A scratch in a parking lot and comprehensive insurance. Does the policy cover private property near the airport? A lawyer explains

You don’t realize your car has been scratched in the airport parking lot until you get back: in a rush, with your luggage, when you just want to head home. And that’s when a specific question arises: will comprehensive insurance cover it if the damage occurred on private property and you don’t know who caused it? The answer isn’t “always yes” or “always no”—it depends on the terms of the policy and how you report the incident. Below, we explain what to check in your policy, what evidence matters, and how to file a claim without making mistakes that will later cost you time and nerves.

Airport parking – a small world of heavy traffic

Airport parking lots are bustling with activity at all hours of the day. Planes take off and land, and along with them, hundreds of cars come and go from their parking spots. Even in a modern, monitored parking lot, minor incidents can occur. A moment of inattention while maneuvering, rushing before departure—and a fender bender or a scratch on the vehicle occurs. Such parking lot damage happens even to experienced drivers. Unfortunately, it also happens that the at-fault driver flees the scene without leaving a trace—even if the parking lot is monitored. For the traveler, this means stress and uncertainty. Will they be left with the bill for the body shop, or will their insurance policy cover it?

Fortunately, as drivers become more aware, an increasing number of people are protecting themselves with voluntary comprehensive auto insurance. Comprehensive insurance is a financial safety net—it applies regardless of whether the damage occurs in front of your home, on a public road, or in a private parking lot. What matters is the coverage area (usually the entire country or even Europe), not the status of the property where you parked your car. In other words, if your car is damaged at the airport, the fact that the parking lot is private does not deprive you of coverage. However, it is important to know how and from whose policy to obtain compensation—this depends on the circumstances of the incident.

If you’re going on a long trip, it’s a good idea to not only make sure you have insurance but also to check the condition of your car before leaving it for a few days—we’ve outlined a step-by-step guide on what to check in our article “How to Prepare Your Car for a Long Stay at the Airport?”.

Comprehensive Auto Insurance in Action – What Does It Cover on Private Property?

Imagine two situations. In the first, a driver parking next to you has scratched your car and is honestly waiting for you to return. In the second, there’s a similar collision, but the person responsible has fled and remains unknown. How you proceed depends on these scenarios. When the at-fault party is known, the path to repairing the damage is fairly straightforward: you draft a joint statement, and the costs of the repair are covered by their mandatory liability insurance. Your comprehensive auto insurance remains untouched—and that’s a good thing, because it allows you to keep your discounts. Problems arise only when the culprit is missing. In a situation where the person responsible for the scratch fled, your comprehensive insurance (if you have it) becomes your only financial lifeline. It is this policy that will cover the bodywork and paint repairs, even if it is never determined who was at fault. There is one condition: the comprehensive insurance must have been purchased before the incident—you cannot retroactively insure yourself after noticing the damage.

“For AC, it doesn’t matter whether the damage occurred in a public or private parking lot—what matters are the provisions of the General Terms and Conditions, specifically which incidents the insurer covers and what conditions it sets for filing a claim.” — says one of the lawyers working with FlyDrive.

Does comprehensive auto insurance cover scratches?

Generally speaking, yes—standard comprehensive insurance (especially the all-risk policy) protects the vehicle against the consequences of various unforeseen events. Unlike liability insurance, the scope of comprehensive insurance is not strictly defined by law, so it always depends on the General Terms and Conditions of Insurance of the specific insurance company. However, most comprehensive insurance policies cover damage occurring in a parking lot: both that caused by an unknown party and by the vehicle owner themselves. This means that if, for example, you scratch your car against a pole while backing out of a tight spot—you can also count on compensation from your comprehensive insurance. Comprehensive insurance also applies in cases of vandalism (e.g., someone scratched the bodywork with a sharp object) or weather-related damage. What really matters is the cause of the damage: if it falls within the scope of your policy (accident, vandalism, parking lot collision, etc.), the insurer will pay compensation regardless of whether the incident occurred on a public road, outside a supermarket, or behind the fence of a private parking lot.

Parking Damage and Comprehensive Insurance – Documentation, General Terms and Conditions, and Common Pitfalls

However, it’s important to keep a few practical points in mind. First, document the incident. The insurer may require confirmation of the circumstances of the damage—a police report or CCTV footage will come in handy. Therefore, if you discover a scratch in a parking lot, don’t hesitate to call the police to the scene. The officers will draw up a report, which will not only increase the chances of identifying the perpetrator but will also serve as solid evidence for the insurer. Second, check your policy terms and conditions. Some cheaper comprehensive insurance options may exclude minor parking damage or require additional conditions to be met (e.g., reporting within 24 hours). If your policy has a deductible or an integral deductible (minimum damage amount), make sure the repair cost exceeds it—otherwise, the insurer will not pay out. It’s always better to know the terms of the contract in advance so that, in a stressful moment in the parking lot, there’s no doubt about what you’re entitled to.

Trust and Responsibility – A Traveler’s Perspective

For many people, the trip begins the moment they leave home and park their car.  This stage can “set the tone” for the entire trip—especially when there’s a rush, luggage to deal with, and the knowledge that the car will be left unattended for a few days. At FlyDrive, we look at this from the driver’s perspective: what matters is predictability, clear rules, and the feeling that the parking area is well-organized.

