Tips for Getting Your Vehicle Repaired After a Car Accident

After any type of car accident, getting your vehicle repaired is crucial. The process, however, can seem overwhelming – especially when you’re simultaneously dealing with insurance companies. To avoid stress and get your car back on the road as quickly as possible, take the following tips into consideration. 

How to Get a Quality Estimate 

A quality estimate will be sufficient enough to repair your vehicle to the highest standards. If an insurance adjuster tells you a different repair shop will fix your car for less than the estimate you got, it’s a good idea to be cautious. Get multiple estimates from independent repair shops. If they’re higher than the one the insurance company gave you, you might not receive the best repair job. 

If you have questions about the estimate you received or your skeptical about your insurance company’s practices, it’s best to get in touch with a car wreck lawyer. 

Choosing a Repair Shop 

In most cases, you have the option of choosing where you get the vehicle repairs done. But you’ll need to verify that with your insurance company. Some companies make you choose from a list of repair shops or choose a specific one for you. If they’re allowed to choose for you, it’s likely they’ll send you to a shop that gives them favorable rates. This saves them money, but your car may not receive the quality of repairs that you want it to. Review and understand your policy, so you can make necessary changes when it comes time to renew. 

If you don’t have a regular shop and can choose your own, there are a number of things you should take into consideration. You’ll want to ensure the mechanic is ASE (automotive service excellence) certified. It’s also a good idea to visit multiple shops so you can compare price estimates. While you’re there, ask about warranties. Additionally, check out the online reviews for the shops from previous customers.  

Be Aware of Used Auto Parts 

When you take your car to the shop, it’s important to ensure you’ll be receiving the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) replacements parts. This means that the parts are new and come directly from your car’s manufacturing company. If you don’t inquire as to the quality of the parts, it’s possible the repair shop could fix your car with used parts. While there is nothing illegal about this practice, used parts could be a safety hazard. 

The condition of the parts you receive should be based on the insurance policy covering you. If, for example, you are dealing with your insurance company, there may be a provision in your policy that requires the mechanic to use “like kind and quality” parts. If a mechanic tries to use non-OEM parts, you can argue that those aftermarket parts are not like the ones your vehicle had before – especially if your vehicle was fairly new. 

Getting Around Without Your Car 

The majority of vehicle repairs cannot be done overnight. The amount of time it takes is contingent upon the mechanic’s schedule, the severity of the damages, and how challenging it is to find the parts your car needs. If you’ll be without a car for more than one day, you could consider a rental or loaner car. Depending on your insurance policy, your rental car may be free. Loaner cars come from the repair shop. Ask about the option before you hand your car over. 

Getting into a car accident and dealing with the repair process can be frustrating, but knowing what to expect and what steps to take can make the process more bearable.