Auto Collision, Inc.

Now that auto insurance policies can be obtained with just a few clicks of a mouse, many people don’t put much thought into choosing an insurance agent.  But what are you really getting when your decision is based on how fast you can get it over with and how cheap a policy you can find?  Often times, not much.

As the owner of an auto body repair facility, I deal with people every day who have just been in auto accidents.  Many of them are just learning the particulars of their insurance policy.  For some it is a rude awakening.   Some are just realizing the impact of cutting towing or rental car coverage from their policy to save a few dollars off their premium.  Some are learning that their claims adjuster isn’t so much looking out for their best interest.  And for those who bought online and didn’t bother with a local agent, they’re finding they don’t have anywhere to turn for help.

Are all online insurance purchases a bad decision?…  No.  Will simply choosing any local insurance agent ensure you’ll avoid unpleasant surprises when you need to make a claim?…  Nope.   But looking for a few important things when choosing an agent, and taking the time to listen and learn about the policy details, will truly benefit you in the long run.   Trust me!

The Benefits of Choosing a Good Insurance Agent and a Good Insurance Policy:

•  When you need to file a claim, a good insurance agent will help you with that process.

•  A good insurance agent can often refer you to a good body shop for repairs… not just a body shop that happens to be on their “preferred” list, but one that they have personal experience working with.

•  A good insurance agent will have helped you choose an insurance policy that is a good fit for you.  That means that there will be few, if any, unpleasant surprises when it comes to what’s covered at the time of the claim.

•  And if problems arise with the claims adjuster, your agent can go to bat for you from within the insurance company and help to resolve your concerns.  After all, your agent is the one most concerned with retaining you as a client.

It’s well worth the time an effort to find yourself a good insurance agent…so what do you look for?   I can tell you that my customers who are most satisfied with their insurance company have agents who deal with them personally, not just to sell the policy but to answer questions, help file claims, etc.  These agents are all about providing good old-fashioned service to their clients.  One such agent is Bobby Whiteside of  Client4Life Insurance.  I enlisted his help to point out some important things to look for when choosing an auto insurance agent.

Better Value is More Than Price

As Mr. Whiteside points out, there are plenty of agents who will write an auto insurance policy based on price alone.  Walk-in, call, or click is all you need do to get a quote these days.  But if you don’t clearly understand the policy provisions, you may be excluding some important coverages.   Or you may not be getting all the discounts you qualify for.  Agents like Mr. Whiteside spend considerable time learning about your needs and explaining options and coverages to ensure you get a fairly priced policy that best fits your specific needs.  It’s important to them that they sell policies that provide the best value.

Building a Lasting Relationship

Relationships start with how people are treated.  Look for an agent who promptly returns phone calls or emails and is willing to go out of their way to get your questions answered.  One good way to tell if your agent will be there for you when you really need him is to observe the effort he (or she) puts forth into building a relationship with you.  If the agent’s business philosophy is to gain customers for life, your chances are much better that they’ll be there for you when you need help with a claim.

Service

Did your agent suggest you contact him first when you have a claim to file?  He should.  Many insurance companies tout their 24 hour Claims Service.  Personally, I want an agent who understands the insurance company’s claims process well enough to help me file the claim and to insure my best interests are served.  If I don’t know where to turn for collision repairs, I’d like a referral to someplace the agent has experience with. I don’t want to be referred blindly to an auto body repair shop simply because they are on “the list”.   I want a body shop that someone I know and trust (my agent) knows and trusts. After all, my car is likely my second biggest investment.

The Financial Strength of an Established Company

Does the agent represent a well-established, financially strong insurance company?  When you purchase a policy, you want to be sure that the company standing behind it will still be there in the future when you need to make a claim.  Will they be likely and able to pay your claim in a timely manner?  Check out the A.M. Best Rating of the insurer you are considering.

Don’t Rely on Commercials

Insurers spend millions on commercials to get your attention and gain market share.  But take it from me, the actual service you get when you need it most depends largely on the local agents and claim reps.  Take a little time to ask your friends and family about their experiences with their insurance companies and agents.  This will likely be a much better indicator of what to expect.  And keep in mind that each agent handles his clients his own way.  The time you invest in choosing the right insurance company, and the right agent, will be well worth it.

For a list of local agents with whom I’ve worked and can personally recommend, check out my Good Contacts to Have page of this blog.  Or, if you’ve got questions and would really like to chat with me or anyone from my staff to get the real deal about the insurance companies we see and deal with each and every day, feel free drop in or give us a call.  Our contact info is readily available on our website at www.autocollisioninc.com.

When I have a chance to help someone who is working hard to make things better, I like to try to do my part.

A friend came to me today with a scrumptious loaf of banana bread, a flier, and a small request…if I liked the bread, perhaps I’d consider buying a loaf for the upcoming holiday. You see, a woman from his church lost her job and has been trying to make ends meet for the last year. So she got creative — literally — and began baking bread. She’s set up a very small website at www.hopesbread.com where you can see what she has to offer and place an order. I really don’t know much about this woman, other than what I’ve just told you. But I do know my friend and he is a good man with a good heart and if he’s willing to help this woman by spreading the word for her, so am I. In today’s world, I believe we need to encourage those trying to help themselves. And by helping each other, we’ll all find our way through these tough economic times.

If you’d like to help by enjoying one of these delicious breads, visit www.hopesbread.com.

When an insurance company pushes you to have your vehicle repaired at a bodyshop other than the one you have chosen, that’s steering.

You have the legal right to have your vehicle repaired at any shop you choose and the insurance company is required by law to pay the reasonable cost to repair the accident damage according to the limits set forth in your policy.

