You do everything you can to avoid being involved in a car accident, but sometimes they still happen. When you’ve been in any kind of collision, the first thing you should do is ensure everyone is safe. But what happens after that? How do you go about getting your vehicle repaired and back on the road?
There’s no need to fret. Garber Collision Center of Saginaw is here to help. Here are eight things you should know about having your vehicle repaired after an accident.
1. You Have the Right to Go to the Repair Shop of Your Choosing
If you’re working with your insurance to get your vehicle repaired following an accident, they may provide you a list of repair shops you can bring it to. But it’s important to know that they cannot require you to go to any particular shop to receive your insurance payout. You have the freedom to choose whatever collision center you want to work with.
There are a few things to keep in mind when considering where to take your vehicle for repairs. The body shop you choose should offer:
- Free, quick estimates
- I-CAR Gold Class or ASE-certified service technicians
- A lifetime warranty on all repairs
- Meticulous attention to detail and quality control
- A computerized paint-matching system
At Garber Collision Center of Saginaw, we offer all of this and more, so you can trust your vehicle is in good hands.
2. There Is No Law Requiring You to Obtain More Than One Estimate
Getting an estimate is a vital first step to repairing your vehicle. Thankfully, there’s no law or requirement requiring you to get multiple estimates before repair work can begin, so you don’t have to spend time getting estimates from several shops. At Garber Collision Center of Saginaw, we can get an estimate to your insurance company as soon as possible thanks to our on-site insurance estimators.
Our team works one-on-one with your insurance company to ensure everything on your estimate is covered, so you don’t have to act as the middleman between your insurance company and the body shop. We’ll take care of the entire estimate process for you.
3.) Differences In Repair Estimates Are Common
If you choose to get multiple quotes from different shops, it’s important to keep in mind there may be some variations between estimates. Different repair shops might not include labor or the smaller finishing details that ensure your vehicle looks as good as new, leading to extra charges later on. That’s why it’s important to remember that the lowest price doesn’t always mean the best results.
At Garber Collision Center of Saginaw, our estimates include all the parts and labor necessary to restore your vehicle to like-new condition after an accident, so you can trust that the price you’re quoted will be the final one out the door. We’ll also provide a second quote for any damage that’s unrelated to your vehicle’s accident, so you can choose if you would like to have those issues taken care of at the same time.
4.) Insurance Procedures and Practices Can Be Confusing
Insurance policy language can be difficult to decipher. You might be wondering things like “Do I have no-fault insurance?” or “What’s the difference between collision and comprehensive coverage?” It can be overwhelming trying to figure out what is and isn’t covered by your policy, especially while recovering from an accident.
At Garber Collision Center of Saginaw, we can help you figure out your insurance policy’s legal jargon and make it easy to understand. Every policy and every accident is different, but there’s a few key things you should know before filing your insurance claim.
Fault Vs. No-Fault Insurance
All automotive insurance falls into one of two categories depending on which state you live in:
- At-Fault Insurance States: In states that use an at-fault insurance system, compensation is paid by the insurance of whichever driver was deemed to be responsible for the accident. If you caused the accident, your insurance pays, and vice versa. This is the most common type of insurance and is used in more than half of states.
- No-Fault Insurance States: In a no-fault insurance state, you can only seek compensation for vehicle damage or lost wages from your own insurance, regardless of who is at fault for the accident. The advantage of a no-fault system is reimbursement and repairs are taken care of faster than with an at-fault system, because there’s no going back and forth with the other driver’s insurance trying to prove who was at fault for the accident.
Michigan is a no-fault insurance state, so you’ll only have to work with your own insurance to get your vehicle fixed following an accident.
Collision Coverage vs. Comprehensive Coverage
Regardless of what kind of insurance system your state uses, your insurance policy will include two types of coverage: collision coverage and comprehensive coverage.
Collision coverage is what pays for your vehicle’s repairs when it’s damaged in a collision with another vehicle or object, such as a fence, a tree, or even a house. It also covers your vehicle if it’s been involved in a single-car rollover accident or if it has damage from hitting something in the roadway such as a pothole.
Comprehension coverage will take care of any damage that isn’t related to a collision, including theft, natural disasters or weather, fire, animals, and more. For example, if your vehicle gets scratched or dinged up from a storm or tree falling on it, those repairs would be covered by your policy’s comprehensive coverage.
If you finance or lease your vehicle, then you’re required to have both collision and comprehensive coverage as parts of the terms of your lease or loan. However, it’s important to note that neither of these covers the other driver’s vehicle or medical bills if you’re determined to be at fault for the accident – that’s what your liability insurance is for. Even in no-fault states like Michigan, you are required to have liability insurance to cover property damage, serious injury to others, and accidents that happen while you’re out of state.
At Garber Collision Center of Saginaw, our team can help you figure out all the ins and outs of your insurance policy. We’ll show you what is and isn’t covered, if you have any deductibles due, and will handle all the communication with your insurance provider for you.
