After an accident occurs, one of the thoughts that come to your mind is “how to get an Estimate on my Car Damage”.
When an auto crash occurs, the cost of repairs and whether or not to file a claim become a concern for most drivers. This article will discuss this topic in detail. So, keep on reading.
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How to Get an Estimate on My Car Damage
Getting into a car accident can be quite frustrating. One of the important things to do when this happens is to contact the police.
Another vital step is to contact your insurance company and report the incidence even if you don’t intend to file an insurance claim. When this is done, you can go ahead to get a car repair estimate from a good auto shop.
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How to Get a Car Repair Estimate
It’s very easy to get an estimate on your car damage. But you should ensure that this is done by a reliable repair shop. In some cases, your insurance company may recommend a list of repair centres. If your case is so, you can do your research to find out the best one for you.
If your insurance company does not recommend an auto repair shop for you, you need to look for a shop with experienced and certified technicians. In addition to this, ensure that the report shop has a rental car program, and detailed estimates as well as a warranty.
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Getting an Estimate for Car Repairs
After you have decided on a good repair shop, the next step is to contact them or book an appointment. Your car may be examined at the accident scene or may be towed to the repair shop.
Whichever way, the mechanic will inspect the car and examine the degree of damage. After this examination, you will be presented with the estimate.
Generally, the repair estimate will contain the repairs that need to be carried out on the car. it will also contain the cost of the vehicle parts that need to be replaced and a breakdown of other costs such as labour fees and additional charges.
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How Long Does It Take to Get an Estimate on a Car Damage?
The time it will take to get an estimate on your car damage depends on the extent of the damages done to your car. If little damage is done to the car, it will take the estimator about 15 to 20 minutes to inspect the car and give you the repair estimate.
When there are more damages done to the car, the estimator may take up to 30 minutes to complete the process. If the damage is very severe, your car may be towed to the repair centre and it will take up to an hour or a few days to carry out an estimate.
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What to do After You Get an Estimate on Car Damage
Having gotten the estimate for repairing your vehicle, you may be bothered about the next step to take. Before you take any action, you need to find out the deductible you will be required to pay if you file an insurance claim.
If the repair cost is less than the deductible, you may have to cover the repair cost from your pocket. If the repair estimate cost is above what you can handle on your own, you need to file a claim with your insurance company. Especially if you have collision coverage, or you are at fault.
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Will my Insurance Go Up If I File a Claim?
When you file a claim, your insurance rates may go up and this depends on your insurance company. Your driving history is also considered when you get your auto policy.
The more driving issues you have had in the past, the more the chances of your premium getting raised increase. Also, your rates will definitely increase when you are the at-fault driver.
Filing insurance claims occasionally can also lead to your rates being increased or your policy getting terminated.
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Do You Have to Pay to Get an Estimate on Car Damage?
Whether or not you are being charged for getting an estimate on your damaged car depends on the repair centre. Some auto repair centres will charge you for the time and labour used in inspecting the car.
Meanwhile, they are some auto repair shops that offer this service for free. However, whether or not a repair centre offers this service for free should not be the criterion for you to choose an auto repair shop.
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