I had a car a few years ago that seemed to always have one problem after another. Finally, I got tired of paying for repair after repair, knowing that I was just going to end up paying again in a month or so. I wanted to save up for a better car, but I couldn’t do it if I was always paying the mechanic. So the next time that my car started overheating, I decided to fix it myself. I bought some tools, checked some books on car repair out of the library, looked up answers to my questions online, and pulled parts from old cars at the junkyard. And eventually, I fixed it. You can fix your own car problems too. I started this website to help people who are trying to learn how to be their own mechanics. If I can do it, you can do it.
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Getting Your Vehicle Repaired After An Accident: What You Need To Know Before Heading To The Body Shop
Bobbie Jones
If you were recently involved in an accident that left your vehicle damaged, having this damaged repaired quickly is likely on the top of your to-do list. However, before you run out to your local auto body shop, there are a few key facts that you must know.
A Visual Estimate Is Not A Guaranteed Estimate
While you may be in a hurry to have your vehicle repaired, there is a good chance that you will also be on the look out for the best price. When comparing estimates from multiple body shops, it is important that you are aware of the different types of estimates that can be provided.
Most importantly, you must understand exactly what is included in a visual estimate. This is because many body shops will initially provide a visual only estimate. In many cases, these estimates can be misleading.
Visual estimates include only the damages to your vehicle that can be easily seen without the need to take your vehicle apart. Auto body shops routinely give these visual estimates as a way of protecting themselves against liability in case a vehicle cannot be properly put back together without first repairing any hidden damage.
Since visual estimates do not include the cost of repairing any hidden damage, the final cost of repairing the damage to your vehicle may be much higher than initially estimated. This is extremely important to remember when comparing quotes so that you can ensure you are comparing similar services.
Your Insurance Company Will Not Pay To Improve The Condition Of Your Vehicle
If you are like most people, you are probably counting on your auto insurance company to pick up the bill for your accident-related repairs. However, you should prepare yourself for the real possibility that you will need to cover a portion of these costs out of your own pocket. This is because your insurance company is only responsible for restoring your vehicle to the condition it was in prior to your accident.
While some repairs can be done without improving the condition or increasing the resale value of your car beyond what it was prior to the accident, other repairs simply will not work in this fashion. For instance, if your vehicle's battery was pierced as a result of the impact, this battery will need to be replaced. However, it is not possible to simply replace the battery with another battery that has similar wear and tear as your original battery. By replacing the old battery with a brand new one, the condition of your vehicle will be improved.
In order to compensate for this improvement, the insurance company will charge you what is known as a betterment fee. The amount of this fee will often be determined by assigning a liability percentage based on the amount of life that your original part had left. For instance, if you had already used 50% of your battery's expected lifespan, you will be expected to pay 50% of the cost associated with installing a brand new battery in its place.
To learn more, contact a company like Windy's Collision Center with any questions you have.
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