How to Get your Car Repaired If you have never been in a car accident before, which we hope you have not, you may not be prepared

for the aftermath. Here is everything you need to know about getting your car fixed after an accident,

assuming that the accident was not your fault.

Drivable Cars If your car is still drivable be sure to contact the other party’s insurance company for an estimate of the

damages. They will choose to either have someone come by to

look at your car or have you come to them. After they give you

their estimate you will want a second estimate from an actual

car repair shop of your choice. If the estimates match you can

have your car repaired on the insurance company’s dime, but if

they do not have the repair shop manager call the insurance

company on your behalf to ensure that all of the damages are

paid for by them.

If the insurance company does not provide the service of giving you an estimate they will ask you to take

your car to several different repair shops and then issue you a check for the cost of the cheapest repair

shop.

Could Later Be Drivable On the other hand, if your car is no longer drivable but could be if fixed, you will go through the same

process in order to receive the check for the repairs. It is important to be aware that if your car has been

towed to a repair shop or salvage yard most places will charge you a hefty daily storage fee that the

insurance company will not pay for you. So move your car as quickly as possible.

Totaled Cars If your car is totaled and will never be drivable again, do not expect to get a fair amount of money from

the insurance company. They will compare the costs of your car had it been sold before the accident

between the cost of repairing your car, including rental charges and salvage

value. They will then pay you whichever is cheaper. If a car costs more to repair

than it was worth in the first place is called a “total loss” hence the term.

At this point you have the choice to either keep your totaled car or sign it over

to the insurance company and allow them to dispose of it as they will. Unless

you are an expert at cars and want to keep the salvageable parts, most people

are recommended to have it disposed of by the insurance company.

Hopefully your car has not been totaled and is able to be fixed in a trusted auto

body repair shop in Dallas. Otherwise you may be forced to take the money

the insurance company gave you and figure out the best replacement car for your money. You may

never be able to replace the memories in your old car, but it may prevent you from getting into any

more collisions in the future.

Photo Credit: mzacha, reisereise