Note that most standard auto policies will not pay to repair a vehicle if it is "totaled"—that is, if the repairs cost more than the cash value assigned to the car. It is up to your insurer to decide whether to pay for repairing your car or to declare it a total loss and pay you its book value.
When repair costs start to exceed the vehicle's value or one year's worth of monthly payments on a replacement, it's time to break up with your car, according to automotive site Edmunds and Consumer Reports, the product review site.
In some cases, a repair shop can charge you a bit more than the amount on their estimate . If you got a written estimate, the repair shop can charge you up to 10% more than the estimated amount. For example, if the estimate was for $1,000, the final repair bill could be up to $1,100, but no more than that.
You can keep the vehicle, and the insurance company pays you for the ACV of the vehicle. The auto insurance company issues a salvage title, and you'll be responsible for making repairs to the car if you decide to keep it. If the total loss car is still drivable, you'll need to get it repaired.
Can I Keep My Totaled Car? In most cases, yes. While laws vary from state to state, in most locations there is the option to keep your totaled car, but that doesn't mean it's the best decision. You'll have to replace your title with either a salvage title or, once it's fixed, a reconstructed title.
If your vehicle is totaled, you may recover less than your vehicle is worth and less than what it would cost to buy a new one. On the other hand, totaling your vehicle could be good for the insurance company. It may cost less for the company to total your car than to do all of the required repairs.
Can a mechanic charge more than the estimate? - Quora. Yes they can. An estimate is an approximate cost or value given by the mechanic before they Start to open the car.
Car Repairs to Make Before You Sell
Don't put the burden of making minor repairs on the new owner, unless you want to accept far less for the car than it's worth. ... Have your auto body repair shop take care of any dents and scratches that could create the impression that your car has not been well maintained.
No. As long as it is safe and dependable. If it's coming up on some expensive repairs you do need to weigh them in versus buying something newer.
A 5 year old car is perfectly serviceable and you should ask yourself if there's something you want from a new car that would not be available in the current car. You should worry less about the age and worry more about any unmet needs you have.
Auto shops can charge you whatever you agreed to pay on the estimate. If you agreed to pay for one hour, they can charge you that. If you agreed to pay them to simply fix a problem, they can choose to charge you whatever they want.
Some people believe that dealerships overcharge, while others say the same of independent garages. But the numbers don't lie. A 2010 study by AutoMD.com revealed that repairs not covered under warranty cost an average of $300 dollars more at a dealership compared to the average corner repair shop.
Most auto repair shops will not charge you for this kind of preliminary estimate, because it's a fairly simple process and doesn't involve any serious labor. If you're looking for an accurate auto repair estimate, that's a horse of a different color, and you can expect to be charged for that.
Even the people who are being paid to fix your car can sometimes damage it accidentally. ... Some shady mechanics know that you know absolutely nothing about your car and prey on it. Some repairs are a bit complicated, but honest mechanics will try their best to walk you through it.
PSA: If a shop misdiagnoses your car and makes a repair that fails to fix the problem, they're obligated to correct their mistake. Disclaimer: You HAVE to request and pay for diagnosis for this to be valid.
Car mechanics are notorious for lying to their customers in order to gain extra work for things that don't really need doing or for charging extra for things if they can tell someone doesn't really know what they are talking about. Sadly, this can lead to people spending lots of money without actually needing to.
Most people simply don't realize they can negotiate auto repair work. And while some itemized charges may stand firm (like some parts prices), others have significant wiggle-room (shop mark-ups are often as much as 200% to cover operations). ... And presenting a “fair price” estimate really works!
Generally, it is cheaper to repair your car at an auto repair shop than a dealership shop. For the period your car has a warranty, it is definitely cheaper to take it to a dealership as it will be repaired for free. But afterwards, it will be cheaper to shift to an auto repair shop as long as you find a good one.
When you have work done by a mechanic, always ask to have the old part placed in the box for the new part. It's one way to help ensure the work was actually done. If you have a mechanic replace something on your car, make sure to ask for your old part back.
If you decide to accept the insurer's decision to total your car but you still want to keep it, your insurer will pay you the cash value of the vehicle, minus any deductible that is due and the amount your car could have been sold for at a salvage yard. It then will be up to you to arrange to make repairs.
Insurance companies total cars when it costs more to fix your car than the vehicle is worth. An insurance company is not going to pay MORE money to fix your car than what their contractual liability to “total” it would be, even if your vehicle is repairable.
You'll have the burden of proof if you do have to go to court and sue to get your money back or for other relief. You'll have to establish to a judge's satisfaction that the car mechanic didn't fix the problem due to issues of fraud or negligence.