What To Do When Getting An Auto Body Repair Estimate
Everything becomes difficult when you are involved in a car accident. You can understandably be shaken up from the experience and unwilling to get in a car again. There’s a good chance you’ll also lose your main mode of transport for a while. But one of the most difficult things can be the process of getting estimates to repair your car. Confusing quotes and uncooperative insurance companies can make the whole process a nightmare.
But it doesn’t have to be. By following the tips below, you’ll be able to get a number of quotes quickly and effectively and make sure that work can get started on your car as soon as possible.
Get high-quality estimates
One of the biggest issues we see when customers come in for estimates is that their other quotes aren’t comprehensive enough at all. You need a comprehensive quote, one that identifies all of the damage and accurately quotes the costs to repair it, for a number of reasons. Firstly, your insurance company will demand one. They’ll want to know exactly how much they are paying and what for. But it is also important if you are paying out of your own pocket to make sure that the repair center knows what they are doing and can afford to repair your car correctly. The last thing that you want is to agree on costs only to find that the repair center slaps on an additional $500 because they underquoted.
Don’t just consider the price
With that in mind, it is important not to be led by price. And definitely, don’t be led by the price quoted by the other driver’s insurance company. Remember the saying: if you pay peanuts, you’ll get monkeys. Many insurers have special relationship deals with auto body repair shops across the country who offer to do poor quality work at a low price in return for a lot of referrals. That’s why it is also important to get several quotes from several repair centers. If any of the quotes, yours or the other driver’s insurer, are noticeably cheaper, avoid them. Remember it is your right to have your car repaired by the shop that you want, regardless of how much it costs.
You don’t have to wait for the insurance company
A lot of insurance companies will drag their feet when it comes to signing off quotes. But don’t let this delay your car getting repaired. If you already have several estimates that tally up in terms of the repair work and the costs involved, and you have given the insurance company ample opportunity to come and inspect the vehicle, you should think about paying for the repair with your own money. If you can afford to do so, it is a great way of getting you back on the road as quickly as possible. Your insurer must pay up after the work has been completed. Be careful though, fixing the car yourself disincentivizes the insurer from paying quickly as you’ll be back on the road and no longer needing a rental car.
Get a high-quality, thorough quote from a repair center that you can trust. Call our team today at (623) 915-2885 or use our online estimate form.
