auto insurance info

[NYreefNoob]

ok here is a little info on auto insurance. i run a dealership bodyshop and see people getting screwed by there insurance. a few thing's to look over on your policy. insurance companies are in it for a profit, and cut corner's where they can
check to see if your company offer's oem part replacement. mean's they will only use factory part's. most of the companies are using after market parts on brand new car's. thats what they pay for.
check to see what your allowed for car rental. most place's can't give you a car for what the insurance pay's for. might only be a few dollar's a day out of pocket. but it's more of your money.
you have the right to have the car repaired at a repair shop of your choice. this is a law. most insurance companies have pro shop's. just mean's they found a shop that will do the work for a lower rate than they pay if you take it somewhere else.
just cause your cousin or friend works at a shop doesn't mean they do quality work. shops that say they will save you your deductable mean's they aren't doing something they are suppose to. them saving you $500 is 12 hr's of labor. or they will use used parts to make up the differance or not do something
if your estimate has setup and measure time or frame time, ask the shop for the print out sheet of where they measured your car. if a alignment was suppose to be done. as for the print out sheet. if they dont have it, they didnt do it. frame machine's and alignment machine give a print out of the spec's
realize you are putting your investment { car } in someone's hand to repair, most importantly your putting your life and other's in their hand's
i see alot of repair's other's have done that look like crap, if your aren't happy with the repair and the shop doesn't want to make it right, contact your insurance company

i see the b.s insurance companies do daily. if they tell you to take it somewhere for a estimate. ask them why they aren't doing it. the insurance company has to see the car and has to write the estimate. they send you to shop's wasting your time and money to buy them time. they have 7 business day's to see the car after the claim is made.
cheap insurance is cheap for a reason. read your policy

 

[Wes]

yeah i dealt with this when i had Metropolitan Insurance, i had to take it to one of their approved shops and get crappy aftermarket parts. I was not happy.

Im actually going thru a claim w/ Geico right now when my car was broken into/vandalized and they are really AWESOME when it comes to that. Their commercials are true, it is probably the best experience i have had w/ an insurance claim ever. My car is at the Saab dealership getting all OEM parts.

 

[masterswimmer]

Rick, great info. I'm sure lots of folks will find this useful.

Thanks,
swimmer

 

[Bob 1000]

I just switch to Gieco....LOL

 

[Davidl919]

Nyreefnoob ..My car (2000 toyota avalon) just had water damage yesterday Water was up the door handle on my car. I have geico and I am waiting for an adjuster to come and see it at the toyota repair shop.... Water got inside of car. Opened the door, without even putting the keys in ignition speakers were making sound. I didn't even bother and i removed the battery and called the insurance for a tow and a claim. Whenat the dealer the dummies put the battery right back on and started it without checking whether water was inside the engine? What should I have checked and replaced if the adjuster does not offer me a write-off.

 

[Wes]

Nyreefnoob ..My car (2000 toyota avalon) just had water damage yesterday Water was up the door handle on my car. I have geico and I am waiting for an adjuster to come and see it at the toyota repair shop.... Water got inside of car. Opened the door, without even putting the keys in ignition speakers were making sound. I didn't even bother and i removed the battery and called the insurance for a tow and a claim. Whenat the dealer the dummies put the battery right back on and started it without checking whether water was inside the engine? What should I have checked and replaced if the adjuster does not offer me a write-off.

if it's at your toyota dealer i wouldn't worry about it. They are gonna make sure they fix everything they possibly can lol

 

[NYreefNoob]

insurance

true wes, but the dealership if they have a bodyshop, really doesn't make money off total's. if it was in a flood zone of water, as in water above the door. persist to have the car totalled. you never know what was in the water. { health reason's } dont always except the insurance companies off for the total. check nada and a couple of other one's. for value of car. they would have to replace all interior. ower wash the inside of the car. which good chance it cause's electrical problem's. or the chance you will down the road. insurance repair's are to make the car like pre-accident condition, don't let them fix the car. push to have it totalled

 

[Wes]

good point.

 

[fritz]

Thanks for this thread this is really great info to have.

Side note, I hate Geico. I had a claim with them once and their actions were borderline criminal. A few friends in the industry always said to me "Yeah Geico is great until they have to give you money." It sounds like that may have changed now though.

 

[Davidl919]

if it's at your toyota dealer i wouldn't worry about it. They are gonna make sure they fix everything they possibly can lol

The manager told me we don't like taking in cars that were flooded you never get everything. 8 out of 10 flood cars still have some minor to major damage even after repairs. So he didn't make me feel all that positive but yeah I'll see if i can get a write off. the car is valued at about 9 if they give me 8 i'll take it. It needed shocks and it was time for the catalytic to be changed 85,000. Thanks guys.