Even if the shop you have chosen is not on the insurance company’s program, you still have the right to have your vehicle repaired wherever you choose and the insurance company is legally obligated to pay the reasonable costs to repair.

Insurance adjusters are very aware of the steering laws and some have become very adept at using the right wording to stay just clear of the line.  For instance…

• The adjuster may tell you that you can use your bodyshop but that your shop has been known to overcharge and you may have to pay out of pocket for repairs done there.

If a reputable autobody shop must present you with a bill for a portion of the repairs that should have been covered by the insurance company you should know that it was not done without first fighting hard on your behalf with the insurer.  Some insurers try to intimidate shops to cut corners on repairs – something no reputable shop would do.  If this happens to you, you should know that often the insurer will reimburse you for any amount you pay out of pocket if you simply request it.  They know they are legally responsible, they simply don’t want to go on record as giving in to the shop so they can continue to try to intimidate others.

• The adjuster may tell you that repairs will be delayed unless you use the shop they want you to.

Most repair delays happen because the bodyshop is waiting for your insurance adjuster to come to the shop to approve the repairs.

• The adjuster may tell you that they won’t guarantee the repairs unless you use the shop they want you to.

A good shop will provide its own guarantee.  A great shop will provide you a lifetime guarantee on all the work they perform for as long as you own the vehicle.

If you have chosen a reputable autobody shop and the insurance company is balking at your decision, it is very likely that your biggest worry should be the insurance company you chose.

If you believe the insurer you’re involved with is not living up to its contractual obligations, contact the insurance commissioner at 1-800-492-6116 ext. 2340 or click here for more information.

These days, money is tight for most of us.  Even though you have auto insurance to cover you in the event of an accident, you may still have your deductible to pay when repairs are completed.  The deductible is the portion of repair costs you are responsible to pay out of your pocket before your insurance coverage kicks in.  Since you weren’t planning to have that accident, this unexpected expense may tempt you to find a shop willing to “work with you” on that deductible.  My advice…be careful!!

Consider the facts:

•  Most likely your auto insurance carrier will have negotiated the lowest cost possible for collision repairs already.  Many insurance companies also have contracts in place with autobody shops that forbid the shop from waiving your deductible even if they wanted to.

•  Autobody shops operate on very thin profit margins.  The costs of training, materials, and equipment to keep a shop current with the ever-changing repair requirements of today’s complex vehicles is exceptional.

Given the above facts, it would be very difficult for a body shop to waive deductibles and stay in business without making up the loss somewhere.  That often means padding the bill to the insurance company to cover the cost of the deductible (insurance fraud) or worse yet, cutting corners on the repair.  If the bodyshop is willing to commit fraud against your insurance company, what makes you think they will deal with you any more fairly or honestly?  And when it comes to your safety, and the safety of your family, proper repairs that will enable the car to perform as designed in any future accidents to prevent injury to the passengers is of the utmost importance.

As the old saying goes…you get what you pay for.  Collision repairs are no exception.   See… “How to Choose a Good Auto Body Repair Shop“.

All auto body shops are not created equal.  So how should you choose?

Referrals.  Referrals can come from many sources…friends, family, insurance agents, tow truck drivers, co-workers, etc.  Whomever the referral comes from, be sure to ask why they like that shop.  This is important since not everyone’s needs are the same when it comes to auto body repair.  If you’ve got a friend who likes a particular autobody shop because they waived her deductible, this might not be the shop for you.  (See “Ask Me About Waiving Your Insurance Deductible“) If your friend loved the service the body shop staff provided and you like the look of the repaired vehicle, that’s a much better indication that you’re on the right track to finding a good shop.  Referrals are great!  Back them up by asking a few good questions and you’re well on your way to finding a body shop that will value your business and treat you accordingly.

Direct Repair Programs.  Your insurance company may have agreements in place with some local area auto body shops.  This can be a good thing…or not.  (Read “The Dangers of Steering”)  Never lose sight of the fact that it is your vehicle and you have the right to have it repaired at a body repair shop of your choosing.  Using a body shop that is part of your insurance company’s direct repair program can be convenient and save some time up front.  There are many very reputable auto body shops participating in direct repair programs (ours included).  As with any referral, be sure to do a little checking on your own before making a decision.  What your insurance company’s claims division looks for in a body shop may in some cases not be the same thing you want out of the company who will be putting your vehicle back together again after an accident.  Quality conscious shops choose which Direct Repair Programs they deal with very carefully.

First Impressions.  Give the body shop a call.  How was their phone presence?  In general, you should feel attended to when calling to inquire about an auto repair.  Were they friendly?  Did they seem to welcome and value your call?  Were they interested in your concerns?  Did they help you understand the process?  A good autobody shop values its customers, not just their cars.  When you arrive at the body shop is there ample customer parking?  It should be easy to determine where to find the office and you should be greeted upon your arrival and met with a clean and comfortable customer waiting area.  Go with your gut…if you are made to feel out of place, or worse yet like you are an interruption, it most likely won’t get better.

Withstanding the Test of Time.  When a business is doing things right and taking good care of its customers it tends to survive the tests of time.  How long has the body shop you are considering been in business?  Do they have connections to the local community?  Are they locally owned?  Do they stand behind the work they do with a lifetime warranty?  Will they still be there to honor that warranty should you need it in the future?  A reputable auto body shop will be there to take care of you and any reasonable concerns related to the work they did for as long as you own the car.

Bottom line…think it over and make sure you are entrusting your vehicle to a shop that will take care of you and get you and your family safely back on the road after your accident!