08/17/2020
First day of school for many so here’s our own “repair lesson” for today....
1. Collision Damage is More Than Skin Deep!
When your car hits an obstacle, that impact goes through the entire vehicle, bending or breaking body panels, frame components, wheels, interior pieces, and drivetrain parts.
2. Shop Estimates Can Vary Because of the Skill of the Appraiser!
A skilled appraiser will be able to identify all the damage caused by a collision and provide an estimate that should be very close to the final repair cost. Get someone who doesn’t know what needs to be fixed, and the estimate may be lower but the appraisal won’t cover everything needed to completely fix the car.
3. “Totaling” a Car Depends on More than the Severity of the Damage!
A car is considered a “total loss” by the insurance company if the cost of repairs exceeds the value of the vehicle. An almost new car has to be almost irreparable to meet this criteria, while an old luxury car can meet this threshold quickly due to a combination of high parts prices and low resale value.
4. Metal Body Parts Don’t Have a “Memory”!
You may have watched as-seen-on-TV devices and Internet videos that claim that with a special tool or some household items, a body panel can simply be popped back into place. In reality, when a body panel is bent, it stays that way, whether that bend was from a press at the factory or from an impact. To remove a dent from a panel, body technicians have to use a range of tools and techniques to gently bend and reshape the metal back to the shape it should be.
6. With a Quality Repair, a Wrecked Vehicle Can Be As Good As New!
Manufacturers work directly with body shops and through associations like I-CAR to ensure technicians can bring vehicles back to their original specifications. When these repairs are done correctly, the vehicle has the same function, structural integrity and appearance as a vehicle that has not been involved in a collision.
7. You Can Choose Your Body Shop!
Your insurance provider may suggest a shop to take your vehicle to, but they can’t make you go there to for the repair to be compensated. When you have work done, it’s in your best interest to find a shop that has the knowledge and tools to do the repair right, not the one that will save the insurance company the most money.
We hope we’ve taught you a little something about how our industry works. If at any time you have additional questions, please call us at (618)439-0809 or stop by the shop at 1405 Bailey Lane.
