Last year, I bought a new car. Rather than trade in my old one, I decided to sell it myself. Before I put it in the market, I took the car to a local shop and got my old baby a new paint job. The new paint made all the difference with the car. While operationally it was sound, the outside was not all that great. After the fresh coat of paint, the car generated a lot of attention from prospective buyers. I even had a bidding war going on between two parties who really wanted it. If you have an older vehicle to sell, it pays to invest in a new paint job. Let me tell you more about why this strategy works. Follow my tips for selecting the color and the paint type, and you'll get a great price for the old jalopy.
Selling Your Older Car: Why a New Paint Job Matters
Collision Repairs: What To Know
Nora Boyd
While you still may be shaken because of the vehicle collision you had, eventually you'll have the need to get into your car again. That can be difficult or impossible at the moment, depending on how much damage was done to your personal vehicle. Luckily, auto body and collision repair shops can repair or undo much of the damage. You may find that you're apprehensive about taking your vehicle to one of these shops because you're not sure how much they'll cost or how long they'll keep your vehicle. What about these shops and the collision repair process should you know?
1-Your Insurance Company Can Only Suggest Shops
The first obstacle to getting your vehicle fixed could be that you feel obligated to use the shop suggested to you by your insurance company. Your insurance coverage should not depend on your usage of one particular shop. While you may get an estimate from your insurance carrier's preferred shop, there is unlikely to be anything in your policy that says you must use that particular repair shop. Ask an insurance agent if you want to be sure, but you are likely to be able to use the shop you want. This gives you freedom regarding location, price, and other factors.
2-Your Insurance Company Could Pay More Than Expected
A repair shop can give you a rough breakdown of the costs involved to repair your vehicle. However, estimates are just that. And, once a mechanic gets up close and personal with the problems your car or truck is having, supplemental estimates are usually given. This could be worrisome as you may imagine you'll have to pay extra. That's not always so. In fact, you can sometimes submit supplemental estimates and the insurance company will adjust the amount they're willing to cover. Communicate with your insurance company regularly so that you aren't surprised to find out what they'll pay.
3-There May Be People Ahead of You
Unless you're very lucky, most repair shops will have a queue of cars that have come in before yours does. This is generally not a problem, as work is done in a timely way. However, if you have a trip coming up or need to drive to work by a particular date, you should ask whether it's reasonable to assume that the vehicle will be finished by a certain time.
In addition to the queue, the amount of damage done because of the collision can mean that your vehicle will take longer than usual to be completed. Don't wait until the car is in the shop and then call every day until it's done. Ask before you drop the vehicle if there's a window of time that you can expect for a complete job.
Your vehicle needs to be functional so you can return to your regular activities. Knowing these collision repair shop details will make that happen for you sooner.
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