DBA Auto Body, Inc. East Walpole, MA 508-660-0100

508-660-0100

Auto Insurance Claim Advice

If you ARE filing an auto insurance claim then it is up to your insurance company to send an appraiser to inspect your vehicle and provide you with an estimate. If you are not sure what you would like to do then we can offer you auto insurance claims assistance and some practical advice before you make a call to your insurance company.

If your insurance appraisal has been completed then please

Call us today to schedule your appointment: Tel: 508-660-0100

If you are NOT filing an auto insurance claim and you are planning to pay the total cost of the repair “out of pocket” then we can provide you with a preliminary auto damage estimate.

Simply stop by and see us:

Estimates can ONLY be written WEATHER PERMITTING – There can be NO active RAIN or SNOW

Monday-Friday

9:00 AM-11:30 AM or 1:00 PM-3:30 PM
The surface of your vehicle MUST BE DRY

We are at lunch between 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

Please choose a sunny to partly cloudy day.

What to know before you file your claim

  • You, as the vehicle owner, can choose ANY auto body shop you want to repair your vehicle.
  • If you are filing an auto insurance claim then your insurance company will need to assign an appraiser to provide you with an auto damage estimate. Don’t agree to send pictures to them or to go and obtain estimates for them to review. It is THEIR job to send an appraiser to write an appraisal for your auto damage, you’re the customer and you don’t work for them.
  • Your auto insurance company may try to convince you to use a shop on their “preferred auto body shop list”. This is so they can have more control over the cost of your repair. You do not have to choose from their list.
  • Your auto insurance company may tell you that your repair will not be warranted by them unless you choose to repair your car at a shop on their “preferred auto body shop list”. You should go to an auto body shop that warranties their own work, you don’t need your auto insurance company to warranty the repair.
  • DBA Auto Body has been in business for over 20 years, stands behind their auto collision repair work and offers a Refinish Warranty for as long as you own your vehicle. Replacement parts are warranted according to the manufacturer or suppliers policy; usually 1 year.
  • Unless you have a car that has been driven less than 20,000 miles, Massachusetts State Law allows your insurance company to use aftermarket (NON-OEM) or USED OEM parts for your auto damage repair.
  • Many auto body shops will simply use the parts specified on your estimate and they will not try to obtain OEM parts instead. DBA Auto Body will try to negotiate with your insurance company appraiser and/or our parts suppliers and put the original OEM parts back on your car. We find that most of our customers do not mind waiting a few extra days for us to do this.
  • Most original auto insurance estimates do NOT include everything you need to repair your auto accident damage. This is because your insurance company wants to make sure you are going to fix the damage before they pay you for labor that may never happen. If you take the check your insurance company sends you and cash it instead of fixing your car, you are likely being compensated for only 30% of the value of your auto damage claim. In addition, you have depreciated the value of your car and, if you have another accident in the same area of your car, your insurance may deduct the amount of the check you cashed from the subsequent claim.
  • We will repair the vehicle according to your insurance company’s estimate and we will negotiate with them to get the additional repairs you need to put your car back into the condition it was before your accident.
  • DBA Auto Body is paid the amount we negotiate with your insurance company. The only thing you pay is your insurance deductible, if it applies.
  • We recommend you always use your own auto insurance policy to cover the cost of your auto collision claim. If you are not at fault, your insurance company will seek to recoup the amount paid out on your claim from the insurance company of the responsible party. Also, if you go to a different auto insurance company for coverage, you lose the leverage you have as their paying customer. It can be important to have this leverage in case you don’t like the way your claim is being handled.
  • If you have any questions or need help, please feel free to call us at: 508-660-0100 and speak to one of our office staff BEFORE you file your auto accident claim with an insurance company other than your own.

If you are ready to call in your auto damage claim, please see Auto Accident Help to review the information we have posted there.

We are often asked about how to negotiate with insurance companies in the event that a vehicle is declared a total loss. Here’s a link to a great article which will help you negotiate your total loss auto insurance claim.