Where to get your car fixed
In the state of Florida the owner of a vehicle that was involved in an auto accident has the right to take their vehicle to any shop that they choose.
- An insurance company cannot force you to use a certain shop.
- If the at fault party is paying for repairs out of pocket, they cannot choose where you must have your car repaired.
With hundreds of body shops just in Pinellas county alone choosing the correct repair shop after being in an auto accident can be daunting. The first thing you should understand is that because of how insurance companies pay out repair claims everywhere you take your vehicle to get a repair estimate should be very close in the terms of dollars. You may save some money at a handful of repair shops, but you will see the savings come from using aftermarket parts that are cheaper and not replacing parts that have been damaged.
Another service that a reputable repair shop can offer is re-evaluating the original insurance adjusters estimate. Sometimes there is extensive damage to a vehicle that cannot be seen until after parts of the car are removed. Even more, some collision shops can now even check the frame of your vehicle to see if it’s rigidity was damaged in the accident. If your frame was compromised your car could be deemed unrepairable.
At the end of the day there are really only three things that matter when dealing with a body shop.
- Is the shop reputable? Ask to see previous work and for references. Check online for reviews!
- Is the body shop’s work warrantied? If it isn’t go somewhere else.
- Do the employees make you feel comfortable? Dealing with the stress of an auto accident is bad enough on its own, dealing with your body shop shouldn’t be.
If you have any questions regarding your rights after being involved in an accident call us today at
727-669-2828