Know Your Rights
How Do I Choose A Collision Repair Facility?
As the owner of a motor vehicle involved in an accident or submitting an insurance claim, you have the right to choose the shop where you wish to have your vehicle repaired. No law requires you to get more than one estimate, nor are you obligated to have your vehicle repaired at the “cheapest” shop or one “preferred” by the insurance company. You should select a repair facility based on their skill, service, knowledge, reputation and guarantee of their workmanship.
Remember, the body shop is fixing YOUR vehicle for YOU. If you’re making an insurance claim, the insurer pays the bill, but most states prohibit the insurer from requiring you to use a particular shop — that means, ultimately, no matter what you hear, THE BODY SHOP IS YOUR CHOICE.
What Is A DRP Body Shop?
Direct Repair Program (DRP) is another name for an insurance company’s listing of shops, such as: State Farm’s “Service First”, Allstate’s “PRO”, Progressive’s “Total Pro or Concierge”, etc. DRP repair facilities have been solicited by the insurance company which sends customers their way in exchange for discounted repairs, such as lower labor rates or parts discounts. The consumer is not required or obligated to use a DRP repair facility.
Automotive Specialties made a decision many years ago to decline any DRP contracts which allows us to work WITH all insurance companies but work FOR our customer.
Must I Notify My Insurance Company Before Repairs?
Yes, insurance policies require that you notify the company and tell them where the damaged vehicle may be inspected. The insurance company may wish to send an adjustor of their choice to inspect the vehicle or review the shop’s estimate prior to repair.
Who Pays The Repair Bill?
You must arrange for payment. Your insurance policy states the insurance company will pay for repairs less any deductibles or depreciation.
What If Repair Costs Exceed The Original Estimate?
Often times in the collision repair process additional damages are found resulting in more labor and parts needed to restore the vehicle to pre-accident condition. Parts sometimes come in at higher prices than quoted. These additional charges are called a supplement and will be covered by the insurance company with supporting paperwork from the repair facility.
If There Is A Problem With The Repair Job, Who Should You Contact?
First, contact the manager of the repair shop. If your problem is not resolved, contact your insurance company claims manager.
Why Choose a Career in the Skilled Trades
Skilled trades play an important role in the economic role of our society and are crucial in almost every sector of our lives. How many times have you heard, “You’ll need a college education to get hired at a good-paying job?” It seems as if society has been pushing our youth into pursuing a college education while downplaying the intellectual abilities of anyone pursuing a career in the trades. If you took auto shop or woodworking in high school, it may have implied you might not be cut out for college-level classes. This line of thinking has led to supply not keeping up with demand.
Don’t you want a smart auto mechanic working on your vehicle or a smart electrician wiring your home? Of course, you do! There has been a slow shift in our perspective on intelligence. As we move further into the 21st century, recognizing various types of intelligence and just how important every single one is to our overall functioning is allowing our young professionals to re-examine challenging and rewarding career options in the skilled trade sector.
Perhaps simply not being aware of the vast options available because they have not been exposed to them, or they don’t believe there is a lot of opportunity in the trade sector has limited the interest in skilled trades. For those who thrive on hands-on, engaged learning that leverages curiosity and creativity, here are just a few reasons to consider the trades. Trade school is shorter and cheaper than a traditional 4-year college degree. Trade jobs are well paying. There’s job security for those who excel and it is hard to outsource skilled trade jobs. With our baby boomers looking to exit the job force, there will be plenty of positions available, especially in the next 10-15 years.
The time has come to pursue your dreams and be appreciated for your talents. Good auto mechanics, collision repair techs, auto paint techs are a lot like nurses…in high demand and able to find a good job almost anywhere in the country. We will always need them. If you love taking things apart AND putting them back together, have the ability to logically solve complicated problems, why not consider a career in the auto industry? There are many areas in this field including mechanic, auto body tech, painter, service advisor, management, parts, sales, etc.
If your expertise is not auto-related, don’t worry! Make your appointment with our well-trained and experienced team at Automotive Specialties. We’ve been here since 1983 – talk about job security! Automotive Specialties prides itself on providing exemplary customer services. We take every measure to ensure you are satisfied with all your auto body, paint, and mechanic needs and will do whatever it takes to earn your business and remain life-long clients. Automotive Specialties has been serving the Yorkville area since 1983. We pride ourselves on being large enough to provide professionalism and reliability, yet small enough to provide personalized service. Automotive Specialties is here to answer all of your automotive questions. Explore our website or call us at (630) 553-0397 today. We look forward to serving you! Like us on Facebook to stay up-to-date on current tips, and specials.
Sources:
http://www.roberts-autorepair.com/blog/why-choose-a-career-in-the-automotive-repair-industryhttps://bettermoneyhabits.bankofamerica.com/en/auto/buying-your-first-car
