In this guide
Leaving after damaging another vehicle or property
The penalty for driving off when no one was hurt, in each state’s hit-and-run law:
| State | Penalty | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| California | Misdemeanor: up to 6 months in county jail, a fine up to $1,000, or both | Veh. Code § 20002 |
| Texas | Class C misdemeanor if damage to all vehicles is under $200; Class B misdemeanor if $200 or more | Transp. Code § 550.022 |
| Florida | Second-degree misdemeanor | Stat. § 316.061 |
| New York | Traffic infraction: a fine up to $250, up to 15 days in jail, or both | VTL § 600(1) |
| Pennsylvania | Third-degree misdemeanor: a $2,500 fine, up to 1 year in prison, or both | 75 Pa.C.S. § 3743 |
| Illinois | Class A misdemeanor | 625 ILCS 5/11-402 |
| Ohio | First-degree misdemeanor | R.C. 4549.02(B)(1) |
| Georgia | Misdemeanor: a fine of $300–$1,000, up to 12 months, or both | O.C.G.A. § 40-6-270(c) |
| North Carolina | Class 1 misdemeanor | G.S. 20-166(c) |
| Michigan | Misdemeanor: up to 90 days, a fine up to $100, or both | MCL 257.618 |
If you hit a parked car
Every state here requires you to stop first. Then:
| State | What you must do | Penalty for driving off |
|---|---|---|
| California | Find the owner, or leave a written note in a conspicuous place with your name and address — and notify the police without unnecessary delay (Veh. Code § 20002) | Misdemeanor: up to 6 months in jail, a fine up to $1,000, or both |
| Texas | Find the owner, or leave a written note in or on the car with your name, address and what happened (Transp. Code § 550.024) | Class C misdemeanor if damage is under $200; Class B if $200 or more |
| Florida | Find the owner, or securely attach a note with your name, address and registration number — and notify the police (Stat. § 316.063(1)) | Second-degree misdemeanor |
| New York | Give your information to the owner — or, if no one is there, report it to the nearest police station or judicial officer as soon as you can (Veh. & Traf. Law § 600(1)) | Traffic infraction: a fine up to $250, up to 15 days in jail, or both |
| Pennsylvania | Find the owner, or securely attach a note with your name, address, insurance and registration — and notify the police (75 Pa.C.S. § 3745) | Summary offense: $300 fine, up to 90 days in jail, or both |
| Illinois | Find the owner, or securely attach a note with your name, address and registration — notify the police and file a written crash report (625 ILCS 5/11-404) | Class A misdemeanor |
| Georgia | Find the owner, or leave a written note in a conspicuous place with your and the owner’s names and addresses (O.C.G.A. § 40-6-271) | Misdemeanor |
| North Carolina | Give your information to the nearest peace officer — or leave a note with your name, address, license and plate numbers, then complete the state’s crash-reporting rule within 48 hours (G.S. 20-166(c1)) | Class 1 misdemeanor |
| Michigan | Find and notify the owner, or report the collision to the nearest police officer (MCL 257.620) | Not stated in this section |
Ohio’s rule for parked vehicles isn’t covered here yet.
What to do after hitting a parked car
- Stop as close to the scene as you safely can.
- Look for the owner — ask in nearby stores or homes.
- If you can’t find them, leave a note where it will be seen, with what your state requires: at least your name and address, and in some states your registration and insurance information.
- Tell the police where your state requires it, and take photos of both cars and the spot.
- Tell your insurer. Your liability coverage is what pays for the other car.
If someone hit your parked car and drove off
Report it to the police and get the report number. Your collision coverage pays for the repairs, minus your deductible. Uninsured motorist property damage coverage may not help when the driver is never found — Illinois law, for example, says it doesn’t apply when the hit-and-run vehicle can’t be identified. Our hit-and-run guide covers who pays.
When no injuries becomes something more
All of this assumes nobody was hurt. If anyone was injured, the same act can be a felony in most of these states, with prison terms written into the law — see hit-and-run penalties when someone is hurt.