That’s why we focus on solutions that minimize chaos from the very start: simple online booking, automatic entry, well-organized parking areas, and constant surveillance and lighting. While this doesn’t guarantee “zero risk,” it does significantly reduce the number of situations that end in a frantic maneuver and minor parking damage. And when something raises a concern, a quick course of action is key—documenting the damage, contacting the parking lot staff, and properly reporting the claim to the insurer.

It’s worth keeping in mind a formal point: most commercial parking lots operate on a model of providing parking spaces, and the operator’s liability applies only to incidents resulting from their own negligence. From the driver’s perspective, the most important thing is therefore to combine two elements: choosing a parking lot wisely and having your own insurance coverage (comprehensive coverage), which in practice can be decisive in cases of damage caused by an unknown party.

Surveillance in the airport parking lot – how does it help identify the perpetrator?

Video surveillance is one of the most critical components of airport parking infrastructure, as it significantly improves the ability to identify the perpetrator of damage. While the mere presence of cameras does not eliminate the risk of scratches or minor collisions, it greatly increases the chances of reconstructing the sequence of events—especially when a driver notices the damage only after returning from a trip.

Modern airport parking lots use CCTV systems that cover entry and exit points, access roads, and parking areas. Camera footage can help identify the perpetrator’s vehicle, the time of the incident, and the circumstances surrounding it. This is crucial for both the police and the insurer—especially when settling a claim under the perpetrator’s liability insurance or when verifying the account of events under comprehensive auto insurance.

In practice, monitoring helps in three areas:

• Identifying the person responsible for a parking lot collision – if the scratch occurred while another vehicle was maneuvering, the footage may reveal the license plate number and the time of the incident.
• Confirming the circumstances of the damage for the insurer – CCTV footage can serve as crucial evidence when filing a claim under comprehensive auto insurance, especially when the at-fault party remains unknown.
• Preventive effect – simply knowing that surveillance is in place helps deter risky behavior and acts of vandalism.

However, it’s important to keep in mind that there are limitations. Surveillance cameras don’t always cover every inch of the parking lot, and access to the footage is time-limited (data retention). That’s why it’s so important to report any damage promptly—both to the parking lot staff and to the police—preferably as soon as you notice it. Any delay could mean that the footage will no longer be available.

Car Insurance and Parking Damage – The Facts at a Glance

If your car gets scratched in a parking lot, it all comes down to three questions: Can you identify the person responsible? Was the damage caused by another driver or by circumstances related to the parking lot? And what exactly does your comprehensive auto insurance policy cover? Below is a quick guide to help you decide what to do next.

• When the at-fault party is known: The repair costs will be covered by the at-fault party’s liability insurance. You should write a joint statement about the incident and report the claim to their insurer. Your comprehensive insurance remains unaffected, so you’ll keep your discounts.
• If the at-fault party remains unknown: You can cover the damage with your own comprehensive insurance—provided your policy covers such incidents. It is recommended that you call the police and gather evidence (notes, photos, surveillance footage) for your insurer. If you do not have comprehensive insurance, unfortunately, you will have to cover the repair costs out of your own pocket (the Insurance Guarantee Fund does not pay compensation for parking damage where the perpetrator is unknown).
• Parking lot liability: The parking lot operator is liable only for damage caused by its own fault (e.g., operational error, defective gate) and usually has its own business liability insurance to cover such incidents. Most damage caused by third-party drivers or vandals is not the responsibility of the parking lot owner—which is why it is so important to have comprehensive auto insurance and to choose an insured parking lot that actively ensures safety.
• Comprehensive Insurance Claims: Reporting even a minor claim under your comprehensive insurance policy may result in the loss of some of your discounts and an increase in your premium the following year. If the damage is minor and you have a high deductible, consider whether it’s worth the cost. Sometimes, the cost of repairing a minor scratch out-of-pocket will be lower than the total consequences of losing your discount. On the other hand, for more serious damage, a well-chosen comprehensive insurance policy will pay for itself after just one collision—covering even several thousand zlotys in paint costs.

If you want to avoid unnecessary delays, stick to one rule: take photos right away, write a brief description of “what, where, when,” and only then decide whether to pursue a claim against the at-fault driver’s liability insurance, your own comprehensive insurance, or the parking lot’s liability.

A smooth start to the journey

A parking lot isn’t just a space for your car—it’s the first stage of your journey. It’s the moment when you leave your daily worries behind—provided you feel confident about your safety. As we highlight in the article “The Journey Begins in the Parking Lot – How Technology Is Changing Travelers’ Comfort”, a streamlined parking process and automated entry reduce nervous maneuvering, which in practice lowers the risk of minor damage. The knowledge that your car is protected by both a trusted parking operator and your own insurance policy provides priceless peace of mind. Thanks to this, airport parking ceases to be a source of worry and becomes a peaceful start to your adventure.

You can reserve a spot in advance—conveniently, online, in just a few minutes. When you leave your car with us, you know we’ve taken care of every safety detail, so you can confidently set off toward new horizons.