Ok, I've never had an accident before so this is new to me.. well anyway, I got into a minor accident with snow and a curb (rear axle damage to 1 wheel) about a month ago my insurance company issued a check with my name on it AND "infiniti service" I have a 1000 dollar deductible which they subtracted from the total cost of the check, so should I give the infiniti people who fixed up my car the insurance person's check AND a $1000 check of my own money (for the deductible), or can I cash in the insurance company's check and just give them the total amount from just 1 of my own checks?

 

It should be made out to you. You cash it, and then pay whoever fixes your car.

 

If they included a second party on the check, you'll simply sign over the check to the shop and pay your deductible to the shop when the repairs are complete. If you have a loan or a lease on the car, the insurance company must either have the lienholder's name as a 2nd party or the shop's name as a 2nd party to make sure you can't just cash the check and keep the money. On a 1st party claim, the insurance company is required to protect the lienholder's interest in the vehicle. If they do not and the insured cashes the check, then the car gets repossesed, then the lienholder can go after the insurance company for that money.

 

If the Infiniti dealer was the source of the insurance company's estimate, this is correct. However, if not, the Infiniti dealer is not obligated to do the work for the sum of the check plus your deductable. (They might want more - or they might want less.)

 

I would bet that infiniti is holding the loan on this car.