So I’m going through insurance. I damaged my bumper and I have a very high deductible. I called the body shop because if they’re going to replace the bumper, I don’t mind paying the high deductible. But if they’re only going to patch it up and do repairs, I’m not paying a high deductible for something I can do myself.
I was about to drop my car off, hoping they would tell me whether they’re going to repair the bumper or replace it. They said it doesn’t work like that — once they start touching the car, you’re locked in, and you won’t get your car back until you pay the high deductible. Is this accurate, and is there anything I can do?
Body Shop won't give me an option to do repairs myself
byu/hexman2209 inInsurance
Posted by hexman2209
8 Comments
There’s two things that might be applicable here: the body shop MUST be paid for any authorized work that they’ve already completed, so if they pulled your bumper as an example they have to be paid for that and putting it back on. They aren’t going to perform tear down just to have you turn around and take the car out of there.
And if you have a loan, you can’t be paid for any of the repairs yourself. The money has to go to a shop or directly to your lien holder.
Yeah the body shop will likely do a tear down for insurance to look at it and/or request a supplement if an estimate has been done. They can’t just pop it back on, that can be a liability for them if they do and send you on your way. So they won’t.
Gone are the days where shops do estimates and then you submit them and get paid yourself. Shops don’t want to do any work if they are not getting the job and paid to do it. Contact your insurance and ask if there is another way. They should be able to do a photo estimate or send out an estimator so you can get paid and do the work yourself.
>is there anything I can do?
Yeah, go find another body shop. Take the car. Show them the damage. Tell them no insurance. Ask for an estimate to repair and an estimate to replace. Once you have the figures, you get to decide what to do.
You shouldn’t have called your insurance until you had some figures. Too late now, the claim is on record even if you don’t use the insurance.
You’ll know better next time you have minor damage.
Does the estimate say repair or replace?
Find a different shop
If bumper is plastic its going to be replaced and repainted.
They have to give you and your insurance company an initial estimate before beginning and estimates for any changes and perform listed work.