Miller Brothers Auto Body Shop works with ALL insurance companies, including Geico
You need to understand what your insurance covers, and how much a car repair will cost. A reputable insurance company will provide the right coverage, both comprehensive and collision, to ensure that your car is repaired correctly and quickly.
What type of coverage is available to pay for a car repair
After an accident, or collision, comprehensive, and rental car reimbursement insurance will cover your vehicle while it is being repaired by an auto body shop.
Optional coverages like collision and comprehensive can increase your premium. They cover repairs to your vehicle after an incident. The deductible for these protections is usually $250, $500, or $1,000. Your deductible will determine how high your premiums are. However, the deductible you choose will affect how much you pay out of pocket for any claim you make.
Your insurer will pay your claim up until your car’s actual value (ACV) in the event of total loss. This is your car’s original purchase price less depreciation. These coverages are not required by law but may be required by your leasing company or finance company.
Collision insurance covers car repairs and replacements after an accident with another vehicle or a stationary object. Before adding collision insurance, most insurers require that you have complete coverage.
Comprehensive insurance covers damage to your vehicle that is not due to a collision. These include theft, vandalism, and fire as well as falling objects and severe storms. If your vehicle is damaged or needs to be repaired, you will receive the ACV amount less your deductible.
Rent-a-car insurance provides optional coverage to cover the cost of renting a vehicle while it is being repaired. There are often per-accident, maximum days, and per-day limits. For example, $600 per accident, $20 per hour, and 30 days maximum. It may cost less than $10 per person.
Comprehensive and collision coverage is “full coverage.” The value of your vehicle will determine whether they are worth the expense. It’s worth getting full coverage if you have a more recent model because you could lose more if your car is totaled.
These coverages are not the same as liability insurance which covers damage to another person’s vehicle or property, or bodily injury or death due to an accident you cause. This coverage is required for drivers in nearly every state, though the minimum requirements vary.
What to do following an accident
- Contact police immediately after a collision
- Call 911 immediately if you are injured
- If other vehicles or property are involved, the local police will assist
- Report a claim to your insurer
Insurance should be involved immediately. Based on the statements of their insureds and the police report, insurance companies usually determine who is at fault.
Your case will be assigned a claims adjuster, who will likely be your primary point of contact during the claim resolution/repair process. This person will:
- Expect honesty and detail in your answers to questions
- Collect statements from witnesses
- Take a look at the details of the accident
- Examine medical reports
- All vehicles should be inspected
- Provide a damage repair estimate
Who pays for your vehicle’s repair?
After you have paid your deductible, your insurance company will pay for your damages if you are at fault in an accident. You can file a claim against the insurance provider if you are at fault for an accident.
You can choose to have your insurance company pay for the repairs if the other driver is not cooperative or responsive.
Your insurer will then seek compensation from the other carrier, including reimbursement of your deductible. This is called inter-company arbitration. In the event of a dispute about who is at fault, both insurers may sue one another in court.
You can choose to pay the repair costs yourself if the damage is minimal (typically less than $1,000), and if there were no injuries and no personal property/vehicles involved. Insurers will view you as riskier and raise your auto insurance rates.
How to choose an auto repair shop
You are free to choose where you want your car repaired. However, if your estimate from the recommended garage by your insurer is less than the quote from another garage you receive, you may have to pay the difference.
An insurer-recommended repair facility has the advantage of being trusted by the insurer. But, you should be comfortable with whoever is doing the repairs.
If you choose an auto repair shop in Knoxville, TN within their network, some insurers offer a repair warranty.
These are some tips to consider when selecting a repair shop:
- Ask your family and friends about shops they have confidence in.
- Send a copy to the shop of the estimate from your insurer. Make sure that they are able/will complete the work as indicated in the estimate.
- Ask the shop to provide a written estimate of the price and ensure that your insurance approves it.
- A lifetime warranty for repairs is a good sign of a reliable company.
Call Miller Brothers Transmission Auto Repair and Body Shop now if you’re looking for a reputable auto shop that can help you with your car problems.
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Miller Brothers Transmission Auto Repair and Body Shop
7123 Tazewell Pike
Corryton, TN 37721
(865) 689-5072
https://www.millerbrosautorepair.com/
Serving Knoxville, TN and Knox County
Service areas include: All of Knox County, Corryton, Fountain City, Halls Crossroads, Powell and Knoxville
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