Getting Hit and Run Driver's Details from Rego

lachhelix on 07/05/2018 - 15:03
Last edited 07/05/2018 - 15:23

Hi there,

Just asking for some friendly OzBargain advice for a friend (partly because she asked me and I don't know, and partly because I'm just curious)

Here is the scenario:
My friend is parked on street parking, is inside cooking, hears a bang, goes outside to find her 2012 Toyota Corolla sideways on a footpath, the rear driver's wheel clean off, both bumpers, headlights, grille, drivers door and guards smashed, 3/4 other cars destroyed and the assailant gone…
There are however multiple witnesses who saw it happen, CCTV footage from a medical centre across the road AND the hit-and-run driver left their front bumper (with number plate attached) at the scene

Fast forward 3 hours, the police arrive to take a report etc.

The car is towed away, and Allianz is contacted (full comprehensive). By looking at photos, the car is definitely a write-off.
4 days later, Allianz claim that the owner of the vehicle (my friend) is responsible for the excess and require a signed 'letter of liability' by the hit-and-run driver to forgive payment of the excess

My question is this: How would we find this information? Should Allianz follow it up with the hit-and-run driver based on a number plate? The police surely have access to the parties information who owns (and I assume drove) the car based on the number plate they left behind however, I also assume the Police don't go around handing out details because they are asked.
I would also assume that if someone is stupid enough to crash into 4/5 cars, leave their number plate behind and drive away, that they aren't going to be forthcoming in signing a 'letter of liability' for her

Thoughts please?

Edit: We're in VIC and the registration is current according to VRE

Automotive Crash Hit and Run Insurance Police Vehicle Registration

Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 07/05/2018 - 15:12
    +4

    If you are in ACT you can check some registration details from this link: https://rego.act.gov.au/regosoawicket/public/reg/FindRegistr…

    I am sure other states have similar websites. Also form what I recall hit and run is a criminal offence and you can register a case with the police to investigate it.

    • alxr0101 on 08/05/2018 - 07:35

      No ownership, names addresses or even a postcode. Details provided are only those relevant to, say, prepurchase inspection for confirming details such as VIN.

  • lachhelix on 07/05/2018 - 15:22

    Thanks - we're in VIC. Probably should have added that in!

    • R-Man on 07/05/2018 - 15:31
      +6

      Hi mate, I'm in VIC. We had a similar situation and this is how it was resolved. In short, my point is that your insurer should let you claim with no excess so long as you provide a police report reference number. That report is dependent on the police identifying the owner of the plates - not sure what hurdles they face there?

      1. We were hit and run, we were able to take photos of the culprit's face and car including partial number plate. Using VicRoads online rego check we ascertained the complete number plate.

      2. We reported to the police. We filed claim with GIO, who told us we are liable for excess unless we provide a police case reference.

      3. Police said they could not provide a report number yet, as they were in the process of identifying the guy

      4. Few days later police confirmed they identified the guy and gave us a report reference for insurer.

      5. Provided that to GIO. GIO repaired our car with no excess from us!

      6. It is my understanding that GIO will seek damages against the culprit in a future court date (which we might need to attend as well).

  • mbck on 07/05/2018 - 15:22
    +1

    I thought police can give you that info to the insurance? Maybe not you personally but at least to the insurance.

    • lachhelix on 07/05/2018 - 15:24

      That's what I'm thinking!
      She's put a call in to the police requesting that to be sent to Allianz but haven't heard back as of yet

  • Cartman2530 on 07/05/2018 - 15:29
    +1

    As said by trickster, go to the police and get an investigation happening.

    But if the car that hit your friends corolla was stolen and the police can't find the driver after a reasonable period of time, then its probably less painful to pay the excess, claim as a not at fault accident and get the money for the car. Just make sure its recorded as not at fault so your friend doesn't lose their no claim bonus.

    • Diji1 on 07/05/2018 - 17:12

      less painful to pay the excess

      What is she paying insurance for?

      • Jalif on 08/05/2018 - 08:06

        If they can't find the driver, you generally have to pay the excess. It's in the pds.

  • CLoSeR on 07/05/2018 - 15:31
    +1

    Insurers will require name and address of responsible party, rego is not enough.

    I'd be pushing the Police to speak with insurer for registered owners details.

  • kingsville on 07/05/2018 - 15:36
    +1

    when you next talk to the police you can also get the police incident/report number.
    This could be provided to Allianz to explain the cause!

  • lachhelix on 07/05/2018 - 15:36
    +2

    Thanks for your feedback everybody!
    Yes an investigation is currently under way by the Police, and the insurance is well aware. Here's hoping a police investigation/case number is enough for Allianz

  • pantsparty on 07/05/2018 - 16:01
    +2

    I am surprised the driver could even drive away - surely their car sustained some serious damage too if your car was a write off! Good luck in getting this resolved.

