Was recently got a very bad hail damaged. The damages were pretty much all over my car. Heavy damages on hood, trunk and light elsewhere. While waiting for an adjuster from my insurance, I went to multiple pdr shops as well as body shot to get estimates. Their estimates was well over 5k. Since my damages were heavy on hood and trunk, I was planning to cash out the check. Then upgrade hood and trunk to carbon fiber and keep the rest of the cash for other goodies. On the other hand, my insurance only paying 1.5k for the damages. I am pretty sure that it will cause wayyy more than that to get it fix. What can I do to have my insurance to pay me the right amount without having my car fixed at the shop? I really appreciate you help.

 

Talk to your adjuster and show them the estimates. It helps if your estimates are from one of their "approved" shops. Be aware that the insurance company will not necessarily pay for OEM parts if you need replacements.

You may have to go back and forth with them a bit. Be firm, but respectful with your adjuster/insurance rep - more flies with honey and all that...

 

Depending on the year of your car, it could be "totaled". Let them do it and the buy it back as a project car.

 

It's an 07. My instinct's telling me that the adjuster is anticipated that I will just cash out that's why he wrote me an estimate that was wayyyy super low. Do y'all think that they will make me to get it fixed at the shop and they pay out the supplement? I rather use that money and change out the hood and truck. Do a little upgrade to make the car looks a little better. How can I have them just write me a different estimate and tips or tricks? . Pretty sure it will cost a well over 5k to cover these damages.

 

you are entitled by law to get it fixed anywhere you want. Some of the damage may be able to be fixed with the heat/cold method using now paint.

 

That's good advice ONLY if he wants a project car and is not interested in any resale value. A car with a salvage title is exceedingly difficult to do anything with except keep or give away.

 

I was going to buy one that my daughter dunked in a creek, but when I went to the wrecking yard to see it and opened the door....


.... water and fish ran out on the ground. So, no, I didn't buy it.

 

Insurance already sent me the check for 1.5k and every time I call they said I need to bring to the shop of my choice to get it fix and the shop will send them the supplement. Plus, I don't think they'll totaled my car if they only gave me an estimate of 1.5k. What I gotta do to now?

 

OP, did you cash the $1.5k check? Another question would be who is the insurance company? Do you have a local agent to deal with, or a call center from an online agent?

If you haven't cashed the check, I would bring it to your agent along with 2 or 3 written estimates from shops that are preferred repair centers and ask for the check to be reissued for the full amount less your deductible.

If you hold the title to the car, they have to pay you what the legitimate cost of repairing it, they can not however force you to get it repaired.

 

nope, havent cash it out yet. thanks for great advice, I'll try that and see how it work out

 

It's true the shop WILL apply for a supplement. Mine did that a couple of times.

 

Once you get the check situation straightened out, look for good paintless dent repair places locally. There are guys that travel around the country chasing hail storms and doing PDR work. If the local dealerships got hit, I bet there's a guy there now fixing up all the cars on the lot.

You'll be amazed how much good an experienced PDR guy can do for a fraction of the cost of traditional body work and paint.

 

So here's the deal guy, I've faxed in a few estimate. They car me back and keep insisting me that I need to pick a shop that I want to get my car fix at in order for them to review the estimate even after I've told them that those estimate are just an overall market cost to fix my damage. What do I need to tell them now in order for them to reissue the estimate ?

 

Tell them to issue a new check to supplement the difference between what they paid and the average price of the estimates you received.

If you hold the title, they can't force you to get it fixed.

If you don't get it fixed, you won't be able to claim additional hail repairs.

 

Spoke to insurance agent about the estimates I sent in and they keep insisting that insurance will not pay any additional supplement unless I have to bring it to a shop to have it repair and the shop write them a supplement. What do I need to do now?