Do I have to accept the insurance estimate?

You do not need to accept whatever figure the adjuster comes back with if it does not match the estimates you have received.

What do you do with repair estimates?

Once you have this initial estimate in hand, you can take the money and run (and live with whatever damage your car has sustained) or take it to a body shop and have the damage repaired, according to Edmunds.com. You have the choice of using your own body shop or one recommended by your insurer.

Should I file a claim or get an estimate first?

Now the question is, do you need to have the damage to your house estimated first before you file a claim? The answer is No. It is your insurance company’s job to protect you from valid damages, so let them do their job first before making a move on your own.

How do I get a quote from the Body Shop?

5 Steps to Get a Body Shop Estimate

1. Communicate with your insurance agency. Depending on your policy, you may be required to provide certain documentation to your insurance agent when you hire a body shop to repair your car.
2. Compile a list.
3. Ask the right questions.
4. Weigh your options and choose a shop.
5. Wait patiently.

How do you handle insurance overpayments?

If the insurance company overpays:

1. Contact the insurance company.
2. Ask the insurer to explain the payment when they request a refund.
3. If there was an overpayment, ask the insurer to reprocess the claim and send a formal request for the overpayment.

Can an insurance company pay for a body shop to repair my car?

A body shop can repair your vehicle, but it generally won’t return it to you until the bill has been paid. If your car is totaled, the insurer again has the option of making the check out to you alone or you and your creditor. If someone else smashes into your car and their insurance company pays for the repairs, you are a third-party claimant.

Do insurance companies have to pay for damage to a car?

Unfortunately, an insurer is only required to pay damages up to the fair market value of the destroyed property, even if you owe more than the car’s value on your car loan. Let’s look at an example of how this happens.

How much will my insurance company pay if my car is totaled?

Let’s say that, on the day that the car was totaled, you owed $14,500 on your car loan, but that the current fair market value (i.e., the Blue Book value) of your car was only $12,000. The insurer is only going to pay you $12,000 toward the value of the car, leaving you with $2,500 to pay on your car loan, even though you no longer have a car.

How do I request a cash settlement for car repairs?

However, there are other, reasonable grounds, for you to request one… All you need to do is get the car assessed at the repairer they recommend to you. As soon as the repairer sends the quote to the insurer, call the insurer and say that you want a cash settlement for the cost of repairs.