    • lachhelix on 07/05/2018 - 16:34
      +1

      Tell me about it!
      I saw the photos and thought, jeez
      The offender was in an old gold Suzuki 4WD so probably built like a rock

  • BorisYeltsin on 07/05/2018 - 16:11
    +2

    I had the same thing happen last year.

    An old guy (80-ish) with an enormous trailer (with the back gate flapping in the breeze) did a rat run along my skinny street and scraped the trailer gate across the back and side of my car. It apparently sounded like 1000 cats dying.

    The neighbour was able to get a picture of the rego, and according to the rules in Qld it had to be reported to the police inside 24 hours. I drove to the station, and they immediately looked up the rego and called the culprit, who admitted they were going to do the bolt, so lucky the neighbour was around.

    I had no problem via Progressive, did not have to pay excess. All very smooth after that.

    • lachhelix on 07/05/2018 - 16:35

      Ahhh yes, the classic fill it until it breaks technique…
      Goes along with those people with wood in their sedan with the boot held closed with some string and their front window open

  • Ughhh on 07/05/2018 - 16:24
    +2

    4 days later, Allianz claim that the owner of the vehicle (my friend) is responsible for the excess and require a signed 'letter of liability' by the hit-and-run driver to forgive payment of the excess

    If it was any other insurance company (sgic and aaimi at least), they would've said "ok, give us the details you have and we'll sort this out. Meanwhile, when do you want your car repaired? /we'll sort out your car."

    Instead, Allianz makes you pay excess first even if you're clearly not at fault. They'll only refund the excess of they can get the money from the other party.

    Never going with Allianz again.

    • lachhelix on 07/05/2018 - 16:33
      +1

      What a joke…
      Yeah she mentioned she may move after everything is said and done

      • TheMoistMan on 08/05/2018 - 08:58
        +2

        Like is the point of paying for insurance if they don't help you? Christ glad I'm with nrma peace of mind

    • R-Man on 08/05/2018 - 09:17

      Are you sure about AAMI?

      Allianz makes you pay excess first even if you're clearly not at fault. They'll only refund the excess of they can get the money from the other party.

      GIO said the same thing to us, they wanted excess upfront which could be refunded when we provide police reference (a particular report police prepares for insurer i believe). Instead we left the claim on hold and then provided police reference when we had it.

      GIO and AAMI are both suncorp so I would expect they'd have the same policy on this.

  • try2bhelpful on 07/05/2018 - 17:06
    +2

    We had someone hit and run us. We got the rego and gave the info to the police. Some hours after the accident the owners reported it stolen then several days later the "happened" to find the car a couple of streets over from them. Without a positive ID of the driver there was nothing we, or the cops, could do.

    • burningrage on 07/05/2018 - 17:14
      +3

      Wow that is new type of potential scam.

      Hit and run away. Perpetrator claim car stolen and then "found" it next day.

      Victim left with Excess to pay and ratings hit. Perpetrator just have to fix own car without consequence.

      • Richardc on 07/05/2018 - 19:23

        New type? No, I notice this about 10 yrs ago.

        • try2bhelpful on 08/05/2018 - 09:00
          +1

          It was more than 10 years ago this happened to us. Just another reason why a dashboard camera is a good idea. The cops were pretty skeptical about their story but there was nothing any of us could do.

  • viper8548 on 07/05/2018 - 17:06

    pics pls

  • chumlee on 07/05/2018 - 18:36
    +3

    Police report should identify driver and the investigation should conclude driver is responsible for damage caused. This should be adequate.

    Ridiculous propisition for you to get a hit and run driver to sign a letter but Allianz operate this way with lots of get out clauses that's why i don't use them

  • ShannonN on 08/05/2018 - 05:33

    Surely this would have made the evening news with pics video etc inc video footage from Medical centre send them the link to the news

  • Moviedude on 08/05/2018 - 09:18
    +1

    The thing is paying the excess will haunt you for at least 3 years as with each new insurance application you will have to declare the claim regardless of the fact that you were not at fault.

  • Aussie Smurfette on 08/05/2018 - 12:14
    +1

    Another insurance company to stay away from.
    Any issues I have ever had the insurance company does the work not me.

  • lachhelix on 02/07/2018 - 00:56
    +1

    Update:
    Apparently the police eventually provided drivers details to the insurance company and the excess was refunded!

    • CMH on 02/07/2018 - 11:55

      Nice! Thanks for the update

  • Iam12 on 04/07/2018 - 22:41

    How did you manage to get the police to come to take a report? I had the same thing happen, someone took the drivers side of my car away at night and drove off, saw it in the morning and after calling the police, they told me if no-one was hurt or injured they don't deal with it.

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