Need advice on car repairs

[JoeRockhead]

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@Thomas_Thumb wrote:

I had an insurance claim for a rear bumper and right rear tail light replacement. Also had front bumper replaced as part of another claim. Both involved a 2nd vehicle/party and they filed claims. My Carfax report showed 0 accidents when I sold the car. Neither incident was associated with a police report.

The insurance company obviously did not report these claims as accidents to Carfax. Also, the company doing the repairs/replacements did not report it. No actual bodywork was required. Just bumper and tail light replacements.

What triggers manditory reporting to Carfax? 

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There's no mandatory reporting to Carfax... it's strictly a voluntary practice by participating insurance companies and/or repair facilities.  They can also receive reports by way of police reports. 

For example, Carfax also gets their mileage information from participating states though annual safety inspections (if they have them).  In NC, and many other states, believe it or not, a speedometer isn't required in order to pass an inspection.  If the vehicle doesn't have one, or it's inoperable, it's merely labeled as such, and the odometer reading is automatically listed as zero.  It's  specifically mentioned in the state inspection licensing class that the mileage data is collected strictly for Carfax and serves no other purpose. 

@DR527 if you pay out of pocket just be sure to ask the shop if they report to Carfax.  I should have mentioned this in my initial reply. My apologies.

[Patient957]

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@DR527 wrote:

Still driving home from the beach. Had my mil send a pic. SMH.

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Get a couple repair estimates from reputable shops. Compare to your deductible and then decide.

Also ask your insurance company if they report minor damage to Carfax.  Choose a body shop that doesn't.

It's very minor damage, not the kind of thing people get concerned about on a Carfax.  

[DR527]

Sooooo......... last night when we got home. We unpacked my wife car and my mother in law wanted to get straight home. She kept apologizing for the car and I started to feel less annoyed about it. She she that, this was her wake up call to completely stop driving. I was like "oh kay?!?". I go back to work tomorrow so I wanted to get me and my sons hair cut today. I go to start my car up. And every light on my dashboard is on!!! I have all kinds of warning lights. I slowly go to back up and all you hear is something dragging underneath the car. I pull the car out and finally get a solid look at the whole car. And the front and other side are scratched and dinged up the front passenger side has the bottom manifold dragging on the ground. I'm like **bleep**!!! I call my insurance agent and she told me that any claim I make will not only go on my carfax report it will definitely increase my rates. Because we have super low rates now. She said there would be no way to keep the rates that low. And I would have to get the newer higher rates SMH!!! My mother in law doesn't have two nickels to rub together, she was is such a hurry to get home, I'm thinking she knew that it wasn't a simple scratch. I have appointment Thursday morning at the body shop. At the barber now with my sons. Thinking about what to do to get back and forth to work. Do I rent a car for a few days or pull the manifold off or I don't even know. This just took me from annoyed to angry. I don't really know what to do about my mother in law either? To angry to talk to her. 

[1lifeisworthit]

I'm so sorry, OP...

I have a sinking fund for car replacement/maintenance, and I'd sure be tempted to pay for this out of that sinking fund, because higher insurance won't go away with the future car....

So, that's my vote. Pay for it out of pocket, rent a car while this one is being fixed, forgive my MIL because I love my spouse.... but never let her housesit or drive my car ever again. Forewarned is forearmed and all that.

Sympathetic shoulder thump from an internet stranger...

[NoHardLimits]

It certainly seems like there is a lot more to the MIL's story than simply misjudging the width/angle of the garage door.  You might be dealing with 3 separate collisions (left side garage, right side garage, and undercarriage).  I really feel for you because she was doing you a favor by dog sitting, but the cost of repair will certainly exceed what would have been the cost of dog boarding.

When you get the estimate for the repair bill, compare that one time out of pocket cost against the on-going higher insurance rate.  See how many years it will take to break even (including the eventual reduced car value if it reports on CarFax).  My guess is that out-of-pocket repair will be cheaper in the long run.

[Realist]

If possible attempt to repair yourself.  Getting insurance involved with anything is going to raise rates.  Will cost more in the long run.

[Thomas_Thumb]

Some insurance companies don't raise rates for a 1st time claim but most do. 

Minor bodywork can expensive if you want it done right. The undercarriage noise could be problematic - drove over something - a parking space cement divider curb? 

OP - please update us with total repair estimates.

[DR527]

I got two quotes. The 1st one was for $6,400 and the 2nd was for $6,000. I checked a few places none of the parts are available for aftermarket prices. I was actually able to get the 2nd quote down to $5,300 by asking if they would honor my insurance labor rate. And if they would salvage the manifold I have. 26 hours worth of labor, and 16 hours of painting. They wanted my car for two weeks. After seeing what a rental car cost I figured I would push them to make it a week. And they said they would order the parts and paint. And when everything was in. They would call me to drop my car off. That way they can better accommodate me on the one week request. So I'll keep you guys updated. Haven't gotten around to my MIL yet. Yesterday FIL mother passed. So the whole family has been dealing with that. The car seem less important.