I have never gone thru insurance before. First timer here and wanted to confirm some things.

If I get a few estimates for my car. And when I'm ready to call insurance to claim my check. Will they SEND IT TO THE AUTO SHOP where I had my estimates done or SEND ME THE CHECK? Can I pick the higher one of the few? Can they make me go to a ****ty dealer? Of course the better rep the place had, the higher the check.

I'm asking this because I got a slight scratch in the rear bumper and got an estimate to replace it. I like the stocker but as much as I dont want it to be repaired and don't want a new stocker, I wanted to use the check to order a JDM Rear and put it on myself. Can this be done?

Thanks everyone once again!


EDIT::: Sorry for not being clear, This was an accident. The lady hit me and I have a report. I am not doing this because I want to. Its because I HAVE TO.

 

Yes you can do that but you have to pay the difference in cost if there is any. If there is a lien on your evo, usually the check will be a 2 party check to the registered owner and shop, or registered owner and lienholder. The insurance company is only obligated to like kind and quality parts.

 

True, most insurance company's try to put generic and aftermarket parts on cars. State Farm and Erie are two of the only company's that only put OEM parts on the cars. If it's not too bad damage, just have the insurance company send you a check. That way you can decide what to do.

 

You got a small scratch on the rear bumper, and your going to claim it on insurance. . Not only that you want a new bumper. Your insurance will go up more then the cost of the repair work. If you can't pay out of pocket to repaint a bumper don't get it fixed.

 

Shouldn't the lady's insurance pay for mines straight up? I just heard from a friend that if its under 2k$, they'll send out the check to you. But if its over 2k$, then they will send out their own adjuster. And then I can tell them i want it done at my own body shop? and keep the full check?

It sucks that you have to pay a penalty for someone else rear-ending your car? Its only slight cosmetic damage and I shouldn't have to live with it if it wasnt my fault. I have a report and proof of everything.

 

++++

You left out the part about the lady hitting your car in the first post. Yes her insurance should pay most if not all. I hope you called your insurance when she hit you. Her insurance won't repalce the bumper but paint it.

 

Sigh, I dont want a repainted bumper. Why should I have to live with that. Shouldnt they give most if not all of the check for the body shops I WANT TO GO TO. is this under 2,000 rule damage correct for most insurance companies? They said if its less than that, they wont bother bringing an adjuster out and just give you the check.

I didn't car insurance yet because I was waiting for the report to be completed and filed. And I wanted to give the lady the option of writing me a check from these estimates I got. All around BUT under $2,000. If she can not, I have a report saying she hit me and what happened and then will call insurance to handle it. Was I suppose to call right away?!?!?!

She has Travelers Insurance.

 

^^^ mourning bump. any other advice/help?

 

In CA the law is such that the registered owner picks the shop. Check your local laws.

Get an inspection set a the shop of your choice and have the estimate written for the repairs. Don't fix the car, cash the check and buy your bumper. You can install it yourself, but if you don't know what you are doing you might struggle. Most of the body guys I have met, are Nobel Peace Prize quality.

Now this will become difficult if you are not the legal owner of the car. If it is a 2 party check, you must get the lienholder to sign it in order to cash it. Some check cashing places may not care, and cash it anyway.

 

Usually the owner gets to choose a shop, but the estimate from that shop must be approved by the insurance company. For instance, if the shop says it will cost $4000 to fix your bumper, something is obviously up and they will not go with that estimate.

Sometimes they will send the check directly to you, but it's not likely on a financed vehicle.

If you know someone at a body shop, I'd suggest getting a quote from them and asking if they can just get you the JDM bumper instead of USDM OEM. The lien holder and the insurance company would prefer that a shop do the work.

 

so i guess they will work with each other instead of me. newb question, whats a lienholder? im the owner of the car.

what if the estimate is pretty close to mines? will they still just give me a check or try and work it out with my body shop.? should i just take the check? what if they dont let me get a aftermarket jdm rear? thanks again

 

I just got done fighting with erie. Had to fight tooth and nail to get them to use OEM parts instead of cheap aftermarket stuff. The only reason I won out is that the shop I was going to backed me on getting OEM stuff. What they actually ended up settling on was refurbished OEM.

And lienholder means the bank that you got a loan through to pay the car if you haven't paid it off yet.