Car insurance claims: Choose one of two options: "Familiar garage" or "Insurance company-designated garage"

If your beloved car is damaged, will you immediately call a familiar garage for "help," or will you obediently follow your insurance company's advice and have it repaired at their designated garage? Actually, both approaches have their pros and cons, and you must first understand how different choices will affect your claims process and outcome!

AWM will break down the pros and cons of "familiar garages" versus "insurance company-designated garages" in car insurance claims!

Repair shops that the car owner knows but are not on the insurance company's recommended list

Repair and claims process

1. The car owner notified the insurance company to file a claim

2. The car owner takes photos of the vehicle damage, fills out a "Vehicle Accident Claim Form," and submits the required documents

3. The garage conducted a detailed inspection of the damaged vehicle and provided a repair quote

4. The insurance company arranged for a notary office to prepare an assessment report

5. The insurance company requested the amount that could be compensated to the garage

6. The car owner and the garage confirmed the compensation amount and repair details

7. Insurance companies issue "work permits"

8. Formal maintenance work commenced

9. The vehicle owner signs a form provided by the garage, stating that all maintenance work on the vehicle was completed before the vehicle left the garage

10. The car owner submits the repair receipt to the insurance company

Benefits:

• Since they are familiar repair shops, car owners generally have more confidence in the quality of their repairs

Disadvantages:

• You need to fill out the "claim form" and process the related documents yourself; the whole process takes a lot of effort and time

• You need to communicate with both the garage and the insurance company to ensure that the compensation and repair work are carried out correctly

• Some parking garages charge a parking fee before any repairs are performed. This fee is usually waived if your insurance company approves the repairs; otherwise, you'll need to pay approximately $500 per day. Car owners should remember to ask about this before parking and inform their insurance company of the charges

• If the compensation amount is insufficient to cover all car repair costs, the car owner may be required to pay additional fees. If you believe the garage is charging too much extra, the damaged vehicle will be repossessed by the insurance company, and a new repairman will be assigned

• Some garages with mediocre reputations may quote 20-30% more than the normal rate. Therefore, insurance companies hire claims adjusters to ensure that repair costs are reasonable

Insurance company-recommended repairman

Repair and compensation process:

1. The car owner notified the insurance company to file a claim

2. The garage staff takes photos of the car damage for the owner, fills out a "Car Accident Claim Form," and submits the required documents

3. The insurance company negotiated the details with the garage and approved the repair costs

4. Insurance companies issue "work permits"

5. Formal maintenance work commenced

6. The vehicle owner signs a form provided by the garage, stating that all maintenance work on the vehicle was completed before the vehicle left the garage

Benefits:

• You simply hand over your vehicle to the garage; the process is quick and easy

• The process is primarily handled by the garage and the insurance company, significantly reducing the time car owners spend dealing with the issue

• The insurance company will recommend the most suitable repairman within the coverage area of ​​your plan, based on your specific circumstances

Disadvantages:

• Car repairs are handled by unfamiliar garages and "mechanics"

• If the insurance company recommends an original manufacturer for repairs, the quote will be much higher than that of a typical detached garage 

Car owners insured with AWM can not only compare car insurance plans from 20+ insurance companies, but also benefit from our professional team's swift handling of claims and repairs should their vehicle be damaged, greatly reducing the burden on car owners. Get a quote and purchase car insurance from AWM now!