So I had some minor damage (not involving another driver or myself) a couple weeks ago in the Max. I was able to file under my comprehensive coverage with a $200 deductible. I own the car, so I had the option of taking the check or having it sent to the body shop (not the same place on site with the insurer, but a place I did have it painted less than 2 years ago).

Now, before I even start...I already know everyone here on a DIY board is going to say "I should have took the check and did junkyard parts, etc, etc" Yes, I thought about that. But, financially I felt I would have been too tempted to spend the check, and then not have money to do repairs (the check was much more than I thought it was going to be, and I could have gotten $400 atleast to myself after repairs I think). Not to mention, the million other options I 'could' have done also.

But now, I'm feeling stupid for doing so and should have taken the check. Reason being is, I'm having trouble coming up with money for the rental car for a week (I dont have reimbursement), and I might even have issues coming up with the deductible. So yeah, I'm broke as hell and my hours keep getting cut.

I'm wondering if perhaps (in the most legally defined way possible), if I'd be successful in having the body shop pay me $200 (again, out of the check they've already received) when I take my car in, so I could have a rental car while they are doing the work. From what I know, the parts are already in, and they've been paid for the work already. But, I'm wondering if perhaps they'd be willing to cut some corners or a different quality of paint (not like I plan to keep it more than a year anyway), so that I can have something to drive while it's been fixed.

I was supposed to turn the car in couple days ago and postponed til tomorrow. Thing is, I still don't have money to get a rental and I have to have a vehicle to get around in. I just want to ask here, so the bodyshop doesn't think I'm playing games with them.

 

I HIGHLY doubt the body shop is going to do that for you, but they may have a loaner car they can give you for a couple days...I think that is a much more likely favor to ask. Just explain that you dont have the money for a rental, and need the car to get back to work, so you're having a hard time dropping it off, and ask if they happen to have any loaners...I wouldn't ask for them to hand you some cash though...

 

so the insurance company cut you a check to repair the car.
the body shop agreed to repair the car for the amount the insurance company was willing to give you minus the 200 deductible.

you have some damage on your car...not from you or another driver...so who did it? was it existing damage?

i'm pretty sure the shop won't refund u or give you money back from the insurance check. at the end of the day you still owe them 200 dollars for the deductible. no decent shop will cut enough corners to shave 200 dollars off a job that the insurance company priced out.

as to the loaner...call your insurance company and see if they can get a rental company to rent you a call under their insurance company rate. the rate is usually significantly cheaper than the retail rate. unless the body shop is in the business of providing loaners they won't just give you a car b/c it's just too much risk for a body shop to take on.

 

The most obvious mistake, not taking the check and negotiating the job with the shop up front. You could have easily negotiated a better price since the cash would have been in your hands and not theirs.


Perfect example, I got hit, went to three different shops, only submitted the highest quote, got the check to me directly. Note too that I still made payements on the car, but I had no problem getting the money outright. Then I went to the most reasonably price shop, and actually changed the job to replace not repair the bumper cover, since the $150 to repair was almost enough to replace anyway, and it was dinged on the other side not related to the insured hit. In the end, I worked them down to $200 less then the check with that upgrade included, and everyone was happy because they were unaware how much money my insurance gave me.

Now in your case, I think you're stuck. Sure you can talk to the guy, and there can be corners cut, but in the end they see $$ and they are going to milk every dime out of the settlement, as they have direct control of the money since the check was in their name. Good luck, hope you can work something out!

 

Ok guys, I have a confession to make. Something told me this morning to open a 2nd letter I received from the insurance company. It's been sitting on my desk for like a week. Well long story short, I open it and turns out the insurance company sent the check to me I completely misunderstood what was going on, and thought the check was already sent to the body shop. But it was the 'work order with the estimate' sent to the body shop, not the check.

So yeah, I feel even dumber but it's a HUGE relief...I can rent a car now. But someone mentioned taking the check and negotiating...is it too late for that too Apparently the shop already purchased the parts, and they know how much I received. I have to find out if they'd be willing to cut $200 off the price for the cost of me needing a rental.

...oh and it wasn't existing damage. My car was hit by a deer (yes, it literally rammed into the side of my vehicle)

 

Tell the deer to pay you ASAP lol

 

Everything is negotiable...you have the upper hand. Sure they ordered parts, but you have the money. If you didn't sign any agreement with them, you could take your business to any other shop. I'm actually surprised they ordered any parts, because without your car there they can't hold it for payment, so just like that you could walk away and they are stuck with returning parts. I'm wondering if this was another misunderstanding on your part...


So yeah, give it a shot. Depending on the %, in that if it's a $1000 repair and you're asking for 20% discounted, good luck. But if it's say $2500 repair and you're looking for only 8% ($200) discount, that's much more reasonable.

 

I would guess they didn't order anything, no way does a body shop order parts for a car they dont have there yet or don't have a check for yet, unless its a friend or frequent customer. I agree with MadMax, you have the upper hand in this situation, see if they will move on the cost, and try hitting other shops to see what they would do for you.

If they did order the parts, thats not your problem, thats their issue.

 

well, I basically went ahead and turned it in...but I think tomorrow I'm still going to try and negotiate. I may even ask them to not replace the front bumper at all, and just do the fender, etc.

But no, the manager did tell me they ordered the parts already, but I'm still going to see what they can do. I hate to feel like I'm bugging them, but this is my first time taking a vehicle in for damage repairs. However, last year I let them do a full paint job on it. It seems a bit much that the cost of damage is twice the amount of my paint job with no body repair. Of course, that's what the insurance estimate is, which they already have. I still wish I would have just taken the check, and said I didn't find a body shop yet.

The damage is about $1,600. how far could I negotiate? I know their time/work is valuable, but $200 was already deducted by default, and $200 for car rental. I'm still gonna have to come up with extra money when it's done

 

There's really no way to know how far they can go, you just gotta push. I'll give you a for instance, with my issue, they wanted to replace the side door moldings to the tune of over $100 combined. I took them off, with an orbital sander was able to take out the scratches, and gave them a smooth factory looking product, and we cut those parts off the list. With a little pushing I also got a slightly better deal on the rest of the labor, but for a $1600 repair myself, getting it down to under $1400 was the best I could do and that's with shaving off those fixed moldings.