Collision Repair Frequently Asked Questions
I was just in an accident, what do I need to do to get my car fixed?
Call the claims department of the insurance company that will be covering your repairs, whether that’s your company or the other drivers. The claims department will get things rolling for you & send your information to an Adjuster. The Adjuster will then contact you & explain their process for obtaining an estimate for repairs. They may personally inspect your damages, have you visit a Bodyshop or have you submit information for a virtual inspection. Having patience & waiting for the Adjuster to go over their procedures will save you from running around town gathering up estimates that you don’t need.
If you are unsure of what to do you can always call us. We work with many different Insurance Companies & can help you navigate through the process.
The insurance company gave me an estimate, now what?
Pick the Bodyshop you’d like to have your repairs performed at & provide them with a copy. Once the Bodyshop reviews your information & determines how long it will take to get your parts in they can add you to their schedule.
But the insurance company says I have to go to one of their “preferred” shops. What if McDuffie Auto Body isn’t a preferred shop?
By law you can take your car anywhere you want to have it repaired. You may be sent to a “preferred” shop to get the original estimate but after that it’s up to you who repairs your car.
The insurance company says if I don’t use their “preferred” shop my repairs won’t be guaranteed or warrantied. Is that true?
No, it’s not true. That is a very misleading statement that is often made as a scare tactic to lead you to their preferred shops. Insurance companies do not guarantee or warranty repairs, that is the responsibility of the Bodyshop. Any reputable shop you take your car to will have a warranty, just ask to see it. A copy of our warranty is printed out on every estimate we write & again on your final paperwork when repairs are completed.
The insurance company estimate seems low, what if they didn’t include all the damage?
There’s no need to worry about that, any estimate, written by an Insurance Adjuster or the Bodyshop, is just a starting point. In many cases it is not what the final cost of your repairs will be. Once your vehicle comes in for actual repairs we’ll find any missed or hidden damage. We’ll then handle contacting the insurance company to go over our findings with them & get approval for you.
My adjuster said the cost of repairs is “less my deductible”. How does that work?
Unfortunately, many customers come to us to get their repairs performed & do not understand what their deductible is or that they have to pay it. The best way to explain a deductible is to think of it like a Co-Pay when you visit your doctor. You pay your Co-Pay & your Medical Insurance pays the remaining balance. It works the exact same way with Auto Insurance. For example, if the cost of your repairs is $1,000 & you have a $100 deductible then the insurance company will pay $900 & you will pay $100 to the Collision Repair Shop.
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