Commonly Asked Questions
give us a call if your question is not answered here: 515-967-9000
Do I need more than one estimate?
There is no state law requiring you to obtain more than one insurance estimate. In fact, most insurance companies will work with a single estimate from a reputable body shop. We recommend that you choose a body shop you are comfortable with, like Bondurant Auto Body and allow them to work directly with your insurance company to see that your vehicle is repaired properly and returned to you as soon as possible.
What if I already have an estimate
from my insurance company?
If you already have an estimate from your insurance company, we just need a copy to get started and schedule you for repairs.
Why is your estimate different
than the others I have received?
Differences in repair estimates are common. Reasons range from differing opinions regarding repair methods, overlooked items, or unseen items. If you’re not sure why one estimate is different from another, please ask and we will explain each estimate in detail.
Can I choose where to have my car repaired?
The choice of repair facility is 100% yours. Although an insurance company may suggest shops on their “list” or who they prefer to work with, anti-steering laws prevent an insurer from mandating the use of a particular body shop for them to pay for the repair. The choice of repair shop us ultimately yours. Bondurant Auto Body offers a lifetime warranty on all workmanship.
How long will repairs take?
Each vehicle will be handled on a case by case basis. Our goal is to return your car to you as soon as possible, while taking all aspects of the damage into consideration. We spend time making sure that we understand the correct manufacturers repair standards as well as ensuring all necessary processes are completed.
Do I have to take my car back to the dealership for repairs?
Many dealership body shops do fine quality work, however, independent body shops still repair the majority of collision damaged vehicles. There are laws in place to prevent auto manufacturers from voiding warranties due to repairs done by shops other than dealers of those product lines. By not selling cars or changing oil, our full focus is on collision repair and we feel the difference shows in our customer service and finished product.
What is a supplement?
A supplement refers to any additional repairs that are called for outside of the original estimate. Usually things that can’t be seen until the vehicle is torn down. Depending upon the cost of repairs, some insurance companies will pay directly off of an estimate we write, while others assign their own appraisers to evaluate the damages and write an initial estimate of their own. Whenever an insurance company elects to have their own representative create an estimate for repairs, we need to have a copy in order to accurately inform them of any supplemental charges that may come up. Since the initial check for repairs (written by the insurance company) comes from their initial estimate, a breakdown of what their representative saw and already paid for is critical in order to handle any supplemental billing for you.
Where do parts come from?
Replacement parts for your car come from three different sources:
• OEM
• LKQ (Used or Recycled)
• Aftermarket or Reconditioned
OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) means that same company that built it; Ford, GM, Honda, Acura, Toyota, etc, manufactures replacement parts for your car. OEM parts are distributed through local dealers. Because of the distribution chain established by automobile manufacturers, parts are sold through car dealers, not shipped from the manufacturing plants directly to the end user. Selling them through dealers allows local inventory to exist which means faster access to most parts than having to wait to get them all from a couple of factories around the country.
LKQ (Used or Recycled) is another name for used OEM parts. LKQ are also known as used, salvage, or recycled parts. LKQ parts are undamaged parts removed from a vehicle that has gone to a salvage yard. Salvage parts are usually available in 1 to 5 days depending upon how far away
the parts are. “LKQ" is an acronym for Like, Kind & Quality.
Aftermarket parts come from companies other than the original manufacturer of your car. They are intended to be identical to the parts made by the original manufacturer. Not every car part is reproduced by Aftermarket suppliers. Typically only the most commonly replaced parts will be available such as bumpers, hoods headlights and fenders.
Where will my insurance company send the check?
Sometimes the insurance company will send a check directly to you. If this happens, you will need to bring in that check, along with your deductible payment when you pick up your repaired vehicle. If you sign our Direct to Pay form, the insurance company should send the check directly to us.
Can the shop help bury my deductible?
No. When you purchased your insurance policy, you signed a
contract saying you will pay the first amount of the claim up to your deductible. Repairers should not be asked to hide the deductible. That practice would constitute fraud by both the shop and consumer. The penalties for insurance fraud are severe. If a shop offers to save your deductible, they are absorbing that at your cost. They are not doing the said repairs in order to make up for your deductible. This could lead to unsafe and unsatisfactory repairs which will ultimately cost you at some point.
What are betterment charges?
Parts that wear out and need replacement with time and use (i.e., tires, batteries, and suspension parts) are commonly subject to betterment charges when they are replaced during the repair process. These betterment charges are determined by your insurance company and are pro-rated based on actual miles on your vehicle.