FAQ’s
The simple answer is no. You do not need an estimate before you decide to get your vehicle repaired. The initial estimate that is written is a visual only estimate and does not account for any hidden damage. The damaged area on the vehicle needs to be disassembled to gather the true cost to repair a vehicle. Therefore there is no need to get any visual estimate because it will most likely not be accurate.
Your insurance company may ask for several estimates. There is no law that states how many estimates you must submit or that limits the number the company can ask for. One should be sufficient from the shop of your choice.
We have a heated drive-thru inside claims area at KB Body Shop. You are not required to take your vehicle to any drive-in claims facility. It is your right as the vehicle owner to obtain an estimate from the shop of your choice. You’re required to notify your insurance company of the vehicle’s location so that it may be examined by the claims adjuster. However, if you have already gone to a drive-in claims facility, make sure you take a copy of the insurance adjuster’s estimate with you when obtaining repair shop estimates and choosing a facility to repair your vehicle.
Start with asking your friends and relatives about their experiences. Not all people on the “Review Sites” are being truthful and some sites hide the good reviews from showing. Always speak with the shop owner/manager and ask to have a look around the shop while they explain their procedures. Ask the owner/manager about restoring your vehicle back to its “pre-accident condition” to see his take on repairing vehicles correctly.
DRP stands for Direct Repair Program. Auto insurance companies often partner with Collision repair shops as an option to provide repairs for their insured. You, as the vehicle owner, have the right of Choice.
A deductible is a specified amount on an auto insurance policy that is deducted from the claim payout. It is a contractual responsibility of the vehicle owner when involved in a collision or comprehensive loss. Most deductibles range from $100 to $500.
The deductible is due at the end of the repair when you pick-up your vehicle.
If you request a parts pre-order, and the claim has not been approved, you may be required to sign an authorization of repairs and/or leave a deposit.
This depends on the insurance coverage confirmation at the beginning.
We must have coverage and/or liability confirmation before the insurance company will authorize us to start repairs or order parts.
We must also have your written authorization before starting repairs.
Due to the variety of collisions and the different repair processes involved, and parts availability each repair time will be different.
After the estimate is written we can calculate and estimated target time for your planning convenience.
OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer. OEM parts are replacement parts made by the Original Equipment Manufacturer of the vehicle you drive, ie. Ford, Chevrolet, Nissan, Toyota, Kia, Lexus, etc.
Aftermarket parts are manufactured by a different company other than the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) of your vehicle. These parts are made to “resemble OEM standards” and are often less expensive than OEM parts.
LKQ stands for “Like Kind in Quality”. These are undamaged parts that were salvaged from a car that was deemed un-repairable.
What is the difference between OEM and Aftermarket parts and quality? Aftermarket (A/M) parts are NOT made by the original manufacturer; typically they are made overseas and shipped to the U.S. as alternative replacement parts for various vehicles.
No, you do not have to accept them. Although insurance companies aren’t required to use Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) replacement parts, such as GM or Ford, you have the final choice of which parts will be used to fix your own vehicle.
However, if your company wants to use non-OEM parts, and you request more expensive OEM parts, you may have to pay the difference.
For more info on OEM parts and why you should use them, go to CrashRepairInfo.com.
The simple answer is no. You do not need an estimate before you decide to get your vehicle repaired. The initial estimate that is written is a visual only estimate and does not account for any hidden damage. The damaged area on the vehicle needs to be disassembled to gather the true cost to repair a vehicle. Therefore there is no need to get any visual estimate because it will most likely not be accurate.
Your insurance company may ask for several estimates. There is no law that states how many estimates you must submit or that limits the number the company can ask for. One should be sufficient from the shop of your choice.
We have a heated drive-thru inside claims area at KB Body Shop. You are not required to take your vehicle to any drive-in claims facility. It is your right as the vehicle owner to obtain an estimate from the shop of your choice. You’re required to notify your insurance company of the vehicle’s location so that it may be examined by the claims adjuster. However, if you have already gone to a drive-in claims facility, make sure you take a copy of the insurance adjuster’s estimate with you when obtaining repair shop estimates and choosing a facility to repair your vehicle.
Start with asking your friends and relatives about their experiences. Not all people on the “Review Sites” are being truthful and some sites hide the good reviews from showing. Always speak with the shop owner/manager and ask to have a look around the shop while they explain their procedures. Ask the owner/manager about restoring your vehicle back to its “pre-accident condition” to see his take on repairing vehicles correctly.
DRP stands for Direct Repair Program. Auto insurance companies often partner with Collision repair shops as an option to provide repairs for their insured. You, as the vehicle owner, have the right of Choice.
A deductible is a specified amount on an auto insurance policy that is deducted from the claim payout. It is a contractual responsibility of the vehicle owner when involved in a collision or comprehensive loss. Most deductibles range from $100 to $500.
The deductible is due at the end of the repair when you pick-up your vehicle.
If you request a parts pre-order, and the claim has not been approved, you may be required to sign an authorization of repairs and/or leave a deposit.
This depends on the insurance coverage confirmation at the beginning.
We must have coverage and/or liability confirmation before the insurance company will authorize us to start repairs or order parts.
We must also have your written authorization before starting repairs.
Due to the variety of collisions and the different repair processes involved, and parts availability each repair time will be different.
After the estimate is written we can calculate and estimated target time for your planning convenience.
OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer. OEM parts are replacement parts made by the Original Equipment Manufacturer of the vehicle you drive, ie. Ford, Chevrolet, Nissan, Toyota, Kia, Lexus, etc.
Aftermarket parts are manufactured by a different company other than the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) of your vehicle. These parts are made to “resemble OEM standards” and are often less expensive than OEM parts.
LKQ stands for “Like Kind in Quality”. These are undamaged parts that were salvaged from a car that was deemed un-repairable.
What is the difference between OEM and Aftermarket parts and quality? Aftermarket (A/M) parts are NOT made by the original manufacturer; typically they are made overseas and shipped to the U.S. as alternative replacement parts for various vehicles.
No, you do not have to accept them. Although insurance companies aren’t required to use Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) replacement parts, such as GM or Ford, you have the final choice of which parts will be used to fix your own vehicle.
However, if your company wants to use non-OEM parts, and you request more expensive OEM parts, you may have to pay the difference.
For more info on OEM parts and why you should use them, go to CrashRepairInfo.com.