“Bury the deductible” Some car owners try to save money on the deduction portion of the collision repair by asking the repair shop to hide the deductible. Your insurance policy is a contract with you and your insurance carrier. In that policy it states that if you have a collision loss you are responsible for some of the repairs and that is why you are required to pay a deductible. By trying to hide your deductible, you are conspiring to insurance fraud and it is against the law. If you are found guilty you could go to jail and pay hefty fines. If an auto body shop agrees to hide the portion you pay for repairs, then don’t trust that auto body shop for your collision repair. They could also be doing a second rate job on fixing your vehicle correctly which also may require you to pay extra money.“Approved auto body shops” When you get into an accident, some insurance adjusters will give you a list of approved auto body shops that they recommend that you go to. It is illegal for an insurance company to require that you take your vehicle to a certain auto body shop. They can recommend, but if the insurance adjuster is requiring you to use a specific repair facility, it may be because that shop is cheaper than other shops. You shouldn’t choose an auto body shop because it is cheaper, because they may do a second rate job and that’s why they are cheaper. You should go to someone you trust who has high reviews and great customer service to handle your car. If your insurance adjuster will not let you choose an auto body shop that suits your needs, then report them to the state insurance commissioner.
“Demand OEM parts” When you go to the auto body shop to get your vehicle repaired, you can demand only new factory OEM parts but you should review your insurance policy to see if you signed off on the use of aftermarket parts. Some insurance companies call them “Quality Replacement Parts” but they are aftermarket parts which are copies of the real factory parts made in a different plant overseas. Sometimes these parts don’t fit as well as the original factory parts so make sure that in your insurance policy you are requesting new OEM parts because if they don’t fit, you will be charged to redo the repairs and have to pay for it out of pocket.
More about D&I Body Shop
1779 Marietta Blvd NW
Atlanta, GA 30318
(404) 885-9575
www.dandibodyshopandglass.com
