How to Get a Car Repair Estimate After an Accident

After a car accident, you might be able to make an insurance claim for vehicle damage with your own insurance company (under your collision coverage) or with the other driver's (under their liability coverage). In either sitution, getting a repair estimate is a necessary step toward getting your vehicle fixed and back on the road. In this article, we'll cover when and how to get a repair estimate, plus some common pitfalls to watch out for when you're getting a damage estimate after a crash.

Should I Get a Car Repair Estimate Before I File an Insurance Claim?

Almost every major car insurance company advises potential claimants to file a claim first, and then get a repair estimate. While you can almost always ultimately choose where to get your vehicle repaired, the insurance company is usually going to want to be involved in the vehicle inspection/damage estimate process.

• If it's pretty clear that the accident was the other driver's fault, and they have property damage liability insurance, you can file a third party claim through their car insurance company.
• If you were at fault, or you just want a quicker, cleaner claim process, you can file a claim through your own collision coverage, if you have it.

In either scenario, getting the car insurance claim process started usually means simply making a phone call to the insurance company's claims division, or utilizing the company's claim-filing app.

One situation in which you might want to get a vehicle damage repair estimate before filing an insurance claim is when you're deciding whether to make a car insurance claim or just pay for the damage yourself (you might make this decision based on the extent of the damage and how much it will cost to fix). But, it's always a good idea to report your car accident to your insurance company if you're going to end up needing to use your coverage.

How Long Does It Take to Get an Estimate on Car Damage?

The insurance company can usually handle the vehicle damage repair estimate for you, if you'd prefer that approach. Some insurance companies (like Geico) like to get an insurance adjuster involved in the vehicle inspection/repair estimate process pretty quickly. If you call or text your insurance company from the scene of the accident, or if you use the company's app to notify them, they might offer instructions that same day.

But you can always get your own repair estimate (from a mechanic you trust, for example) after an accident. You could have the vehicle towed from the accident scene to your mechanic's shop, if that's your preference. The point is, you don't need to wait for permission from the insurance company to get an estimate. But it's a separate issue whether the insurance company is going to agree to pay the full amount of the repair job based on the estimate you got on your own.

Get a Quality Repair Estimate, Not Just the Easiest One

You don't want to cut corners, especially since the goal here is to have the insurance company (not you) pay for all necessary repairs, or for the "actual cash value" if your vehicle is declared a total loss.

Seek out an estimate for repairing vehicle damage —or any other kind of property damage—only from places where you would actually go to have the repair work done.

Make sure the repair shop is properly licensed or certified in line with your state's requirements, and that the estimate quoted will be enough to the bring the vehicle's condition up to safety and marketplace standards. If you're financing your vehicle, you may need to discuss this part of things with the loan's lender.

If you just get the easiest estimate—taking your car to the corner gas station, for example—you may find that the amount quoted will not be enough to cover the repairs you eventually have done at a quality repair shop.

Tips for Getting a Vehicle Repair Estimate

When the repair estimate process goes smoothly, the work gets done quickly and you get on with your life. But there are a few things to keep in mind to make sure you get your vehicle fixed the right way, as soon as possible, and with no surprises.

Don't Let an Insurance Company Delay the Vehicle Repair Process

Don't allow an insurance company's inspection or estimates to delay repairs unnecessarily. There's no reason to wait to get your vehicle repaired if you can afford to pay from your own pocket, if :

• the insurance company hasn't inspected the vehicle within a week or so after the acci­dent, or hasn't otherwise weighed in on how it would like you to proceed
• you've given the insurer a reasonable ­opportunity to have a say, and
• you already have two independent written estimates.

The strategy here is to get the repairs done and then demand reimbursement from the insurance company. Of course, if you get the repairs at the shop that gave the highest estimate, the insurance company might agree to reimburse you only for a lower estimate.

Also, be aware that getting car repairs before you agree on an amount removes one of the incentives for the insurance company to settle quickly. Once you have your car back, the insurance company no longer has to pay for alternative transportation (if "rental car reimbursement" is part of the coverage, for example).

Watch Out for Low-Ball Repair Estimates

If an insurance adjuster from the other driver's insurance company tells you the company has a repair shop that will fix your car for substantially less than the estimate you got, be ­cautious. Insurance companies sometimes have sweetheart deals with certain repair shops that work for the insurance company in ­exchange for lots of referrals. But that doesn't guarantee that the inspection for damage is ­thorough or that the work done is good quality.

You should always get your own inspections and estimates from independent repair shops. If two or three independent estimates are higher than the one insurance company ­estimate, the insurance company's estimate is probably a poor one. Repairs should be made only by a shop chosen by the car owner, regardless of how much money the car owner receives in settlement.

How Long Will it Take to Get Vehicle Repairs Done and Paid For?

According to Geico, the vehicle damage claim process can be resolved in as little as 48 hours, but it's safe to say that's not exactly the norm.

As with most vehicle damage claim-related issues after a car accident, a big consideration here is whether:

• you're filing a vehicle claim directly with your own car insurance company under your collision coverage, so that fault for the accident isn't an issue, or
• you're making a third-party claim with the other driver's car insurance company under their liability coverage, so there might be a delay as the insurance company investigates the car accident and figures out whether or not it's driver was actually at fault.

But in general, a vehicle damage claim is often resolved within a week or two after a crash. After that, the timeline for repairs depends on the severity of the damage and the mechanic's availability/capacity.

What Happens After You Get an Estimate on Car Damage?

Depending on the insurance company, and your preferences, the insurer might send you a check for the amount of the repairs (as detailed in the estimate), or they might pay the shop directly for the work. Remember, if they send you a check, you're not required to use it to get your car fixed.

Next Steps After a Car Accident

If your car accident resulted in vehicle damage only (you weren't injured), it usually makes sense to handle the insurance claim process on your own, especially if you're proceeding through your own insurance company.

For more tips on getting your vehicle repaired the right way after a car accident, get How to Win Your Personal Injury Claim by Joseph L. Matthews (Nolo).

Of course, the aftermath of a car accident can be more complicated than a quick insurance claim for vehicle damage. If your accident also resulted in injuries, or if you're running into any kind of conflict with the insurance company, it might make sense to discuss your situation with an experienced legal professional. Learn more about how a car accident attorney can help.