Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I need to get 3 Estimates?
A: No. You only need to provide a single Estimate from
the shop of YOUR choice. In fact, many insurance companies will
write their own estimate anyway, which means you just wasted your
lunch hour for nothing.
Q: Do I have to take my car to the shop that the insurance company
referred me to?
A: No. YOU are the only one who can decide where to repair your car.
Although many insurance companies have "direct repair" relationships
with certain shops, the final decision on who will do the repair, is YOURS.
Q:What if my car has frame damage? Will it ever be the same?
A: If your car was in an impact more serious than a "bump in the
parking lot", then there is a pretty good chance that the frame or
"UNI-BODY STRUCTURE" has been compromised. Vehicles today are designed
to collapse in an impact to absorb the energy from the collision.
Believe it or not, this protects you and your passengers. The bad news
is, it costs more to repair. However, if the repair facility has the
correct training and equipment, your car can be returned to the factory
specifications. We will provide you with a computer printout documenting
the accuracy of the repair.
Q: How long will my car be in the shop?
A: To complete the repair correctly, it may take some time. We can do
some things like "pre-ordering" parts, and assisting you in expediting
the insurance claims process to reduce the amount of time you are out
of your car. However, there are also other events that could potentially
delay the completion of your car. Once we have the car opened up we
can assess all of the damage caused by the accident, we will have a more
realistic view of the completion date. It is important to note that TAJ
Collision Center has continually received excellent marks when it comes
to ON TIME DELIVERY.
Q: Can I get a rental car when my vehicle is dropped off for repair?
A: If going through insurance, you would need to call the insurance company for them to arrange the rental car to coincide with your scheduled appointment. If out of pocket you can call Enterprise down the road to arrange a rental while your vehicle is getting repaired.
Q: My car needs towing, what do I do?
A: If going through insurance, the insurance company would arrange the tow. If out of pocket, we can arrange towing at your convenience. Please contact us to
make arrangements
Claims Processing
Being involved in an accident doesn't happen that often, knowledge of how
the claims process works can save you hours of frustration and anxiety. We
can help you navigate through this process. Please consider a few of the
following suggestions when beginning your process.
* Make sure that you get all of the other person's information at the time
of the accident. Driver's Name, Phone #, D.L. #, Insurance Company, Agent
& Phone #, Make/model of car, License plate #, Police Report #,
Witness & Contact information, Describe scene of accident briefly.
* If an insurance company is going to be paying for the repair, file
the claim as soon as possible. Be sure to get the claim number on your
first call to the insurance company. If another party is at fault, but
wants to pay for it out of pocket, don't wait too long. Get them an
estimate as soon as quick as you can. Make sure the estimate is as complete
as it can be. If there are any "open" items, ask the shop to note all of
them on the estimate. Again, don't wait too long. It shouldn't take the
other party more than about 3 minutes to decide whether the amount is more
than the person has in the bank. Anything more than that is just a stall.
* If the other party is at fault, they (or their insurance company), owe
you a rental car. The insurance company understands this, and will not
give you grief about this issue. However, a third party may not understand
the law or your rights.
* If the vehicle is un-drivable, get it to the shop as quickly as
possible. (And get into your rental car). Un-drivable may mean that the
car is illegal to drive, i.e.; lights not working etc.
* Whenever possible have the insurance adjuster inspect the car at the
shop where you are having it repaired. This will give the shop the
opportunity to discuss any other items that the adjuster may have missed.
This procedure minimizes questions as to how the repair will proceed.
* Never argue with the adjuster. The shop should be the one dealing with
the adjuster on your behalf. If they are not, you are not getting your
money's worth. The shop understands what it takes to repair your vehicle.
The only time that the shop should involve you with negotiations, is when
there is a coverage issue stated by your policy, or if the adjuster is
recommending a process that will compromise the repair.
