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I was involved in an accident. What do I do now?
Most important: Gather the following information from those involved in the accident...*name *phone number * license plate number * Insurance name & Policy number of other party(s) *** witnesses. Make sure the witnesses also give information to the police. Next, have your vehicle towed to Factory Finish Inc. ( if un-operable.)
I'm at home, now what do I do?
File a claim with insurance company of the person at fault. If it was your fault, your insurance company is responsible...if not, then the other party's insurance is responsible.
I'm not sure whose fault it was!
You ALWAYS need a police report when involved in an accident. If possible, find a witness or two at the scene of the accident, and make sure they also give their information to the police.
Click here to print out this form from our website and have it handy in your glove compartment.
My vehicle is at a storage facility, should I leave it there?
No, Find a repair shop of your choice that knows how to deal with insurance companies. Find a repair shop that is working for you, not the insurance company. Factory Finish, Inc. works for you!
The insurance adjuster wants me to take my vehicle to their preferred shop because they claim the process will go much faster. Is this true?
No, this is not true... They will work at the same pace. Once they have accepted liability, they have 24-48 hours to write an estimate. The Body shop only needs an estimate with liability established and a check to begin the repair process. All supplements will be handled at the same pace. The insurance companies are looking for discounts that benefit them, NOT YOU.
The insurance company is telling me where to take my vehicle for repairs. Can they do that?
No! By law you have the right to have your vehicle repaired wherever you choose.
I feel like I am being steered, how can I be for sure?
You have the choice to use any collision repair shop YOU desire and state law prohibits insurers from steering customers to particular shops. Comments like "it will take longer to get your car repaired", "It will cost more if you choose your own shop", "We won't reimburse paint and materials" , "We don't pay that rate" , "We won't guarantee the work if you bring the car there" , or "We won't pay the difference" are all misleading and usually untrue. Beware!! you are probably being steered by the insurance company.
How do insurance companies receive discounts from their preferred shops?
They have a discounted hourly rate and discounts on parts.
What happens if my vehicle is totaled?
The Insurance Company buys your vehicle, paying you the fair market value. If you do not have a lien holder the money will go to you. If you owe (for example) $4000.00 to a lien holder and the insurance buys your vehicle for $2000.00 the money goes to lien holder, you still will owe $2000.00 to the lien holder, leaving you with no money or vehicle.
What happens if the insurance is taking too long to establish liability?
In this case, you should hire an attorney to take a look at your claim.
I feel a little sore after my accident, should I see a physician?
Yes, you should go immediately to a physician after all accidents, especially your children. Your health and your children's health is nothing to put off or dismiss.
Can insurance companies give me non-OEM parts? (a.k.a. generic, aftermarket, quality replacement or non-original equipment manufacturer are "knockoff" parts made by a company other than the manufacturer of your vehicle.)
Yes, unless your vehicle's mileage meets their guidelines. They still have to give you a life- time guarantee for all parts. You must ask for their guidelines... some insurance companies have differing guidelines. In cases like this Factory Finish, Inc. will only use good, solid replacement parts. If we see the part is no good, or a hazard to your health, we will contact the insurance company and let them know we refuse to use that part.
If I have a really high estimate and a really low estimate, how do I know which one is correct?
Look over both estimates and see where the difference is. No estimate is correct unless they have done a tear down of the vehicle. If you've received a lower estimate, most likely, when you take the vehicle in, they will do a tear down and find all the parts not listed on the first estimate.
The body shop indicated this amount $_______ is all they are charging me with no additional charges added. Can this be true?
Remember it is just an estimate at any time they can add to the estimate. If they indicate this is total charges get it signed and in writing that no additional charges will be added.
I took the lower estimate and they did not fix all the problems with my vehicle. What can I do?
Look over your estimate... they are only required to do what your estimate stated.
I don't know how to read the estimate!
Have the estimator walk with you around your vehicle indicating which parts are on the estimate and ask about the parts you see damaged and ask why they did not mention those parts.
What is a "dealer preferred body shop"?
A dealer preferred body shop works for major dealerships in the area doing work for them and their clients. Ask for a reference or two with the company if in doubt, or just call the dealership for reference.
Will my insurance premiums go up if i file a cliam? Even if it's a small claim?
Most of the time they don't, your insurance company needs you as a customer, your monthly payments are critical to thier monthly cashflow and now a days it's cheaper for the insuranc ecompany to retain you as a happy customer than it would be to advertise for a new one! just like everything else in todays market, the insurance industry is highly competitive. AND KEEP IN MIND THAT YOUR INSURANCE AGENT WORKS FOR YOU. YOU PAY THEM AND THEY ARE THERE TO ALSO ACCOMODATE YOU IN ANY WAY THEY CAN, AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAY MAY OCCUR. And in some occasions we have found, that when a customer has been accident free with their with their insurance company, for a long period of time, they have been able to recieve a deductable discount, so don't be afraid to ask you agent!
What's the difference between a comprehensive claim and a collision claim?
There are two types of auto insurance that are often confused for each other and mistaken for one another. Collision and comprehensive insurance are both coverage for your vehicle, but they act very differently from one another. Collision insurance insures your vehicle when you are in a collision or accident. Comprehensive insurance covers you for other things and is also known as ‘other than collision insurance’, such as vandalism, disasters, acts of God, theft, fire and impacts with an animal.
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