Frequently Asked QUESTIONS about

AUTO BODY Collision Repair 

Get names of persons involved, license numbers, insurance info, phone numbers, driver's license numbers, witness' names and numbers, and take a lot of pictures of the incident.

Contact a Repair shop of your choice and have them set up a tow to get the car to the repair facility. Contact the insurance company responsible and let them know where the car is or going to be and ask them for a claim number. If the insurance company wants to estimate the vehicle damage at your house or a claims center, you are free to do so, or you can inform the insurance company that you have a shop in mind. Then, call the repair shop with a claim number.

No law requires you to get more than one estimate. Your only obligation is to take the vehicle to the repair facility of your choice. You are not obligated to use any particular shop to get your repairs done. You choose and authorize the repairs at your discretion.

No. You can take the vehicle to the repair facility of your choice. The insurance company will schedule an adjuster to come out to your facility of choice to estimate your car. If an adjuster inspects your vehicle, accept the estimate and the check they give you.

By law, an insurance company cannot refuse your request and must work in conjunction with the shop of your choice. It is in the interest of both parties to get your vehicle repaired and back to you in a timely manner.

Any reputable shop should repair your vehicle to its pre-loss condition. Hidden damages are submitted to the insurance company after the vehicle is in the shop and disassembled.

The insurance company that is paying for your repairs is also responsible for paying the tow bill to the shop of your choice. If the insurance company selected a shop and you want your vehicle taken elsewhere, they are obligated to pay for the additional tow. If there is no insurance company involved, the tow is out-of-pocket.

Make sure you are provided an itemized estimate showing what was done to your vehicle. A reputable shop will explain these items in detail. Receive a written warranty of these repairs.

Perform a "walk-around" with the shop manager to have him go over repairs performed. Inspect gaps to make sure they are even and compare with the other side. Look to see if the paint matches. Check to see if there are any buffing swirls or dirt in the painted area.

Look for overspray on trim. All trim should have been removed prior to painting. Check the cleanliness of your vehicle. Make sure there is no buffing compound in gaps or dust inside. Then take the vehicle on a test drive. It is always a good idea if the initial damage was substantial (more than $3,000).