Are we living in a disingenuous society? Apparently so, according to financial website Money.com.au survey, which revealed that an alarming 57 per cent of drivers did not own up to the incident. In contrast, only 43 per cent did the right thing by leaving a note with their details or reporting the incident directly to the other vehicle’s owner.

That’s despite the potential cost to the owner of the vehicle, who then has to pay for the repairs. According to the financial comparison site, even minor damage can lead to expensive repairs.

Money’s Finance Expert, Sean Callery, says drivers often underestimate the consequences of a minor car bingle. “A lot of people see a small knock as no big deal, especially in a car park, but even minor damage can lead to expensive repairs and insurance complications for the vehicle owner. Depending on the size of the dent or scratch left, it can be a hit to a car’s resale value, and that can be a problem if the vehicle is secured against finance,” he says. 

“Australians pride themselves on doing the right thing, so quietly driving off after hitting someone’s car — even if there’s no damage immediately visible — doesn’t sit well with that idea. Driving off after actually damaging a car leaves another person to deal with any financial fallout. Leaving your details is about being honest and not passing the cost onto someone else.”

The study found Gen Z (birthed between 1996 and 2010) to be the least likely age group to confess to damaging another vehicle, with 84 per cent admitting to leaving an incident unreported, compared to Millennials (56 per cent), Gen X (54 per cent), and Baby Boomers (per cent).

Other findings from the survey include that accidental knocks and scrapes are more common than many realise – nearly one in four drivers (24 per cent) admit they’ve bumped or scratched another vehicle – and another 12 per cent say they’ve witnessed an incident involving damage to a parked or unattended car. 

The full survey is available to read here.