Well, dang it. Your car was in an accident and the headache of getting it repaired has begun. It's never a fun time but there are some things you can do to ensure things go as smoothly as possible.
Most of this article addresses what happens when your car is drivable and the insurance company has set up an appointment for you to have an estimate written.
First, if you have an appointment scheduled it is likely because based on the information you have provided the vehicle is deemed drivable. That means that the car as it sits with the damage is safe and poses no hazards to you or others on the road. Please note that ugly does not equal unsafe. often times the damage looks bad but there are no issues that would prevent the vehicle from being driven.
Why so much emphasis on the drivability? it's pretty simple, really. If the car is not drivable, then depending on the circumstances the insurance company should put you in a rental vehicle. If the car is drivable, it makes no sense for the insurance company to pay upwards of 50 bucks a day while the shop is waiting for parts to arrive.
With that settled, the insurance company has set up an appointment for you to have an estimate completed. More often than not, this appointment is at a body shop that often is a guaranteed repair shop for the insurance company. Depending on the company, the estimate will either be written by the shop estimator or by an auto damage estimator for the insurance company. If you are given a specific appointment time then you are probably meeting with the insurance company estimator.
Here are some helpful dos and don'ts:
Do
- Show up on time. It is an appointment! If you showed up late for an appointment with your doctor, you would probably expect to not be seen. Same thing applies here. The insurance company typically sets up appointments for every 30 minutes. It usually takes every one of those minutes to complete the estimating process. If you are even 5 minutes late you could be turned away and asked to reschedule.
- Wash the car! Too many times the car is brought in covered in dirt, snow and ice. If the damage is minor - like scratches - it is impossible to write a complete estimate. The exception here is if washing the car may cause water damage to the interior because of cracks or openings. It is a complete myth that you should not wash it because the estimator will need to see it as it was after the accident.
- Consider clearing out any personal belongings in case the car is deemed not drivable and you need to leave it at the shop. The same holds true with any trash. There are times in the repair process that the shop needs access to the interior of the car.
- Bring any requested documents like the registration or proof of insurance. Also, if you have purchased anything after the accident to make or keep the car drivable, be sure to bring those receipts.
- Check any attitudes at the front door. Yes, this sucks. It is expensive and inconvenient and especially frustrating when someone else is at fault for breaking your stuff. With that said, being pissed off and having a crappy attitude towards the estimator gets things off to a rocky start. Accept it for what it is and be helpful and cooperative.
Do Not
- Expect the insurance company to pay for any unrelated damage. Anything not related to this particular accident needs to be filed under a separate claim. Just so you'll know, the National Insurance Crime Bureau estimates more than 30% of all claims have an element of fraud. Us estimators know that and we know how to figure out what damage is old or not related. If you try and push the issue to get away with something the estimator may request the file be sent to a special investigations unit.
- Bring your dogs with you unless you plan on taking them for a walk during the appointment. The shop will likely need to drive the car to bring it inside and the estimator needs access to the inside to obtain odometer readings and such.
- Forget to ask your estimator any questions you may have. Their job is to help you through the process. Addressing any questions or concerns at the beginning of the process can save everyone major headaches down the road.
- Run out and immediately get three estimates from other shops. That is old-school and not standard practice. If you have a shop in mind for the repairs that is different from the one where the appointment takes place, that is fine and that shop will work from the estimate that is provided at the appointment. If you do go get an estimate from a shop, it's best to let the estimator know at the beginning of the appointment. Parachuting an estimate at the end in an attempt to have a "gotcha" moment is low class. Five estimators will have five different estimates for the same damage.
What Happens At The Appointment
The estimator should introduce themselves and will invite you to come to the car while the estimate is being written. This is an important time to discuss any concerns and to point out and known related damage that may not be obvious. be attentive and as helpful as you can.
Pictures will be taken of the damage as well as any unrelated damage, views of the car from four corners, the odometer and the VIN tag. The estimator will write the estimate using sophisticated estimating software that contains current part prices as well as the labor and paint times.
When parts are damaged, they are either repairable or they need to be replaced.You would be surprised at the items that can be repaired including things like bumpers and headlamps. If a body panel is repairable then it will not be replaced. The argument of not wanting any "bondo" is invalid. Even new cars have body filler along seams and such. If having body filler is a concern then the best plan is to be certain to use a guaranteed repair shop for the insurance company. That way if there is an issue with the repaired area in the future it is covered.
After the estimate is written, the estimator will run a parts locate. The software looks for any Aftermarket or Recycled parts that are available. If there are any, they will be placed on the estimate. Here is the key: the insurance company will guarantee any of those parts in terms of fit, function and refinish for as long as you own the car. You can insist on original equipment parts but just know that you would have to pay the difference.
Once the estimate is complete, the estimator will print off a copy for you and go over the estimate. If this is done properly, most questions you may have will be answered. At this point, if you know where you are having the repairs done, the estimator can email the estimate and send payment to any particular shop.
Let's talk money for a minute. If you are going through your policy and have a loan on the car then in Alaska payment can not be made directly to you. This is to protect the interest of the lien holder (bank). If you are a claimant then payment can be issued directly to you and you can decide when and if you will get the repairs done. If you owe a deductible, you typically pay that directly to the shop when the repairs are complete.
I hope this helps shed a little light on what to expect at the appointment. Feel Free to comment with any questions.
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