- Approved shops are in cahoots with the insurers. Auto insurers like State Farm and others contract with providers to repair vehicles for a pre-negotiated rate (think of it as managed care for sick cars). This encourages auto body shops to cut corners. Some practices, such as requiring low hourly rates and making the shop pick up the rental car tab if a repair takes too long, could tempt shops to cut corners quite a bit — by, say, neglecting to align the wheels or using plastic filler in a dent rather than replacing the sheet metal.
- Not all replacement parts are created equal. Original-equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts are designed to match precisely and may be safer. But insurers prefer that shops use generic or salvage replacement parts because they’re cheaper. If you cause an accident, you could be bound by wording in your policy to use aftermarket parts — or pay the difference for OEM parts. But if someone hits you, make sure to tell the shop to use OEM parts.
- Repair costs, along with a lot of other physical goods, are on the rise. If the accident is your fault and you have the typical $500 deductible for a collision, chances are that it will be gone. A survey of repair shops in the Washington, D.C., area by Consumers’ Checkbook, a consumer-information group, shows that replacing a fender on a 1998 Buick LeSabre can cost as much as $982. A new front bumper on a 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class can go as high as $1,350.
- Auto body shops often do the same thing that the airlines do- overbook. Mechanics routinely blame missed deadlines on delays in parts delivery. But the truth is that many of them take on more business than they can handle. Before you commit your business to a shop, check the local Better Business Bureau, check reviews and ratings from your friends and the internet, and don’t forget to check government consumer-affairs offices for complaints against it.
- Your car needs a shop that has people that really understand its designers. Many European cars use aluminum and ultra-hard steel that require special equipment to repair. Plus, replacement parts for late-model European vehicles have to be fit with an especially high degree of precision. Shops should be certified by the manufacturer to do the work, meaning that they have specialized training and equipment — and charge higher rates. Insurers won’t necessarily recommend these shops, but they should be willing to pay the tab.
- Don’t get snowed by going to the “favorite” shops of the insurance companies. Insurers sometimes dangle warranties on the parts (for as long as you own the vehicle) to entice you to go to shops in their network. But the body shop’s guarantee is the one that’s important. Nearly all shops will guarantee their work, and parts makers guarantee their parts, making the insurance warranty all but worthless.
- Rental cars can be more expensive than you think. Renting a car for three weeks could cost $1,000 or more. Even if you have optional rental-car insurance (which costs $1 or $2 a month), your daily reimbursement may be limited to the cost of a compact car. If you need a minivan while your car is in the shop, make sure you have minivan-size coverage.
- If the other party was at fault for the accident, contact Advocate Auto Claims to see if you are owed additional money that you could collect.
