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>>>>FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

What is a deductible and why do I have to pay it?  
A deductible is similar to the co-pay you must pay when you visit the doctor.  It is the amount of the repair cost for which you are responsible when you file a claim.  When you selected your insurance policy, you selected a deductible amount to help offset your insurance premiums.  If you selected a higher amount, such as $1000, your monthly premiums are probably lower.  Typical deductible amounts are $250, $500, and $1000.  The insurance company figures your deductible into the cost of the repair. We cannot waive your deductible because that is considered insurance fraud.

What is depreciation?  
A decrease in the value of your vehicle due to age, wear and use.

What is betterment? 
This is the amount the value of your vehicle has increased by the repair.  This term is normally applied to items that wear out and must be replaced during the normal life of your vehicle.  A good example of a replaceable item would be the tires.  If you have an accident and one tire is damaged, the insurance company will replace it.  However, the appraiser will determine the percentage of wear prior to the accident and you will have to pay the difference.  For example, if your tire had 40% wear prior to the accident, the insurance company will pay 60% of the cost of the new tire and you will be responsible for the other 40%.  Whether or not you will have to pay this amount depends on the type of insurance coverage your policy provides.  So read it carefully!!

How many estimates do I need? 
One.  If you are comfortable with the shop you have selected, you only need one estimate.  No one should force you to get an estimate from a shop that you do not feel would competently repair your vehicle to its pre-accident condition.  Beware of unusually low estimates.  This can mean that the shop preparing the estimate does not know how to repair the vehicle properly or that they have prepared a low estimate just to get your vehicle into their shop.  Either way, you will be hit with a larger bill at the end.  Collision repair is like any other service industry…you get what you pay for and a quality repair takes time, experience, and quality parts.