I FILED A CLAIM: CAN I MAKE MY OWN REPAIRS?

You have recently been involved in a car accident, and your vehicle didn’t fare as well as you would have liked. So, you decided to file a claim with your insurance company for the repairs. But then you start thinking about making your own repairs. Can you do this, even if you already filed a claim with your car insurance company?

Well, the answer to this question is – it really depends. Read on to learn more.

Do You Own Your Car?

First, do you own your car? Many insurance companies will agree to let you do the repairs on your vehicle yourself if you do. This means that the insurance company will send you the check, and you can use it to buy the parts and make any repairs yourself. If you would rather scrap the car, you can do that too and then use the check for something else. Since you outright own the vehicle, it is really up to you to decide if the insurance company sends the check.

Are You Still Making Payments?

If you are still making payments on your vehicle, then the answer will probably be no. When you are still making the payments on a financed vehicle, the lender is still part-owner and has a say in what is done. Many lenders will require that you get the repairs done at a reputable shop with a certified mechanic. However, if you are a certified mechanic yourself, the insurance company may let you do the repairs.

Did You Get a Quote?

No matter what, the insurance company will request that you get a quote for the repairs. They do not want you to guess what the damages will be. For this, you will need to see a certified mechanic to get an accurate quote to give to the insurance company.

Will Fixing It Yourself Affect Your Insurance?

The insurance company may allow you to make the repairs yourself, but it might end up costing you more in the long run. You may see a rent increase if this is the case, and the next time you file a claim, you may run into a few bumps and roadblocks in the way.

Have You Read Your Policy?

Before anything, you really should pull out your insurance policy and read through it thoroughly to get a grasp on your coverage options and what can and cannot be done. If you still are unsure even after reading through your policy, then you want to contact your insurance agent and ask them a few questions before you start to do any of the work on your vehicle yourself.

You need to fill them in on what you plan to do and if you want to fix it yourself. The insurance company will then come back to you with answers to your questions and will help move the claim along, if applicable.

Contact us

Looking for a new insurance policy that best fits what you want to do moving forward? Contact the experts at Panorama today to discuss some of your options.