Yesterday, my dad backed out of the driveway at night and ran his truck all the way down the drivers side of my car. The front clip and rear bumper are repairable but need repainted. The door panel and quarterpanal are beyond repair. I need a new fender on the pass. side (prior to purchese and acident) and the roof paint is faded (17 yrs of rain). So here are my questions.

1. How much should I expect out of the insurance company?
2. Should I buy the pass. fender and have the body shop paint it with the rest of the drivers side? How much will that add?
3. Will the body shop repaint the roof since the fadding starts on the quarter that needs replaced?
4. If I told the insurance that my door doesent close right becouse of it will they replace the hindges? (Yeah, I have the famous sagging door problem).

I know this is kinda non-tech but I would really appeciate some advice. I'm lost with this insurance stuff and don't want to get ripped off.

Thanks in advance,
Matt

 

Can anybody help?

 

here is what i did when i had a ladder fall on my car...

took my car to GM, got an estimate, when they do body work, they replace the whole fender, therefore maximum amount of cash to replace it...

took my car to the body guy i wanted to fix my car, told him the deal, had him write an estimate for me, but have it like $20 less than GM's...

example

acual body damage $500
GM price $1000
his $500

he said $980
got an extra $480, not only did i fix what was wrong, but got some other body work done too

i hope this what you was asking...

 

So if I go to the dealer they will give me an estimate on the parts and when I go to the shop they will give me an estimate for the work/paint? I'm not following too good. Does anyone else have any suggestions?

Thanks for the help,
Matt

 

HOLD A GUN TO THEIR HEAD AND MAKE THEM WORK FOR THEIR LIVES

 

PS: I do not support the use of voliance in any way shape or form, unless against ((CENSORED)), sourthern pride is what I say. Anywayz...

 

I hope that is not what i think.....because that is not right......

 

Thanks unforgivin. Unfortunatly there is a three day wait on guns here and I need an estimate by Friday. Not that I would do that anyway....how 'bout some advice? I know people have had plenty of accidents on here...

 

What KlayBuRn is saying is, go to the dealer and get an estimate. Because they replace the body parts and not repair them, the estimate will be higher. THEN take your car to a shop that you know does good work. Have them write you an estimate for an amount just shy of what the dealer wants. The catch is that the people that you want to fix your car will not charge what the dealer wants, it will/should be less.

AKA you are trying to get extra cash from the insurance company.

I have no idea what it will cost, I am just going to use the numbers that KlayBuRn used.

Dealer's estimate - $1000

your body shop's estimate for the same work, the one the insurance company will see - $980

your body shop's estimate of what they will really charge - $500

The insurance will pay for the cheapest estimate, so don't go to MAACO or some other POS place like that, stick with the good places.

Because the insurance thinks that there is $980 worth of work to be done, they will pay $980. Because the work is only going to cost $500, you just gained $480 to do whatever you want to with. It would probably be a good idea to spend it at the shop so that they see some of the money that they did you a favor for.

I hope that I made KlayBuRn's post a little clearer, if not then email me.

Later,
Jesse

 

Any extra money you get from the insurance company will be nothing compared to the rate increase on our Dad's insurance for an "at-fault" accident claim. Get the lowest estimate and pay for the work yourself. Otherwise your going to get slammed on insurance premium increases, which will hardly offset any extra money you get. Not to mention the fact that they will reduce the amount by the deductible. If you can get it fixed for $500 bucks, skip the insurance and save all yourselves a big headache (unless you really hate your Dad or some disfunctional, drunk-abusive father, family thing is going on.) You will not screew the insurance company, they will screew you.

 

Actually there is no deductable for my car, only his. He pays like $50 a month for a 2001 Expidition and a 95 Mazda (which hit me). So his insurance won't go up that much. Wish I were so lucky and yes he's a F**d guy.

BTW, I got two estimates from two dealers one for $2200 and another for $2400. I found a bodyshop (friends of friends) that is going to fix the drivers side, replace front clip, replace pass fender, and give me a very good paint job for $1600 if I supply the fenders and bumper cover.

Anyone else went through JC whitney for bodyparts? They are cheaper than my local junkyard!

Thanks again,
Matt

 

Try http://www.autobodypartsonline.com/ I got my hood from them for $246.00 shipped to my door FedEx in 4 days.

 

Wow! Even cheaper. Great thanks a lot man.