How to Get a Collision Repair Estimate

Obtaining a collision repair estimate is the first step in getting your car repaired. How and where you get the estimate depends on many factors, but it basically has to do with what your insurance policy accepts or dictates. There are, however, some basic steps that are common to every policy.

Instructions

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Talk to your insurance company first. It may have experts specially designated to give a collision repair estimate to clients, or it may have a list of approved repair shops you can contact. Even if you think you can get a better or cheaper repair estimate on your own, you need to first find out what your company requirements are.

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Get a list of approved repair shops if your company has one, and contact several of them to get several collision repair estimates. You can then decide which one is better or more appropriate, or simply choose the shop that you find most convenient.
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•Get the repair shop to specify what, if anything, will not be covered under the collision repair agreement. Most insurance companies will not pay for certain repairs, such as removing fuel, wheeling alignment, belt adjustment or replacing nameplates. When getting a collision repair estimate, ask the repair shop to exclude those items from the receipt.

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Ask for a collision repair estimate that includes extras or incidentals that may come up during the inspection of the vehicle. Shoot for a higher number, and then have the bill adjusted if necessary. This is usually easier than having to ask for more money later.

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Have the repair estimate approved by your insurance company before you give the go-ahead for the repair shop to get started. This may require additional forms and inspections, but it is essential if you want to be reimbursed or paid for the work.

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Get a quick collision repair estimate online by filling out some basic information, such as the year/make/model of your car, color and finish (metallic or flat) and type of damage suffered. While online estimates may not be an exact number (since nobody is actually looking at the car), they will still give you a general idea of what to expect in terms of expenses.



Read more: How to Get a Collision Repair Estimate eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_2175955_get-collision-repair-estimate.html#ixzz0xsFyAklG

Choosing a New York State Collision Repair Facility

So, you're probably reading this if you just wrecked your car and are looking for an auto repair shop in Westchester County or nearby New York counties. Chances are you're trying to find a good compromise between quality, the requirementsof your insurance company and, of course, cost. Start your search for a good New York Collision repair shop by searching for shops that have a high CSI (Customer Satisfaction). Your insurance company or AAA may be able to make some recommendations. You can also look at technical training of different shops - many shops display certification of training on their shop window or website.

Make sure the auto repair shop you choose offers a warrantee on their auto repair workmanship. Look for shops that participate in Paint supplier value added programs and offer a paint warrantee from the manufacturer that includes their workmanship. Sometimes, your insurance company wil make recommendations through a direct repair program, othertimes you may choose to take their estimate and find your own Body Repair Shop White Plains.

Sometimes, the positive thing about going to a direct repair shop is that they may offer a warranty that is backed by the insurer. Be sure to ask about this though, because it is not a given. You should also ask if they are ASE certified and have I-CAR training.
Many insurers today are requiring that shops chosen for their programs both meet the Collision Industry Conference definition of a Class A Shop, and have I-CAR Gold certification.

You don't always get the best outcome by going through your insurance company. My personal experience with an Allstate direct repair facility resulted in a refusal to do the needed repairs to my car based on the fact that my car had been in a previous accident. Later, I took my car directly to Saturn, where they were more than happy to do the repairs I needed.

Many great auto collision shops Mount Vernon are small shops found by simple word of mouth. These shops may not have had the opportunity to negotiate with big insurance companies but their workmanship is nevertheless steller. Talk to your friends and family about their experiences and you are sure to get quality repair work for your fender bender or major accident. You can also look into their affiliations such as the BBB and membership in trade associations and local business groups.