SHOULD I FILE A CLAIM?

I would recommend filing a claim if the repair cost is more than your deductible. Common deductibles are $250, $500, and $1,000, sometimes even $2,500. Insurance will pay the difference of the repair cost and your deductible. I have always said, if you have full coverage on your vehicle, use it! You pay high-dollar premiums to protect yourself and your vehicle in the event of an accident. Collecting the insurance money or not filing a claim lowers the value of your vehicle and is extremely risky if the vehicle sustained damages that altered the safety features of the vehicle. This can cause your vehicle to act differently in the event of another accident. It just isn’t worth it! I would be happy to assist you in making this judgement call based on the damage!

How do i know that my car is being repaired safely?

Professional body shops are I-CAR certified, meaning they have invested time and money into training their staff and technicians based on OEM repair procedures. Other certifications include Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), and OEM Certifications such as Honda/Acura certified. Certified staff and technicians should be able to explain to you exactly what was done to the vehicle, and what the OEM recommends for repair. If you don’t hear any or see any of these words or phrases when talking to a body shop, you should consider elsewhere.

how long will it take to repair my vehicle?

I always tell my customers, that if you take the total quoted labor hours (for example: 12 hours), and divide this by 3 hours/day, it should take 4 business days to repair the vehicle. If the parts were ordered incorrectly, the repairs don’t pass quality control, damages were missed from the original estimate, or holidays/weekends, this time can be increased. Missed damages from the original estimate can absolutely happen. What you see for damage on the outside, does not reflect what got damaged behind. Without disassembling your vehicle, there is no way of seeing these hidden damages. Additional parts may have to be ordered, causing a longer repair time.

Should i go with the cheaper estimate?

Here is the first question I always ask: Are you comparing estimates ‘apples to apples’?

Many reputable repair shops in the area will rope you in with a cheap initial estimate as a sales tactic. They will 'accidentally’ miss parts, quote unrealistic repair times, and ‘forget’ to charge for the necessities. Just beware, you are now at the mercy of the shop ‘missing’ parts or ‘not seeing related damages’ and your final invoice will be higher.

At Ty’s Body Shop, I am upfront and honest with my estimates. My books say 90% of my estimates never change or have supplemental repairs/parts. This gives you peace of mind my estimate is accurate and you won’t be stuck with an unexpectedly higher bill.

I always recommend getting a second opinion and allowing me to explain to you the difference in estimates.