in their door - and no trace of who caused the damage."