i88aGT

Thursday night a Passat sideswiped me on the freeway, my driver's side. He had insurance and accepted full responsibility. The damage at this point looks like I'll need new bumper guard molding on the door and fenders, paint work on the door/fenders/front bumper, new "IROC-Z" decal, probably an alignment, but not so much actual "body work".

I've never been in an accident before or had to deal with insurance companies. I want to know how best to protect myself from being taken advantage of.

Has anyone dealt with Geico before and their Auto Repair Xpress program, or whatever it's called?

I'm worried they aren't going to fix the car to my satisfaction. They either send an adjuster who looks at the car for 30 minutes or less and writes you a check on the spot (how is he supposed to know how hard that molding is to find or the value?). Or you agree to their Auto Repair Xpress repair program, where you drop it off and, to my understanding, the adjuster and shop work out what should and shouldn't be done and I'm not involved. They just call me back when it's done. Their perk is lifetime guarantee on their work, and a "free" rental car.

A couple of the nearby shops that are part of this program are highly rated, but it's hard to know truly since most of their business looks like it's geico claims.

Should I approach some shops to get some free independent estimates beforehand?

antares57

iTrader: (8)

Worse case scenario is that they will assess the damage, determine that it's more than the car is worth and call it a total loss. They will try to give a settlement of what they think the car is worth and be done with it. They will not repair it to your satisfaction. They will issue a salvage title and you can buy it back out of the settlement for $300 $400. Worst case scenario.

i88aGT

Ok. Would you happen to know where they would get the value from? Like KBB, Hagerty, Nada? You can't even see 1988 cars on KBB.

antares57

iTrader: (8)

This is where I get my values from, good as any.

http://www.nadaguides.com/Classic-Cars/1988/Chevrolet

i88aGT

Thanks for the link. I don't think it will be totaled. I have a feeling they'd try to cut a small check for buffing out stuff and replacing the molding/decal (not taking into consideration the paint can be damaged in the process) and some touch-up work on the fenders.
It's hard to decide between a check or their repair not knowing if they're going to repaint the car or do touch-ups. Especially since that could change once they're taking the molding off, if they screw up.

jmd

iTrader: (4)

As a carrier of "the other guy," Geico will bend you over if you let them.

Get multiple estimates.

Sign nothing until you are certain you are whole.

mddaniel

iTrader: (1)

I have dealt with Geico and would not recommend that you settle or sign anything quickly. And never accept their first offer. If you can get some free estimates from trusted or at least different shops from what Geico listed, you will be much better position to negotiate.

i88aGT

OK. Thanks, everybody. I'll get those estimates so I'm ready

-=Z28=-

iTrader: (3)

Do research, find Camaros like yours that list a value you think your car is worth and show them to the ins guy. Dont take any crap. Remember, you pay their checks........

i88aGT

Thanks, for the advice and pep talk! Lol. I needed that. I'll get on making a list of camaros like mine w/ similar values.

I just want what's appropriate regarding door/fender trim mold and fender damage. I've been to 4 shops and I've gotten 2 absolutely different pictures from body shops.

Can the door/fender molding be removed w/o paint or clear damage?

The 2 body shops w/ 3rd gen experience not partnered with insurance companies said "no" they would need to repaint the door and rear fender and order trim and decals. Whereas the 2 shops that were partnered with insurance companies admitted they had no experience working on a car "this old", but assured me they could remove the trim w/o paint or clear damage (even tho they didnt know how the molding was attached), and would "build up the trim" and retape it. I was like, won't that cost more in labor than buying a new trim piece? they said it's so they don't have to wait for a part.

The rear fender wheel well is scraped, has paint transfer, and has rough edges and spots now.

The 2 with camaro experience said it would need to be worked on and painted (the damaged trim is on this piece anyway). One said blend, the other said paint all the way to the other fender. The 2 w/o experience and insurance ties said they could buff it all out, and said, "Worse comes to worse we'll blend it into the rest of the paint...somewhere...," while looking despondently at the sail panel.

My other contention is only the independent shops recognized the crease in the door from where the other car was ramming me and pushing me into the other lane for so long I thought he was asleep and I laid on the horn to wake him up. My door actually closes differently now.

dcolaluca

iTrader: (1)

You probably need to go with either of the two shops which have third gen experience. I believe you will be more happier with the outcome.