Almost Half of All Drivers Would `Scratch and Run’

Ever had your car dented or scratched by another driver, then found they simply drove away leaving no details? Yep, annoying.

Automotive experts at Hippo Leasing have surveyed 1,000 Brits to find out how honest they are when hitting another driver’s car. Of those who can drive, they have found almost half (46%) of motorists would hit another car and not tell the owner of the incident.

Other key findings include:

• Over half (54%) of Brits are honest and would admit to scratching another drivers’ car
• Under a third (28%) of men would scratch another car and leave the scene without telling another driver
• Boomers are the most honest generation and would tell another driver if they have hit their car
• Drivers in London are most likely to experience a “hit and run”
• Toyota drivers are most likely to hit another car and not tell the owner of the incident

Almost half (46%) of Brits would hit another car and not tell the owner

Despite 46% of Brits admitting to Hippo Leasing that they would scratch another car and not tell the owner, not all is lost as over half (54%) of Brits are honest enough to admit to scratching another driver’s vehicle.

Of the 46% of Brits who said they “hit and run” – 13% said they have scratched a car and left without making the driver aware, another 13% said they would scratch a car without making the driver aware and 20% of respondents said it would depend on the size of the scratch.

Under a third of men wouldn’t tell another driver if they hit their car

Hippo Leasing has found that 28% of men are more likely to scratch another driver’s car and not tell them, whereas only 18% of women agree.

However, among those who said they would tell another driver that they scratched their car almost three in 10 (29%), women agreed with just one in four (25%) men also agreeing. This shows that women are the most honest when it comes to hit and runs, as 4% more likely than men to scratch another car and make the driver aware of the incident.

Millennials are the ones to watch when it comes to “hit and run” incidents

Boomers are the most honest generation with more than a quarter (27%) of them saying they would admit to scratching another car, this is then followed by Gen X (10%).

However, millennials are most likely to “hit and run”, specifically those aged 25 – 34, as 12% of them admit they would scratch a car and leave the scene without telling the other driver.

Drivers in Belfast are most likely to experience a “hit and run”

Hippo Leasings survey can reveal that drivers in Belfast are most likely to experience a “hit and run” as almost three in five (58%) of those who live in Belfast said they would scratch another car and not tell the other driver.

Both Birmingham and London are the second most likely to experience a “hit and run” as more than five in 10 (52%) of Londoners and Brummies said they wouldn’t tell another driver if they scratched their car.

However, those in Cardiff are least likely to experience a “hit and run” as over two-thirds (69%) of those living in Cardiff said they would admit to hitting another driver’s car and tell them, this is then followed by Glaswegians as 17 in 25 (68%) of them also agreed.

Brits should avoid parking near Toyota drivers as they are most likely “hit and run”

Almost one in 10 (9%) of Toyota drivers admit they would “hit and run”, so you should try to avoid parking near drivers of this car brand, as the study found these the most likely!

Hippo Leasing has also found that one in 12 (8%) BMW drivers admit they would scratch another car and not tell the owner of the incident and drive off.

However, Ford owners are the most honest drivers as one in ten (10%) said they would admit to scratching another car. The second most honest are Volkswagen owners as one in 20 (5%) said they agree.