white04gt

you usually have to go get a couple estimates. Go to expensive places for quotes and submit highest ones. They will most likely cut you a check for lowest quote you get.

so1o2k3

Finally got the update from the insurance company. The GEICO people is sending me a check for $1011.35 that is what their own body shop estimate was. (sound about right for 3 days of labor?) I asked them about how I'm getting this fixed and they said, the case is closed so now that I have the money I can do whatever I want. I think I'm going to go to a shop where one of my highschool friend works. I should get a pretty good price if I have some cash left over I think I'll either put on lower control arms for the rear suspension or a TB/plenum kit.

irongoat56

sweet that you got a 1000 doller check with no problems . I was in a parking lot 3 days ago and as i was pulling out some idiot in an expedition parked opposite me pulls out with out looking , doesnt even come out slow, he floors the expedition in revers and dents my bumper deep on the passanger side corner. It wasnt my fault becouse i was already done revesing , he just did not look back. He gave me a lot of bull on how it was both our faults becouse we were both reversing , some withnesses set the story striaght , in the end i he gave me 300$, the body shop said its gonna be 250$ to pop the dent out . touch it up , and repaint the hit area. seems fair but all my friends say i should have demanded more money from him.

mustang_montana

just a little bit of advice, my quarter panel was dented by the previous owner. the dent was popped out and bondod over. its cracked now and the paint was flaking. get it replaced and repainted if you can. id honestly rather have a good repair job then a few extra bucks leftover from the insurance check. seriously bondo sucks.

so1o2k3

wow that sucks, I'll have to ask my friend at the body shop about that. Either way I go, I'm pretty sure I can get a good price.

phantom1

Depending on the situation it is cheaper to replace parts as apposed to repairing them and the insurance companies won't give them a choice (they are regulated by da gubment and the banks). You have to figure in the labor costs at 50-100 an hour depending on where you live. Alot of time, depending on how wrinkled or krinkled the sheet metal is, it is usually cheaper to replace the parts outright, especially on sheet metal and fiberglass parts. Every situation is different, of course, but this is what I've seen working with body shops a couple of times.

Insurance cuts the checks to the lien holder, your bank, (Insurance companies have a minimum standard for reapirs established by Uncle Sam)
Your bank then always assesses the bill of repair from the body shop before endorsing the check for the body shop. This lets them make sure their asset, your car, is repaired correctly in case they have to repo it later.
It's a system of checks and balances, yea!

so1o2k3

hmm didnt know that, thanks