The period right after you’re involved in a car accident can be confusing and stressful, especially when it’s your first one. And within a short amount of time you’ll be asked to make some important decisions about your damaged vehicle’s collision repairs. Unfortunately, there are a lot of myths floating around that can influence where and how you have your car repaired. As a car owner, it’s important to know the truth when it comes to getting your vehicle’s appearance and performance promptly and reliably restored like new again. To keep you from getting fooled, here are responses to 4 of the more common collision repair myths out there.
As an insured driver, you have the legal right to pick any body shop that you want. Insurance companies would prefer that you go to a less-expensive one, and most providers have agreements with specific shops in a given area to lower repair costs and speed up the process. But insurance adjusters know that you still can take your car to a body shop of your choosing, and they will honor your decision while covering any accident-related repair costs.
Misconception number two is that only a dealership that sells the same vehicle make (Ford, Chevy, etc.) as yours has the ability and original (OEM) parts to fix your car the right way. That’s just simply not true. Non-dealer-affiliated collision repair shops can order the same parts and their technicians have the training, equipment and experience to work on all makes and models of vehicles… including yours.
Even minor fender benders can cause frame damage, so if this myth were true cars would be getting totaled out by insurance companies all the time. If the frame was bent but not structurally weakened, it can probably be fixed. In fact, many newer vehicles have unibody frames which are routinely repairable. Your best bet is to have your frame inspected at a body shop to assess the damage and then they will repair it if can be done so safely.
This final myth is one that many car owners fall for, as it depends completely upon your insurance policy’s terms. That’s why you should always read your policy over carefully, notably when your insurer has made changes. If the wreck was your fault, you’ll have to pay a specified deductible up front when picking up your repaired vehicle. If another driver was responsible, their insurance company should pay all your accident-related repair bills. For example, “collision” coverage under a policy pays for repairs resulting from the accident, but nothing that existed prior to it. “Liability only” policies will take care of the other person’s car if you caused the accident, but not cover your repairs.
When you’re involved in an accident, don’t fall victim to some of the collision repair myths out there. Bring it to a reliable collision repair shop in your area instead, where the shop manager can expertly answer your questions about any potential repairs, and what to expect when dealing with your insurance company. In fact, most body shops work directly with insurance adjusters so that you don’t have to. Local body shop technicians have the training, experience and equipment to repair your vehicle in a prompt and dependable fashion while getting you safely back on the road again. And having your car restored right the first time will save you time and money later. To search your zip code for the best collision repair shops in your area, visit: www.carwise.com now.
