AutoBodyFAQ's

What is expected before the vehicle is brought to the shop if it is drivable? What if the vehicle is non-drivable?  Estimate has to be written and accepted, parts will need to be ordered by the shop and the car scheduled to be brought into the auto body shop for repairs. If the vehicle is non-drivable, it will need to be towed to the repair facility. Read entire post...

Like scouting for a plumber or a mechanic, the reputation of the body shop is an important factor to consider. Always ask for references from your insurance company. They don’t deal with inferior service providers because they have a vested interest in the vehicles being repaired properly. Another thing you can do is ask your mechanic. If he has been around the area awhile you can bet that he knows who the best body shops are and which ones to avoid. A good reference is priceless. You can also contact the Better Business Bureau about a particular shop.Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Read entire post...

Do I have to use a Direct Repair Shop recommended by the insurance company? No. In the end, the choice is yours. The insurance company may tell you that the shop of your choice is not on their “approved” list of shops and that they may not be able to efficiently handle your claim due to your selection of a certain shop, but do not be intimidated by this. It is your right to choose whatever shop you want to repair your vehicle. If by chance you pick a bad shop, and they mess up your repairs, it is you against the body shop. The insurance company is only liable to pay for the origina Read entire post...

When you first contact your insurance to set up your estimate and review your policy, ask the insurance company about their Direct Repair Program and what type of warranty they give on repairs done at one of their facilities and, if applicable, will the warranty transfer out of state. Normally the insurance companies will back the warranties of the shops on their “approved” lists. Read entire post...

Does my insurance company offer me a direct repair program through a local body shop and how does the process work in dealing with a direct repair shop?  Some auto insurance companies use a Direct Repair Program to provide repairs for their policy holders. In a Direct Repair Program, a collision shop and an auto insurance company complete a contract to provide repairs for the insurance company’s claimants. This is how a Direct Repair Program works: You are involved in an accident and contact your insurance company, or the insurer of the at-fault driver. The auto insurance company then Read entire post...

After evaluating the damages to your vehicle, your insurance company has the option of repairing your vehicle, replacing your vehicle, or reimbursing you for the vehicle’s actual cash value (ACV). Actual cash value is the amount your vehicle would have sold for on the date of the accident. Your insurance will elect to replace your vehicle or reimburse you for the ACV in those instances where the vehicle is economically impractical to repair. A vehicle is considered economically impractical to repair, or a total loss, if the cost to repair the vehicle equals or exceeds the vehicle’ Read entire post...

No, the final choice is yours but if the insurer wants to use non-OEM parts and you decide to use more expensive OEM parts, you may have to pay the difference in cost. All depends what is stated in your policy. Read entire post...

This is a wide open question and can only be answered by your policy limits. Your policy may state that they can replace OEM parts with like, kind and quality parts which could be a used part or an aftermarket part. Read entire post...

After evaluating the damages to your vehicle, your insurance company has the option of repairing your vehicle, replacing your vehicle, or reimbursing you for the vehicle’s actual cash value (ACV). Actual cash value is the amount your vehicle would have sold for on the date of the accident. Your insurance will elect to replace your vehicle or reimburse you for the ACV in those instances where the vehicle is economically impractical to repair. A vehicle is considered economically impractical to repair, or a total loss, if the cost to repair the vehicle equals or exceeds the vehicle’ Read entire post...

If the accident or claim is not my fault, do I go through my insurance company or the other person’s insurance company? Report the crash to your insurance company immediately or within the time specified by your policy along with a copy of any police reports or supporting documents. Then report it to the other insurance company. Typically each company will have its own way of handling a claim. The majority of the time, if it is not your fault, the other insurance company will process the claim. Just keep on top of them to insure your case is being handled promptly and to your satisfact Read entire post...