Fixing 2009 Camry SE - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

alkeshtech · 08-19-2008, 03:06 PM

Hey Guys,
This is a very bad day for me. My neighbor just hit my car when backing it up. There is big semi circular scratch just above rear right wheel. And the rear spoiler is 1mm bent inside.

What place should I go to to have it fixed? She offered to have it fix, but I am not sure if I want to do that. I am so mad, this was just 2 month old car. Even if I call my insurance company, where should I go to have it fixed? A local body shop or toyota dealer? I want it to get fixed so that I don't notice anything on it.

***bandit*** · 08-19-2008, 03:25 PM

Not even worth calling insurance company. Your premium will just go up for a stupid thing like that. Your neighbor even offered to fix it. Just go to a local body shop and get a price quote. Shop around. Never go to dealers for body work as they'll just charge you up the ass. Even if you feel uncomfortable with taking money, at least split it or something. She is responsible after all.

ohhey · 08-19-2008, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcemureviews

Not even worth calling insurance company. Your premium will just go up for a stupid thing like that. Your neighbor even offered to fix it. Just go to a local body shop and get a price quote. Shop around. Never go to dealers for body work as they'll just charge you up the ass. Even if you feel uncomfortable with taking money, at least split it or something. She is responsible after all.

I agree, go to the body shop and get a quote. I'm thinking maybe $500. If you file on your insurance they will just get it back the next time you policy goes up. Same for her. I had a hit and run that damaged the corner of my bumper and Service King did it for just under $500.

***bandit*** · 08-19-2008, 03:50 PM

Not to mention you have to pay the deductable from your insurance company. You'll be responsible for the first $250/500/$1000 or whatever amount you have with your insurance. So if it costs $500 and your deductable is $500, not only do you pay the cost of the repair but your insurance rate will go up. So you're paying more in the end.

Try asking friends if they know a body shop. If you have a friend who is a mechanic or if you take your car to a mechanic, they should know body shops.

alkeshtech · 08-19-2008, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcemureviews

Not to mention you have to pay the deductable from your insurance company. You'll be responsible for the first $250/500/$1000 or whatever amount you have with your insurance. So if it costs $500 and your deductable is $500, not only do you pay the cost of the repair but your insurance rate will go up. So you're paying more in the end.

Try asking friends if they know a body shop. If you have a friend who is a mechanic or if you take your car to a mechanic, they should know body shops.

Insurance goes up even if it's not my fault?

njerald · 08-19-2008, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcemureviews

Not to mention you have to pay the deductable from your insurance company. You'll be responsible for the first $250/500/$1000 or whatever amount you have with your insurance. So if it costs $500 and your deductable is $500, not only do you pay the cost of the repair but your insurance rate will go up. So you're paying more in the end.

BS.

File with your insurance company and they will collect from her insurance company. You don't have to have it fixed until the dust settles.

or have the other party pay for it. The problem is they can always back out leaving you holding the bag.

alkeshtech · 08-19-2008, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by njerald

BS.

File with your insurance company and they will collect from her insurance company. You don't have to have it fixed until the dust settles.

or have the other party pay for it. The problem is they can always back out leaving you holding the bag.

Well, I already have got her information and every thing. So, I don't think she can back out. Even if she does, I can always call the insurance company. What my concern is that I don't want to pay. I just can't believe that State Farm will make me pay 250, that's my deductible.

njerald · 08-19-2008, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alkeshtech

Well, I already have got her information and every thing. So, I don't think she can back out. Even if she does, I can always call the insurance company. What my concern is that I don't want to pay. I just can't believe that State Farm will make me pay 250, that's my deductible.

They won't.

Some people have misinformed writing diarrhea.

JACK_FROST · 08-19-2008, 04:58 PM

njerald is right you wont have to pay anything because its not you fault...just file it with insur. so youre guaranteed it'll be paid for. her insur will have to pay for it not yours

Tobeit · 08-19-2008, 05:29 PM

Agree with Njerald - the other party insurance will pay and your insurance will not go up. Also, even if it was your fault and it gets on your insurance, most insurances now have accident forgiveness and would tell you when the charge is small that you can settle it outside the coverage.

Just have it done at a certified shop, make sure a claim is filed with the other party's insurance (you can do that through your insurance to cover uninsured motorists) - you do not want some back door shop fizzle around with your pretty new car.

Dragon88 · 08-19-2008, 08:05 PM

Well if it makes you feel better, this is what happened to my six week old Camry when a car backed into me in a parking lot:

The other driver's insurance paid for repairs and a rental while it was in the shop. It didn't cost me a dime and may have affected their premium but not mine.

So do it through the insurance.

As you can imagine I wanted to die when this happened to my new car. But it was all fixed up in about two weeks, it was like it never happened. I had it done at a Toyota certified body shop run by my dealership, it was expensive but I wasn't paying anyway and they did a great job.

alkeshtech · 08-19-2008, 08:39 PM

Ouch man! I know man. Mine is not as bad as yours but now I just cant look at mine car. It's like I smell someone else' smell on her.

I just forgot one important thing in this mess. Forgot call the cops! How would it go now?

***bandit*** · 08-19-2008, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alkeshtech

Insurance goes up even if it's not my fault?

Regardless if its your fault or not, it will go up. If you get into an accident and someone rear ended you...it use to be that it was the person who hit you that was 100% at fault. Now, its 95% them and 5% you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by njerald

BS.

File with your insurance company and they will collect from her insurance company. You don't have to have it fixed until the dust settles.

or have the other party pay for it. The problem is they can always back out leaving you holding the bag.

You are right. I was thinking more of the lines of when there is no other party involved.

Quote:

Originally Posted by alkeshtech

Ouch man! I know man. Mine is not as bad as yours but now I just cant look at mine car. It's like I smell someone else' smell on her.

I just forgot one important thing in this mess. Forgot call the cops! How would it go now?

She said she would pay for it correct? If it was me personally...I would just get a price quote from shop and have her pay for it. I wouldnt go through insurance company unless she refuses to pay for the repair. I've gotten into a few fender benders where none of our cars were damaged. None of us wanted to go through insurance company.

Dragon88 · 08-19-2008, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alkeshtech

Ouch man! I know man. Mine is not as bad as yours but now I just cant look at mine car. It's like I smell someone else' smell on her.

I just forgot one important thing in this mess. Forgot call the cops! How would it go now?

You would only need a police report if she didn't admit fault to her insurance company. In my case it helped a lot, the insurance company authorized payment for repairs within hours of me faxing them the report.

I didn't drive my car for like three days after it happened. But getting her back from the shop fixed was like getting a brand new car all over again.

mustangben · 08-19-2008, 10:25 PM

I don't know about MD but Fl is a no fault state, A lady ran a stop sign and t-boned the mustang in the parking lot going 40mph, as i said in a parkinglot She also had no insurance. I went through my insurance (long story she now has her dl revoked) and had to pay my deductible, although the insurance paid for almost all of the custom body work to be done, why the hell not right? It is still on my insurance history and is F*ing me up in trying to get better rates, and it happened in late 2004.

My advice, That sucks it was your neighbor and probably a friend BUT, it was not your fault it was theirs. Take your car to a factory body shop even though they are ridiculously expensive and make your neighbor pay for it.