Working With Your Insurance Company
to Repair your Vehicle
Your vehicle has been involved in a traffic accident. Assuming nobody was injured, you probably take a minute to catch your breath, compose yourself, and exchange insurance information with the other driver. After that, you call your insurance company to start the claim process and take your vehicle to a collision repair shop. The shop works with your insurance carrier to repair your car so that your only responsibility is the deductible, and once the repairs are finished, you pay the deductible and drive home in your fully repaired vehicle.
That is how collision repairs are supposed to work. But sometimes, the collision repair shop and the insurance company disagree on exactly what is necessary to repair your vehicle properly, and this has led to discussions with vehicle owners about aspects of the repair which aren’t covered by their insurance policy. Sometimes this involves post-collision inspection and re-calibration of safety systems, and other times it involves using aftermarket parts, and our goal here is to educate vehicle owners about what you can do BEFORE you find yourself in a situation where your insurance company doesn’t fully cover a collision repair.
Manufacturer-Certified Collision Repair
Most owners want to be sure their vehicle will be repaired according to the procedures outlined by the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), For example, that the collision repairs to a Toyota Camry follow the procedures set-forth by Toyota, or that the parts being replaced on their Porsche Cayenne are genuine Porsche parts. But increasingly, insurers are pushing back on some of the finer details of OEM procedures{1}.
Eastside Body Shop takes pride in the fact we are approved by Honda, Toyota, Acura, Volvo, and Porsche as a Certified Collision Repair Center. The training and equipment required to achieve these certifications is extensive, and vehicle owners send their damaged vehicles here because they want their vehicle restored back to the standards set by their OEM. But sometimes, insurers won’t cover 100% of those procedures.
Concerned About Your Coverage? What You Can Do:
- Read Your Policy. The first step is understanding the details of your policy and what’s covered. Most people shop for insurance based on the policy premiums versus the details of your coverage. Educate yourself on exactly what your rights are under your policy.
- Look for an Appraisal Clause. Most auto policies include an Appraisal Clause which allows for a 3rd-party appraisal if the repair shop and the insurance company disagree on the procedures and costs involved in repairing your vehicle.
- Shop for the Right Insurance Coverage for You. Avoid a situation where you are responsible for costs above your deductible by shopping insurers who are rated highly in customer satisfaction with their claims process. Two great resources are J.D. Power’s Auto Claim Satisfaction Study{2}, and the CRASH Network Insurer Report Card.
Ultimately, Insurers and Body Shops share the same goal, and that is to provide a quality repair at a cost-effective price that meets owner expectations, ensures repaired vehicles are safe, and keeps premiums affordable. Eastside Body Shop will always work with you and your insurance company to meet the high standards for collision repair set by the manufacturer of your car, truck, or SUV, and will keep you informed anytime an insurance company is asking us to utilize aftermarket parts, or not fully covering a repair procedure.
Schedule a Collision Repair Estimate