Finding Great Insurance

Many people love to save money by engaging in DIY car repairs. Be careful before going down hat route, however, if your auto insurance company is paying for the repair. It might or might not be a good idea depending on the situation. Here are three things you need to know first:

An Independent Professional Must Produce the Repair Estimates

Even if you are a professional mechanic, the insurance company will not allow you to produce the estimates because you may be biased. An independent professional, which may be another mechanic or insurance adjuster, will examine the damages and come up with a repair cost. Therefore, don't start fixing up your car with the hope that the insurance company will take your word for it and reimburse you for the costs.

Other Parties May Have an Interest in the Repair

In some cases, you may not be the only party who has an interest in who repairs the car. This may be the case, for example, if the car is leased, if you haven't cleared your car loan or if there is a lien on the car. In any of these cases, the other interested parties may insist on a professional repair shop taking care of the repairs so as to safeguard their investment. In fact, the insurance company is likely to write the compensation check to both you and any other party with a financial stake in the vehicle.

Your Actions May Affect Future Claims

If you decide to repair the vehicle on your own, you should know that the insurance company will not be liable for any shortcomings of the repair. This is unlike a repair carried out by a professional mechanic shop, where the insurance company has to ensure that the repair is carried out to the right standards.

If you are doing the repairs on your own, the insurance company may just issue you with the check and forget about everything else. This may leave you in a financial quagmire if you don't succeed in fixing up the vehicle and you need more funds for further repairs; you may have to resort to your personal savings.

In short, it is possible, but not advisable to carry repairs on your car after an accident. This is especially true with expensive cars or complicated repairs that require special tools or expertise. It is also a risky venture if you aren't a skilled and experienced mechanic.