Helpful Answers for Drivers Navigating Collision Repairs

The insurance company may instruct you to go to a collision repair shop for an estimate, or they may send an adjuster to appraise the damage/ask you to send photos to them. Quality Collision Repair offers detailed, computerized estimates free of charge with no appointment necessary.

Please remember that even if the insurance company tries to refer you to a specific shop, by law you have the right to have your vehicle repaired at the shop of your choice.

It is common for estimates to vary. This is due in part to the insurance company's guidelines on parts. Be sure the adjuster explains what type of parts have been allowed (for example, new, aftermarket, or used). Another explanation is that when you send photos in to the insurance app, not all damage is able to be seen as well through images. This is why we require evaluating the vehicle in person to be able to write a thorough estimate.

If your insurance company writes their own estimate, we are required to begin repairs based on that estimate. If there is more damage than on their estimate, we send it to the insurance company as a “supplement” to have it approved. It is important to show the insurance estimate to the collision repair shop of your choice so that they will know which parts have been approved. If additional parts or labor are required, the repair shop will work with the insurance company for reimbursement of these charges.

Once you have an estimate written by us or by your insurance company, please give us a call or come into the office, and we will get you put on our schedule at our earliest available date.

If your insurance company is paying for your repair, you should check with your agent to see if you have rental coverage. If you do, you should let your claims representative know as soon as possible that you will need a rental car. He or she will set this up for you with a local rental car company. You may wish to call the rental car company to confirm the reservation. If another person's insurance company has accepted liability for your repair, you may automatically be entitled to a rental car. Again, the insurance company will set this up for you.

Please do not get into your rental vehicle until your repair appointment date. If you get into a rental vehicle earlier than that date, it is very likely that you will run out of rental allowance before the repairs are completed and you will be responsible for the additional charges to the rental company. If your vehicle is deemed not drivable, then you are able to go ahead and get in a rental vehicle, but be sure to check your rental coverage allowance with your insurance agent.

This depends on if insurance is involved or not. If it is not, we accept multiple different payment options. Debit/credit cards, business or cashier’s check, and cash. If insurance is involved, it will depend on the company and their protocol. You may receive a check from your insurance company, which you can sign over to us. You may receive money deposited into your account, and you can use one of the payment methods listed above. Or it may be paid via EFT directly to us. If it is a claim under your insurance, you may owe a deductible.

You are responsible for payment of your deductible. When you first purchase your insurance, you would have set up a deductible amount, which then determines your premium. A deductible is similar to a copay at a doctor’s office. Insurance will pay for the repairs, minus the deductible amount. Simple math: if your estimate is $1,000 and your deductible is $250, you will pay the $250, and insurance pays the remaining amount of $750.

If you have any questions after you have picked up your vehicle, please give us a call or bring the vehicle back to our shop, and we will be more than happy to help. We provide a limited lifetime warranty on our repairs.