Wondering why a collision inspection is important to the repair process? Not sure how an inspection relates to auto body repair costs?

If you’ve been in an auto accident or collision, then you’ll probably need to get some serious repairs to your vehicle. After your accident, it’s important to get a collision inspection to assess the damage. This way, you’ll get a clear idea of what repairs will be necessary to get your car back in great shape.

However, if you’ve never been in an accident before you may not understand why a collision inspection is so important or how it relates to the costs of the repair.

Fortunately, we’re here to help. Below we’ll tell you why a collision inspection is necessary for understanding repair costs.

1. There May Be Damage You Can’t See

One of the biggest reasons an inspection is necessary after an accident is because not all damage to your vehicle will be visible. Even if you only suffered a minor accident there may be hidden damage to your vehicle that you won’t be able to determine just by looking at it.

There may be damage underneath the surface and internal parts or the vehicle’s computer may not be working properly. Your vehicle’s wheels may also become misaligned or there may be electrical problems as well.

An inspection will ensure that all of this hidden damage is on the repair estimate so that you don’t discover the problems at a later date instead.

2. You’ll Know How Many Visits There Will Be

If you start experiencing problems and notice any hidden damage your vehicle has after the initial repair, you’ll have to return to a repair shop for another visit. The costs of coming back to the repair shop repeatedly can add up.

Inspecting the vehicle thoroughly before the first repair will ensure that the repair shop fixes everything the first time around. This way, you’ll only pay for the labor and repair costs once, and it will be easier for mechanics to take care of any issues all at once.

3. You’ll Know Exactly Which Repairs You Need

When you get a collision inspection for your vehicle you’ll get a full written estimate that lists the repairs that it needs and you’ll be able to see it all laid out clearly. With this estimate, you’ll know exactly what the costs will be for each repair.

Once the mechanics get to work on your vehicle, you’ll know exactly what repairs your car needs, meaning you won’t have any significant surprises once work begins.

Additionally, you may also be able to make decisions to reduce the costs such as by choosing aftermarket or generic parts for some of the needed repairs.

4. You’ll Know What to Expect From Your Insurance Company

Collision inspections are also important because after you file an insurance claim, your insurance company will need to know the full details about your vehicle’s condition. Many times, you’ll need to have an inspection due to the terms of your policy.

In order to help pay for damage costs and to determine your deductible, an insurance company will need to know about the full cost of the repairs. Additionally, if you discover hidden problems later, insurance likely won’t cover it if you haven’t had a full inspection immediately after your accident.

Understanding Auto Body Repair Costs

There are a lot of factors that go into auto body repair costs and not all of it is predictable at a quick glance. Because of this, a collision inspection is absolutely necessary to determine how much you or your insurance company will be paying and what repairs you’ll need.

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In the United States, there are six million car accidents each year. Not only do drivers have to worry about injuries to themselves and the other passengers, but they also have to worry about car repairs as well.

In some cases, it may be that the car is totaled. But it may not always be readily apparent when your car is completely totaled.

Knowing the signs can help you deal with and negotiate with your insurance company. If you’ve been wondering, “when is a car totaled,” keep reading.

We’re sharing with you five signs when a car is considered totaled.

1. Your Car is Totaled When it Costs More to Repair it Than to Replace it

When is a car considered totaled? When your insurance company deems that the cost of repairing your car after an accident is more expensive than it is to replace the car.

Your insurance company will refuse to repair the car but will instead give you money that matches the actual worth of your car. This money can then be used for you to buy a replacement vehicle.

2. Leaking Fluids and Unable to Drive the Car

If you can’t drive your car to the repair shop because of the following reasons, there’s a good chance your car will be considered totaled:

• Car won’t start
• Parts of the car are bent
• Parts of the car are blocking the view of the driver
• Fluids are leaking

If your fluids are leaking, it often means an expensive repair that many insurance companies don’t want to pay for.

3. Your Car Over Five Years Old and There’s Extensive Damage to the Frame

If your car is over five years old and there’s extensive damage to the frame, most insurance companies would consider that to be totaling a car. The costs to build the car’s frame and repaint wouldn’t be worth it.

To determine if your car still retains much of its original value, look it up on Kelley Blue Book (KKB). You’ll be asked what condition your car was in before the accident.

While KBB is a guideline, it is a good indicator of whether you can expect your insurance company to cover the cost of repairs or give you money to replace your car.

4. Your Car is Too Old for Any Type of Damage

If you’re driving around a 20-year-old car, unless it’s vintage, the chances are the car isn’t worth much money.

And even if the repairs are doable, if they cost more than what the car costs, the insurance company will declare it totaled.

5. Your Car Has a High Amount of Miles Under its Belt

Just like the age of your car is a factor, so is the number of miles on the car. The higher the number of miles, the less it’s worth.

If possible, check your mileage. If it’s too destroyed, you should be able to figure out the number by checking previous servicing reports.

Where to Take Your Car After an Accident

If your car is totaled, it’s time to look for a new car. If your car just needs repair work, we can help. We can help you negotiate a claim on your behalf and then fix your car.

Click here to contact us to learn more.