Auto Insurance: Body Shop Repairs

marcg · Addict Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 944 City: Salt Lake City

So I got hit, should I go with the insurance's body shop? (Progressive)
Seems to be a little easier of a process doing that.
Or should I take it to an actual dealership (Toyota) and have them do it?
Seems to be a few pros and cons to that, as it appears that the insurance will have a hands off approach if there are issues with the work.

Rear passenger bed area near the wheel well got ripped open like a can of tuna from a fender on a merging dumptruck. Peeled back past the tailgate.

Thanks for input!

ontrider · Ladies Man Joined: 30 Jul 2003 Posts: 16491 City: Russia

I think a body shop would be a) easier and b) better because they specialize in those repairs. I've done it twice and car came out looking like new. No hassles with insurance, just picked up my car and was done with it.

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

marcg, with my last issue or 2 I took it to the shop that Progressive recommended because:

1) I actually had used them in the past and they did good work; and,
2) Progressive handled every aspect of the claim, and I didn't have to do anything. I literally showed up, gave them the keys, and hopped in my (provided) rental and left.

If you have the work done by a Progressive authorized shop, it is guaranteed work. Ask them about it, I'm sure they will give you the run down on the guarantee.

There are quite a few companies that offer this level of claim service now. My mom had an incident with someone who had GEICO and through the same shop got basically the same service.

All that said, you have the right to choose the shop you want to use. They will remind you of this, probably because it is required by law that they do.

finkle · Wakeboarder.com Freak Joined: 22 Sep 2003 Posts: 4067

I don't trust body shops. I went to a VERY reputable one 5-9 years ago (i got hit a few times). I have since seen their work deteriorate and would never go there again. Granted most people don't have their vehicle as long as I've had mine but IMO a fix should be a permanent one. Unless it's a ding that can be easily removed, I'm going to insist on new metal.

marcg · Addict Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 944 City: Salt Lake City

Regardless of where I take it to the truck is getting new metal/body, definitely no bondo possible here. My main concern was quality of work. Chavez, the points you mention there are the main draw for sure. Seems pretty seamless, just drop the car off and hop in your rental car waiting for you right there.

Since there is nothing mechanical needing to be fixed here I am now leaning towards letting Progressive's body shop do it instead of the Dealership body shop. Progressive claim it's guaranteed for life, how could you go wrong with that??

I've heard from a few other people who claimed they had shoddy work done by the Progressive body shop and there are still problems, not sure why they haven't just taken back the car though? Odd.

Seems like you at have someone to go to bat for you if you don't like the work or there are problems, with your own pick it is apparant you are on your own to have to complain.

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

marcg, also of note - unless the dealer has it's own body shop, they will just farm the work out to a body shop anyway.

Many dealers do not have their own body shop...

Zach M · Posted: Feb 08, 2012 11:21 am Post subject:

I took it to a Progressive recommended shop last year and had a great experience. I had it towed there, they had a rental waiting and all paperwork filled out already. The benefit is that Progressive guarantees their work, so if something isn't done right they cover the cost to get it done fixed. My car looked like new when I got it back and over a year later I have no complaints.

ridininmd · Wakeboarder.Commie Joined: 16 Feb 2006 Posts: 1231

I used to work in a dealership, here's how insurance company preferred shops work. The shop agrees to charge the insurance company a discounted rate on parts and labor in exchange for the insurance company funneling work to them. Often times the shop will be able to write the estimate without an adjuster coming out to look at the car so the work can get started quicker. Also if they find additional repairs needed once they get into the job they can address them without waiting for the adjuster.

The flip side is that they will usually use cheaper aftermarket parts instead of OEM. These are generally lower quality and while they are passable they aren't of the same quality as OEM. Talk to your insurance company about their policy on this and what your options are. With some cheaper policies you may not have a choice but at least ask.

It comes down to how long are you going to keep the truck? If it's just a couple years get the work done at their shop and move on. If you plan of keeping it a long time take it to the Toyota shop and get the OEM parts. The lifetime warranty they offer only covers you, they bank on the fact that most people will only keep their cars a couple years, so cheaper parts won't be an issue to that owner.

Zach M · Posted: Feb 08, 2012 11:29 am Post subject:

ridininmd, All my parts were OEM, I verified that, so not necessarily true.

ridininmd · Wakeboarder.Commie Joined: 16 Feb 2006 Posts: 1231

Zach M, correct, some of it will depend on the model of the car, and availability of aftermarket parts. Sounds like you were on top if it, most people don't know that it's even an option.

marcg · Addict Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 944 City: Salt Lake City

Looks like they said they are using grade A condition parts from a same vehicle if available, which they were.

ridininmd · Wakeboarder.Commie Joined: 16 Feb 2006 Posts: 1231

That means they are putting used parts on it. It's not the end of the world I guess, but since it sounded like this wasn't your fault I would be fighting for new parts. The insurance company isn't on your side, their goal is to fix it for as little money as possible.