What California Vehicle Code §20002 says
Vehicle Code §20002 applies to "an accident resulting in damage to any property including vehicles." When only property is damaged, the driver who is involved must immediately stop and then do one of the following:
- Locate and notify the owner or person in charge of the damaged property, giving their name, current address, and — on request — showing their driver's license and vehicle registration; or
- If the owner cannot be found (for example, an unattended parked car), leave a written note in a conspicuous place on or near the damaged property. The note must include the driver's name and address and a statement of the circumstances, and the driver must, without unnecessary delay, notify local police or the California Highway Patrol.
The core idea is simple: even when no one is around, the owner of the damaged property should be able to find out who caused the damage.
What the law means in plain English
§20002 is the "leave a note" law. If you back into a parked car in a lot and drive away without leaving your information, you have likely violated §20002 — regardless of how minor the damage is and regardless of who was at fault for the situation. The obligation is about accountability for property damage, not about deciding blame.
As with the injury statute, fault is a separate matter handled through insurance or civil claims. §20002 only concerns whether the driver stopped and left the required information.
When §20002 applies
§20002 generally applies when:
1. A driver was involved in an accident;
2. The accident damaged property — most often another vehicle — but did not injure or kill anyone; and
3. The driver failed to stop and either notify the owner or leave a proper note and notify police.
The dividing line is injury. The moment a person other than the fleeing driver is hurt, the situation moves out of §20002 and into the far more serious §20001. We explain that boundary in detail in §20001 vs §20002.
How §20002 relates to a California car accident
Most people encounter §20002 in one of two everyday situations: a parking-lot collision where the other driver was not present, or a "someone hit my parked car and drove off" scenario.
If your parked vehicle was struck and the other driver left no information, the incident is a §20002 hit-and-run even though no one was injured. Practically, that means:
- You can report it to police; the note-and-notify duty was the other driver's responsibility, and a report creates an official record.
- If the driver is never identified, collision coverage on your own policy (if you carry it) may pay for the repair, subject to your deductible. Uninsured motorist property-damage coverage can also apply in some circumstances.
Because the losses here are limited to property, these are usually insurance matters rather than personal-injury claims. Our overview of what to do after a hit-and-run walks through the documentation steps.
Potential consequences under §20002
A §20002 violation is a misdemeanor. In general terms, a conviction can carry up to six months in county jail and a fine of up to $1,000, or both, along with points on the driver's record. Unlike §20001, it is not a "wobbler" and cannot be elevated to a felony, because by definition no one was injured.
These are general statutory descriptions, not a forecast of any specific case. Charging decisions and outcomes depend on the facts and the person's history. A driver cited under §20002 should consult a licensed California attorney about their particular situation.
Evidence that often matters in a §20002 case
Since the responsible driver has left, identifying the vehicle is again the central task. Helpful evidence includes:
- Photos of the damage, paint transfer, and the position of your vehicle;
- Any note left on the vehicle;
- Parking-lot or storefront security-camera footage;
- Witnesses who saw the collision or the other vehicle; and
- The police report documenting the incident.
Even a partial plate or a clear description of the other car can be enough for police or an insurer to work with.
Related California laws
§20002 belongs to the same family of post-accident duty statutes as:
- §20001, the injury and fatal-collision counterpart, which is far more serious;
- §20003–§20006, which detail the specific information-exchange and reporting duties; and
- California Civil Code §1714, the general negligence principle behind a civil claim for the property damage itself.
§20002 vs §20001: the core difference
The essential distinction is injury versus property damage. §20002 is the property-damage-only law and is always a misdemeanor. §20001 applies whenever a person is injured or killed and can be a felony. A driver who dents an empty parked car faces a very different statute than one who strikes and injures a cyclist. Because the two are commonly mixed up, we compare them directly in §20001 vs §20002.
Frequently asked questions
The damage was tiny — do I really have to leave a note?Under §20002, yes. The statute does not have a minimum-damage threshold. Leaving your information is required even for minor damage to an unattended vehicle.
Someone hit my parked car and left. Is that a crime?Yes — failing to stop and leave information after damaging property is a §20002 violation. You can file a police report and pursue the repair through the responsible driver's insurance if identified, or your own collision coverage if not.
Can a §20002 charge become a felony?No. Because §20002 by definition involves property damage only and no injury, it stays a misdemeanor. Injury cases fall under §20001 instead.
When consulting a California attorney may be appropriate
Property-damage hit-and-run cases are usually resolved through insurance, so many do not require an attorney. That can change if there is a dispute over fault, a citation with potential license consequences, or damage significant enough that an insurer is resisting a fair payment. In those situations, a licensed California attorney can review the specifics. You can browse attorneys by city and practice area in our directory.
Official source
The full text of California Vehicle Code §20002 is published by the state at the California Legislative Information website (leginfo.legislature.ca.gov). This page explains that statute for general educational purposes and is not a substitute for reading the law itself.
_This article is general information about California law, current as of 2026, and is not legal advice. It does not create an attorney-client relationship. For advice about a specific situation, consult a licensed California attorney._