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Letter to the editor

10 tips: Avoid financial fender benders with auto work

By Times Staff
Published December 2, 2007

Have you ever been involved in a seemingly minor car accident only toswoon when you received the repair estimate? Since auto body work can cost a small fortune, it's important to know how to proceed before an accident happens, no matter how minor.

1 Brace for impact. Make sure you're happy about where your deductible is set for collisions on your auto insurance policy. It's often set at $500, but you may have bumped it up to $1,000 - a tactic that can save money over time. Either way, be prepared to pay the full deductible out of pocket if the accident is your fault.

2 Understand the system. Your insurer may direct you to its list of approved repair shops, but be aware those shops might be tempted to take shortcuts with your vehicle to save money. That's because they will only receive pre-negotiated rates from the insurance company, and those rates might be stingy.

3 Get more than one estimate. Take good notes when the first place you visit tells you what repairs you need and the cost. Then call three or four other shops and ask how much they would charge for the exact same work.

4 Know what to expect when it comes to replacement parts. Many insurance companies want repair shops to use salvage or generic replacement parts, rather than original-equipment manufacturer OEM parts, which match your vehicle exactly and cost more. You may not have much of a choice if you're responsible for the accident, but if you're not at fault, instruct the shop to use OEM parts.

5 How does the repair shop rate? You can visit the Web site of Assured Performance Collision Care (www.assuredperformancecare.com) to locate shops in your area that meet key performance standards.

6 Check the shop's reputation and complaint history. Check to see how many consumers have complained about businesses by contacting the Better Business Bureau of West Florida (www.bbbwestflorida.org or toll-free 1-800-525-1447).

7 Clarify your rental car expenses. Repairs often drag on, meaning you could be stuck driving rented wheels for a long time at a potentially high cost to you. If you pay $1 to $2 a month for rental car insurance, you might be reimbursed only for the rental of a compact car. If such a small car wouldn't work for you, re-evaluate your coverage.

8 Have a European car? If so, the repair shop you use should have a special certification from the car manufacturer, along with specialized equipment to fix your vehicle. Your insurer's approved shops may not fit the bill for your vehicle, but your insurer still should pay for such specialized repairs.

9 Don't be swayed by your insurer's warranty. Insurance companies'warranties on replacement parts often aren't necessary because most shops guarantee their work and parts manufacturers guarantee their parts.

10 Make your sign-off a requirement. Especially when you're on the hook for the repair costs, politely clarify with the shop that no work should happen until you've authorized it first. If you spot anything on your bill you didn't authorize, speak up about it.

-- Laura T. Coffey

[Last modified November 30, 2007, 17:48:32]