Your Car Needs To Go To A Collision Shop, So Now What?
If your ride has been dinged up badly enough that it needs to go to a collision repair business for some work, you'll likely have some questions about the process. Most shops are highly reputable, and your insurance carrier can point you to a preferred location if you don't have one in mind. Before you commit to having your vehicle fixed, it's wise to address these concerns.
Know Your Deductible
Prior to leaving your vehicle at any shop, you really want to know what your insurance deductible is going to be. You can call your insurance agent and ask for clarification if you're unsure. In some instances, it may be better to pay out of pocket, especially for damage you caused, because the amount is either negligible or the risk of your rates going up isn't worth it. For example, a minor repair to a damaged side mirror might cost $300, and there's no advantage to reporting it to the insurance company if you have a $500 deductible and didn't do any damage to someone else's car.
Ask for an Estimate
Most collision repair service providers can put together an estimate within a few days. If a car needs to be hauled to a place, you may want to ask if they can come out to your location or provide an estimate based on photos you'll take. There are cases where it may take longer to assemble an estimate, particularly when dealing with classic cars that might take some time to find the right parts for.
Warranties
Most insurance carriers provide a warranty on work performed at a preferred location. The shop may also offer a warranty.
If the Car is Totaled
The insurance company is required to allow you to purchase a junked vehicle at a reasonable price. There aren't many instances where drivers will want to do this, but collectible vehicles and ones with sentimental value may be worth fixing up even if they've been totaled. Should you have questions about the process or it feels like everyone is just moving to send your ride to salvage yard, ask your agent to intervene as soon as possible.
Just because a car has been totaled doesn't mean that a collision repair technician might not be able to get it back to new. It simply means the insurance company considers it cheaper to give you cash than to fix the car.