I had a minor accident when I lost control of my vehicle during a snowstorm. I ended up with about a third of the back bumper cracking off and a dent above the wheel near the gas tank door.
The insurance evaluator came to look at the car today. When I told him I would be taking it to my dealer to get fixed, he told me they don't have a body shop, they just send it out to get repaired and their work is shoddy. He's telling me I should go to a place he is recommending. I'm thinking any place an insurance company suggest must just do the cheapest solution, not the best.
Should I go to my Nissan dealership anyways, find a Nissan dealership near me with a body shop, or go with his recommendation? In any of these scenarios I get a rental car with my insurance.
Where should I go for repair?
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themanfromvlad
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Ever Victorious
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Re: Where should I go for repair? (themanfromvlad)
A couple things you can do to help your selection..
First, if there is a local Better Business Bureau, call them and find out which shops have the most complaints against them. You can automatically mark these shops off your list.
Next, I'd talk to other locals to find out which body shops are the best. When my wife got in her accident, we asked around. It just happened that the body shop that our insurance adjuster suggested happened to be very highly rated. We took it there and were not disappointed with the repair work.
In fact, we were so impressed that when I wreck Versa #1, I took it there too.
Insurance companies aren't ALWAYS going to give you the "cheapest" option. They have a vested interest in making sure you're happy, for two reasons. First, you pay the premiums. They want to make sure you're happy and don't jump ship. Second, in many areas, insurance companies are on the hook/responsible for fixing shoddy repair work. It is in your insurance company's best interest if they have your car repaired at LEAST to industy standards.
First, if there is a local Better Business Bureau, call them and find out which shops have the most complaints against them. You can automatically mark these shops off your list.
Next, I'd talk to other locals to find out which body shops are the best. When my wife got in her accident, we asked around. It just happened that the body shop that our insurance adjuster suggested happened to be very highly rated. We took it there and were not disappointed with the repair work.
In fact, we were so impressed that when I wreck Versa #1, I took it there too.
Insurance companies aren't ALWAYS going to give you the "cheapest" option. They have a vested interest in making sure you're happy, for two reasons. First, you pay the premiums. They want to make sure you're happy and don't jump ship. Second, in many areas, insurance companies are on the hook/responsible for fixing shoddy repair work. It is in your insurance company's best interest if they have your car repaired at LEAST to industy standards.
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KimberKenobi
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Re: Where should I go for repair? (themanfromvlad)
MY dealership would recommend a good bodyshop and I don't trust my insurance agent to take me seriously most of the time... some people have the opposite problem.
When you check out a body shop, look at what types of vehicles are in the bay... If they're all over 10 years old and look like they were beat up, don't trust them. If the body shop guy owns a fully modded vehicle that looks nice and all the paint matches, you can probably trust him with your work. If the bay has lots of nice looking cars there for work other than "oops, I crashed it" then they are probably a reliable shop as well.
You will pay more from these people, but in my experience, it's never been that far outside of the estimate. For example, my shop guy charged me the insurance check +$150... I have a $250 deductible. (Family friend so he gave me a 'discount')
When you check out a body shop, look at what types of vehicles are in the bay... If they're all over 10 years old and look like they were beat up, don't trust them. If the body shop guy owns a fully modded vehicle that looks nice and all the paint matches, you can probably trust him with your work. If the bay has lots of nice looking cars there for work other than "oops, I crashed it" then they are probably a reliable shop as well.
You will pay more from these people, but in my experience, it's never been that far outside of the estimate. For example, my shop guy charged me the insurance check +$150... I have a $250 deductible. (Family friend so he gave me a 'discount')
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BBISHOPPCM
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I got lucky, when I had mine fixed for the front bumper and related parts, the first place my insurance company recommended just happened to be one of the most well regarded and priciest shops in southern NH. And they didn't even raise my rates! As a result, Progressive has won my business for many years to come.
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Lexi Lander
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Re: Where should I go for repair? (themanfromvlad)
well if ur from frederick dont go to perfurd they do a bad job try t&s sam and paul are nice ppl. u could try mikes in thurmont ...
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Ever Victorious
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'73 AMC Hornet
Re: Where should I go for repair? (Lexi Lander)
I'm not too familiar with my geography, but are those in Quebec, where the original poster is from?