Frequently asked questions
Is leaving the scene of an accident with no injuries a felony?
Not in any of the 10 states we checked. Driving off after damaging only a vehicle or other property is a misdemeanor in 9 of them and a traffic infraction in New York. If anyone was hurt, the picture changes — in most of these states that can be a felony.
What if I hit a parked car and leave a note?
Leaving a note with the information your state requires is one way to meet the duty in most of these states. Some also require you to tell the police: California, Florida, Pennsylvania and Illinois do. In New York and Michigan, if you can’t find the owner, you report it to the police instead.
Can you go to jail for leaving the scene if no one was hurt?
It’s possible. For leaving after damaging another vehicle, the maximum is up to 6 months in California, up to a year in Pennsylvania and Georgia, up to 90 days in Michigan and up to 15 days in New York.
What if I didn’t know I hit anything?
Several states’ laws turn on what the driver knew. North Carolina’s applies when the driver knows or reasonably should know of the crash, and Georgia’s misdemeanor applies to a driver who knowingly fails to stop. If you’re charged, a criminal defense lawyer in the state is the person to ask.
How soon do I have to report hitting a parked car?
Right away, in practice. California and Florida say “without unnecessary delay,” New York says “as soon as physically able,” and North Carolina gives drivers who leave a note 48 hours to complete its reporting rule.
Reviewed by
Morgan Hale, Editor. Writes about the financial side of injury claims — fees, liens, timelines and state rules — and checks every page against its sources before it’s published. Not a lawyer; “Morgan Hale” is a pen name. Editorial policy · How we calculate
Sources
- California Vehicle Code § 20002 — Duties when only property is damaged, including unattended vehicles (FindLaw (California Vehicle Code))
- Texas Transportation Code § 550.022 — Accident involving damage to a vehicle (FindLaw (Texas Transportation Code))
- Florida Statutes § 316.061 (2025) — Crashes involving damage to vehicle or property (The Florida Senate)
- New York Vehicle and Traffic Law § 600 — Leaving the scene of an incident without reporting (New York State Senate)
- 75 Pa.C.S. § 3743 — Accidents involving damage to attended vehicle or property (FindLaw (Pennsylvania Vehicle Code))
- 625 ILCS 5/11-402 — Motor vehicle crashes involving damage to a vehicle (FindLaw (Illinois Vehicle Code))
- Ohio Revised Code § 4549.02 — Stopping after an accident on public roads (FindLaw (Ohio Revised Code))
- O.C.G.A. § 40-6-270 — Duty of driver to stop at or return to the scene of an accident (FindLaw (Official Code of Georgia))
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-166 — Duty to stop in the event of a crash (FindLaw (North Carolina General Statutes))
- Michigan Compiled Laws § 257.618 — Accident resulting in damage to an attended vehicle (FindLaw (Michigan Vehicle Code))
- Texas Transportation Code § 550.024 — Duty on striking an unattended vehicle (FindLaw (Texas Transportation Code))
- Florida Statutes § 316.063 (2025) — Duty upon damaging unattended vehicle or other property (The Florida Senate)
- 75 Pa.C.S. § 3745 — Accidents involving damage to unattended vehicle or property (FindLaw (Pennsylvania Vehicle Code))
- 625 ILCS 5/11-404 — Duty upon damaging unattended vehicle or other property (FindLaw (Illinois Vehicle Code))
- O.C.G.A. § 40-6-271 — Duty upon striking an unattended vehicle (FindLaw (Official Code of Georgia))
- Michigan Compiled Laws § 257.620 — Collision with an unattended vehicle (FindLaw (Michigan Vehicle Code))
- 215 ILCS 5/143a — Uninsured and hit-and-run motor vehicle coverage (FindLaw (Illinois Insurance Code))
Not legal or financial advice. InjuryMath is not a law firm and does not sell or broker funding. This page gives general information based on the sources listed; your contracts and your state’s law control. For advice about your situation, talk to a licensed attorney in your state.