5. Always Have Your Vehicle Repaired By Professionals
You rely on your vehicle to get you to all the places you need to be. Whether it’s work, school, or just the grocery store, your vehicle plays an important role in your day-to-day life. That’s why you should only have certified experts repair it for you following an accident.
When you’re looking for a body shop to bring your vehicle to, make sure the one you choose is an I-CAR Gold Class Certified collision center. This certification shows the body shop embraces industry-leading technology and is invested in continuous collision repair training, so you know their techs are the best of the best. An ideal body shop team will also have ASE-certified technicians as well.
Garber Collision Center of Saginaw is proud to be an I-CAR Gold Class Certified and ASE-certified body shop. Whether your vehicle has major damage following an accident or just minor cosmetic defects you’d like taken care of, you can trust it’s in good hands here.
6. Ask If The Shop Provides A Repair Warranty
Your vehicle plays an important role in your everyday life, which is why it’s so important to get it repaired as soon as possible following an accident. But before the repair work begins, make sure to ask the body shop if they warranty their work. The last thing you want is to get your vehicle fixed only to have the repaired parts fail and then you have to argue with the body shop to get it fixed.
At Garber Collision Center of Saginaw, we stand behind the quality of our work. Every repair we perform comes backed with a written lifetime warranty, so you have peace of mind knowing that if there’s an issue with the repair, your vehicle is covered. We also always use Original Equipment Manufacturer parts whenever possible, so you can trust your vehicle is being returned to you in optimal condition.
7. There Are Several Steps to the Repair Process
No one wants to be without their vehicle for long stretches of time. However, there are several steps to the repair process and your vehicle won’t be fixed overnight. Knowing what the repair process entails can help you manage your expectations and make the wait for your vehicle to be done less agonizing.
Most body shops, including Garber Collision Center of Saginaw, will follow this roadmap:
- Drop your vehicle off: Bring your vehicle to your body shop of choice, either by driving it right to the lot if possible or having it towed there.
- Pick up a rental car: If you’ll need a rental car while yours is being repaired, the shop can help you in securing and picking up a loaner vehicle.
- Get an estimate: The shop assesses your vehicle’s damage and compiles an initial estimate of what it will cost to restore it to its original condition.
- Insurance approval: After an estimate has been created, it gets sent to your insurance provider for approval. Work on your vehicle can’t begin until your insurance approves the estimate.
- Disassembly: After the estimate has been approved, certified technicians will begin disassembling the damaged parts and create a blueprint that they’ll use for the repairs.
- Order Parts: Once that blueprint has been made, parts can be ordered. At Garber Collision Center of Saginaw, we always use Original Equipment Manufacturer parts whenever possible to ensure high-quality repairs.
- Repairs: After the shop receives the ordered parts, the team can begin repairing the structural and mechanical damage done to your vehicle.
- Painting: Garber Collision Center of Saginaw utilizes a computerized paint-matching system to identify your vehicle’s exact shade and finish to create a flawless coat of paint.
- Reassembly: After all the parts have been painted to correct shade, the collision center team will reassemble your vehicle.
- Detailing: At Garber Collision of Saginaw, we go the extra mile by detailing your vehicle once it’s done being repaired, ensuring it’s returned to you in optimal condition.
- Final Inspection: The team will perform one last inspection to ensure the repaired work meets the highest standards of quality.
- Delivery: Once the team has determined your vehicle is all set, the body shop will contact you to come pick it up.
When you arrive at Garber Collision Center of Saginaw, a member of our team will review all the work that was performed on your vehicle to ensure you’re satisfied with it. We’ll also go over your written lifetime warranty with you, so you can have peace of mind that all the work we performed on your vehicle is covered.
8. Never Drive A Car That Could Be Unsafe
If the damage from your accident seems minor or superficial, you may be tempted to just keep driving around like normal rather than getting it repaired. However, vehicle damage isn’t always visible to the untrained eye and things may be worse beneath the surface. Unseen damage could compromise the safety of you and your passengers, especially if you’re involved in another accident before you can repair it.
What may seem like minor bumper damage could be hiding major structural issues that could prevent your vehicle’s crumble zones from working properly, leaving you at greater risk of serious injury if you’re involved in another accident. A small crack in your vehicle’s windshield could compromise its integrity and lead to the roof collapsing during a rollover accident. That’s why you should never drive a vehicle that’s been in an accident until you’ve had the opportunity to get it checked out by a certified body shop.
Let Garber Collision Center of Saginaw Handle Your Body Shop Needs
As an I-CAR Gold Class Certified facility, Garber Collision Center of Saginaw is ready to restore your vehicle to like-new condition following an accident. Our team can answer any questions you have, will work with your insurance for you, and have your vehicle restored as soon as possible. Give us a call at (989) 474-3816 to get the process started or schedule an appointment online today.