Now that I have been in the auto damage side of insurance for a while. I'm realizing how much I have learned in a short amount of time. Things I wish I had known when I was younger. Especially as a single female where car trouble can be completely overwhelming. You know that you don't know. What to ask. What to do. What is needed. By no means do I have all the answers now, but I do know enough to not be intimidated any longer. And hopefully enough to not be taken advantage of without being a rude/annoying customer in the process. (No one WANTS to be a Karen!) Here are a few tips I would tell my younger self.
1. Learn the difference between a body shop & a mechanic shop. A body shop does bodywork to the vehicle. Collision damage. Things that look bad. Dented body panels. Cracked bumpers. A mechanic shop works on mechanical & internal things. Engine. Suspension. Airbag systems & wiring. Occasionally, you'll find a shop that does both, but not often. Some shops will specialize in one thing (suspension/wheels) or brand (usually with high-end brands that need a certified tech -- Audi, Mercedes, etc). If you were in an accident that has any kind of external damage, go with a body shop and if there is additional mechanical work needed, they will sublet it out to a specialist. And yes, dealerships will charge more than any other kind of shop. There are a few things only the dealer can do (diagnostics, computer or safety), but generally, the body & mechanic shops are your best bet.
2. When you are at a shop, listen. If a shop (body or mechanical) is quiet, then they are not working. It might be a good indicator they make their money on storage fees or overcharging in their hourly rate. When you drop your car off, are there vehicles coming & going? Is there activity. Good shops stay busy. You will hear people working. You will see signs of activity & productivity.
3. Don't feel pressured to use a certain shop. Ask questions about the hourly rate, storage fees, turn around time, etc. There can be a lot of hidden fees & frustrations that can be avoided by asking more questions. Be sure to read any paperwork to check in a vehicle at a shop before you sign anything. It will tell you a lot about the fees & professionalism of a shop. Good shops will be transparent and clear on fees & expectations. TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS! And if you are going through insurance, make sure you don't tell the shop it is okay to do anything insurance has not approved unless you are ready to pay for it yourself.
4. If you have pre-existing damage when you have an accident insurance is handling, ask what the shop will charge to take care of it while they are handling the claim. They will likely be paid for a lot of the prep work (mixing paint for example) by insurance and you can get a good deal on the additional work. Or at the least, you should be able to negotiate better labor rate (what insurance pays --- which is on your paperwork/estimate) than what you would pay out of pocket. Most shops want to work with you for additional work. It can make it less expensive to overlap the insurance claim for the old damage as well as only one trip to the shop versus two.
5. If your car needs to be towed, make sure you are familiar with the tow company and the destination. Too many tow companies are vultures waiting to take advantage of a bad situation. And many are hoping you are not paying attention due to the stress/chaos from an accident. Many of them work with the bad shops to steal your car away for repairs. And it is usually a big headache to get the car moved to a good & reputable shop. Don't agree to let anyone take your car away without your full permission. Don't be passive about this. If in doubt, use a company the police are recommending or calling for you. They (usually) are not going to use a bad company.
I'm sure I'll think of more to add to this list later. But this is a good Top 5 to start.
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