This is the hardest version of the injured party's journey: the at-fault driver drove off, or turns out to have had no insurance. The system has a safety net built for this too – the Compensation Account, run by MABISZ (the Association of Hungarian Insurers) – but this route has its own rules and limits, which are worth knowing about factually.
- For an uninsured at-fault driver, the claim is settled under the rules in force by the Compensation Account – the payout can then be recovered from the uninsured driver.
- For an unknown (hit-and-run) driver, compensation has its own rules and limits – property damage and personal injury may be treated differently.
- In cases like this, a police report and documenting the scene straightaway are almost always essential.
What is the Compensation Account?
The Compensation Account is a shared financial safety net within the compulsory motor third-party liability insurance (MTPL) system: it's funded by insurers' contributions and run by MABISZ. Its job is to make sure an innocent injured party isn't left without compensation even when the at-fault driver had no valid insurance, or turns out to be unidentifiable – within the scope and conditions set under the rules in force. Its sister institution is the Compensation Fund, which steps in if the at-fault driver's insurer has gone into liquidation.
An uninsured at-fault driver: the more straightforward case
If the at-fault driver is known but their vehicle had no cover, you can claim against the Compensation Account – the process is similar to a normal claim: documents, assessment, calculation. The system's strictness shows up on the other side instead: the compensation paid out can be recovered from the uninsured registered keeper. As the injured party, the key point is this: an uninsured at-fault driver doesn't mean you're left to cover your own loss.
An unknown at-fault driver: the harder case
With a hit-and-run – the classic case is a car scratched in a car park – under the rules in force, the Compensation Account typically does NOT cover pure property damage: that's only possible if the same accident also involved serious personal injury or a fatality. For a parking-lot scratch, casco cover (or later identifying the at-fault driver) is the realistic option. If you have casco cover (comprehensive insurance for your own car), that's often the faster solution here – it's worth working out how the two compare.
Practical advice for cases like this
Three pieces of advice. First: don't write off the claim in advance – the mistaken belief that 'it'll never be paid anyway' stops many valid claims from even being started. Second: take deadlines and documentation seriously – in these cases, evidence matters even more than usual. Third: ask for help – this kind of process is unusual, and as a broker I know exactly where each step belongs; help is also available during a stuck or disputed stage, as described in the article on broker support. MABISZ's guidance materials are public – it's always worth checking the current detailed rules there.
Prevention: parking habits and documentation
A good share of hit-and-run damage happens in car parks – and it's partly preventable. What reduces the risk: choosing a camera-monitored or clearly visible parking spot, avoiding tight spaces, and for a high-value car, favouring a corner spot or one next to a pillar. What improves your chances if it happens anyway: making a habit of a quick photo walk-round (a fast circuit with your phone on arrival and departure is worth its weight in gold if there's a dispute later), quickly tracking down nearby cameras (footage from shops and petrol stations is typically kept only for a short time), and reporting to the police promptly. The casco question comes up again here: for parking damage, casco is the most reliable answer – the case for it is set out at casco.biz.
A question about your own car? Run the online calculator in minutes, or book a free 20-minute consultation →
