If your vehicle has been damaged in an accident, it can be a confusing and frustrating process knowing how to get it repaired and back on the road. The following is The Advocates’ guide to the steps and options you will have along the way. If you have absolutely any questions or need assistance navigating the process, do not hesitate to call us and your case manager will be happy assist you.
Choose which insurance company to go through:
- Go through your own insurance:
If you carry collision coverage, you can get your car repaired using your own auto insurance policy and avoid waiting for the other party to accept liability. You also have more legal rights when using your own insurance as you are their customer and have a contract with them. You likely have a deductible you will need to pay, which will be reimbursed to you in a couple months, after your insurance company recoups it from the at-fault insurance. If you do not have rental coverage on your policy, you may have to pay out of pocket, which can also be reimbursed by the at-fault insurance company.
- Go through the at-fault party’s insurance:
By going this route, you will not have to pay a deductible. You will, however, need to allow the insurance company to complete a liability investigation before they can address any damage to your vehicle. Depending on how the accident occurred, this can be a lengthy process requiring recorded statements from all parties involved and a review of the police report.
When you get a rental car:
- Your car is safe to drive: You must wait until the repairs begin to obtain a rental car. The insurance company should provide you with rental reservation information and extend the reservation as needed, up to the date the repairs are finished.
- Your car is NOT safe to drive: You should be provided with a rental vehicle immediately through your own insurance and once liability is accepted if going through the other person’s insurance.
- You don’t need or can’t get a rental: Whether you simply have a backup vehicle, or you cannot afford the $100 deposit to obtain a rental car, you are owed funds in lieu of a rental. If either of these scenarios apply to you, be sure to ask the adjuster you are working with for compensation for “Loss of Use”.
- IMPORTANT: Keep in mind that if your vehicle is a total loss, meaning the cost of repairing it is more than the market value, the insurance company will immediately provide you with a rental car. However, once they provide an offer for your totaled vehicle, there is a set number of additional days they will allow for a rental car. Typically, this time period is a week or less, so be sure to inquire when you receive a total loss offer.
Obtaining an estimate:
- Your car is safe to drive: You will need to take your vehicle to a shop for an estimate.
- Your car is NOT safe to drive: The insurance company will either send out a professional estimator or they will have it towed to repair a shop
Choosing a repair shop:
- The shop of their choosing: We recommend going through the repair shop recommended by the auto insurance company, at least for the initial estimate. These direct repair shops have an established line of communication with insurance companies so it will expedite the entire process.
- The shop of your choosing: Even if you would prefer to have the repairs done at a repair shop of your choosing, we still suggest getting an estimate from the insurance-approved shop. Afterwards, you can bring the estimate to the facility where you would like the repairs to be done and they can work from that.
To repair or not to repair, that is the question:
- If it is repairable: The shop will get approval and the funds will be transmitted directly to them from the insurance company to begin the repairs. If any additional damage is found, they will need to submit supplemental estimates to the adjuster for approval.
- If it is NOT repairable: Your car is deemed to be a “total loss” then the insurance company will pay you what your car was worth at the time of the accident. You can choose to keep the car (owner-retained) or give the car to the insurance company.
The total loss offer will be an average of at least three similar vehicles for sale within 50-100 miles of your home.
Once the offer for your total loss arrives, you will have a limited number of days to return the rental vehicle – be sure to ask the adjuster when it is due back.
After you accept the offer, the insurance company will send you documents to sign and return.
– *If you have a loan on the vehicle, you will need to make your loan company aware that the vehicle has been deemed a total loss so they can contact the insurance company for payment.
– *If you have GAP insurance, you will need to make a claim with them and provide any documents they require. You will need to collect these documents from the loan company and the insurance company. It is best if you can get all three parties to communicate with each other.
- Upon settling with the insurance company, they will issue a check to the legal owner(s) of the vehicle, or to the loan company if there is a loan on the vehicle. If the total loss settlement is in excess of what you owe, you will receive the remainder.
Diminished Value:
- If you purchased your vehicle new: If your car was new when you bought it, having record of this accident and damage on the vehicle history can affect the resale value. If your vehicle is NOT a total loss, then you can present a diminished value claim to the adjuster by obtaining reports from a dealership showing the difference in value now that the accident is on the vehicle’s record.initial consultation to get started.
