Questions about a personal car insurance claim.
 

I just did a number on my own fender (contact with a concrete lighting pole barrier). I have one shop that I trust to do the repair work, but I'm floating the idea of just replacing the fender myself and having them only do the painting. Would the insurance generally write me a personal check which I would then pay the body shop, or would they require a body shop to do the quote and then pay them directly? Am I able to pick the shop of my choice in this situation since it's personal damage?

Thanks

why? If you trust the shop, let them do the estimate, let them fight the insurance company, let them make sure absolutely everything near that area is not damaged. It is just not worth the hassle of any of that.

If you can afford it will cost you less in the long run to not go through insurance. If the accident is on record though they might raise your rates anyway in which case you might as well make a claim.

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This^
Unless you have accident forgiveness on your policy it is never a good idea to go through insurance for an at fault single car crash.

That's what I'm afraid of. My rate has been steadily dropping over the years, the fender seems easy to replace.

You should always be able to pick the shop of your choice, Insurance can't dictate that, at least not in any state I ever lived in. They may refer you to a specific shop or give you an added incentive like guaranteed workmanship for the ownership of the car if you use their shop but they can't require it.

My insurance company (USAA) will do an appraisal and cut you a check. If there are additional costs they cover it after an inspection with the repair shop. Technically, you don't even have to have the repair done, you could just cash the check.

As others have said, if its something you can afford to do without insurance that may be something to consider. My rule of thumb if its less than double my deductible, I pay for it myself.

Translation:


I want my insurance company to cut me a check for a part I am not going to buy while my friend at the body shop slaps some Bondo on and paints the fender......


Am I kidding?

What if you have $0 ded on a collector car policy!?!?! ;)

OP: Yes, they will cut you a check so you can buy a used fender to save money. They have preferred shops they'll deal with directly but will also cut a check based on their estimate. The risk there is if it costs more, you have to pay it. If it cost less, savings for you.

As for the fender swap, the last fastener underneath the stupid fender trim piece can be removed without taking off that trim piece. It's a bit of a pain but unless you want to buy all new clips for that piece I suggest dealing with the pain. You can then CAREFULLY compress the clips and then you have to rip off that piece as it's also double side taped on. Again though if you just find a used fender in the right color with the same design (86 boxer one for you of course) that's by far the easier path to take.

However as others have said, don't claim a fender. Buy a used one in the right color already if you can find it (used fenders go for 100-200 depending). Or buy a new one and paint it (figure 400 and up depending on where you get the fender and who does the paint).

FWIW, if you have to paint it anyways, just buy a new fender from Subaru. It's not that expensive compared to used and the paint guy will have an easier time not having to sand off so much material which will save you some funds potenitally.. and no need to worry about damage to the used fender, etc.

Well, heck, never considered it because I would never qualify for a collector car policy. I like driving my cars too much.

I have one on my 74 Lincoln, it's $129 a YEAR! Only 2k miles per year though. I do have a $10k hull value on it.

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I know you used hull value due to being a pilot and all, but my first thought was a land yacht joke.

I also enjoy sailing. Don't have my own ship though, yet.

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Yes you do.

You know what I meant :evileye:

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