Dobbs Autobody vs. Union Collision

Someone crashed into my car in a parking lot.  Thankfully, they left a note and said they'd write me a check for the repair.  The damage involves four sections/panels of the car. I got two estimates:  

Union Collision $2500.  Said they can repair all four panels and that it will be good as new. I asked him if it would be better to replace some of the panels, and he said it's not necessary.  

Dobbs Autobody $5800. Said they recommend replacing two of the panels and repairing the other two.  Says it's not going to look the same if he doesn't replace.  He also said something about having certain certifications that require them to live up to a certain standard, and thus have to replace (not repair) the sections. I showed him Union's estimate.  He was very complimentary of Union, said they are very reputable and that he's sure Union would honor that price, but that he (Dobbs) has a different recommendation. Besides, he thinks Union is losing money on the repair price they gave me.  

The car comes off lease in three months.  Both of these shops are well-regarded.  What would you do?


shoshannah:

Are you confident these quoted prices approximate what auto insurers would pay the aforementioned  auto body shops for the identical work?

I don’t know what ‘car comes off lease’ means. It suggests you are currently leasing it. Does it carry insurance for this damage? What responsibilities do you have ( leaving aside the offer from the other driver)?


The other driver's responsibility is to fix the car to the point it was, before the accident. That is the responsibility, regardless of what it costs. So choose the repair that you think will be the best job. 


dickf3 said:

shoshannah:

Are you confident these quoted prices approximate what auto insurers would pay the aforementioned  auto body shops for the identical work?

I don’t know what ‘car comes off lease’ means. It suggests you are currently leasing it. Does it carry insurance for this damage? What responsibilities do you have ( leaving aside the offer from the other driver)?

 I have no idea what an insurer would pay.  Should I care? The owner of the car that did the damage said she'd pay out of pocket.  She does not want to use her insurance. I don't have any responsibility since I know who did it. The car coming off lease means that the lease ends.  In three months I will be returning this car to the dealer.


Formerlyjerseyjack said:

The other driver's responsibility is to fix the car to the point it was, before the accident. That is the responsibility, regardless of what it costs. So choose the repair that you think will be the best job. 

On its face, it seems like Dobbs would do a more thorough job, as they want to replace two panels.  However, even though I personally am not the one paying, I don't want to enter into an agreement for a repair that is excessive and unnecessary.  If Union Collision says it can make it look like new without replacing panels, then that's the place we should use.  I just don't know.


Considering its on lease you'd best make sure that, as fjj said, the car is fixed to the point of before the accident. Which is the other persons responsibility or legally not that at point if no report was filed.

I have yet to see a lessor forgive damage.


shoshanna - Have you personally been in touch with the person who left the note?  Assuming you go with the $5800, that's a pretty big chunk of change for someone to pay out of pocket. I'm assuming you haven't been in touch with your insurance co. 



shoshannah said:

 I have no idea what an insurer would pay.  Should I care? 

 

shoshannah said:

 However, even though I personally am not the one paying, I don't want to enter into an agreement for a repair that is excessive and unnecessary.  

 


GO THROUGH INSURANCE!

This is my advice based on experience with the same scenario.  Screw the other driver.  If they have insurance, file a claim with their insurer asap.

It's not your job to figure this out.


Go with the cheaper quote and get a release from the driver causing the damage.


The insurance company is not your friend and will cause this accident to be branded onto the history of this vehicle.  Thereby, depressing the value of the leased vehicle.  Typically, the less car-being-turned-in is worth at end of lease is to your detriment.

PS Not accepting cash (settling damages outside of insurance) after representing that you would, appears to be legally permissible but morally suspect.


proeasdf said:

Go with the cheaper quote and get a release from the driver causing the damage.

The insurance company is not your friend and will cause this accident to be branded onto the history of this vehicle.  Thereby, depressing the value of the leased vehicle.  Typically, the less car-being-turned-in is worth at end of lease is to your detriment.

PS Not accepting cash (settling damages outside of insurance) after representing that you would, appears to be legally permissible but morally suspect.

The other driver is the one that is morally suspect.  They are trying to work outside the system and drag shoshannah into this mess.  The car company will certainly be able to tell if the car has had body work when it is inspected upon return.  I'm also positive that shoshannah and the other driver are required by their insurers to report an accident as soon as it happens.  Finally, I'm sure the leasing agreement requires shoshannah to report any accidents as well.

Don't go down this road.  Report the accident to the other driver's insurance company to get it repaired and documented.


I don't know if insurers require it but I read NJ law mandates accidents be reported if damage is greater than $500.

If it were my car I would entertain fixing it privately. 

I would not do it with a leased car. The leased car belongs to the lessor and I'm sure as yahooyahoo pointed out they will likely find body work was done. Repercussions can be unpleasant.


cramer said:

shoshanna - Have you personally been in touch with the person who left the note?  Assuming you go with the $5800, that's a pretty big chunk of change for someone to pay out of pocket. I'm assuming you haven't been in touch with your insurance co. 


Yes, I have been in touch.  They do not want to go through insurance.  Is there any reason I should be in touch with MY insurance company?  I don't want my rate to go up, which it does even if the damage is not my fault.


Okay auto mavens, here's a question.  Would it be best to bring it directly to the dealer? Do dealers even do auto body work?  If so, it seems that would be my best best because the dealer would fix it to their own satisfaction. Although they probably would report it to the insurance companies.


That might be the best idea. They will farm it out and then they are responsible for determining if the repair was to their standards.


I have never leased a car but there must be certain agreements that must be signed. Accidents must be mentioned.Check it out.


First, I have used Union Collusion three times, twice through insurance and once on my own for a deep scratch I caused,  and have found their repairs to be absolutely first rate.  And they are on many insurance lists.   I trust them, and if you read Yelp reviews, others do too.

Second, regardless of your decision, go through insurance.  There is no reason for you to have to deal with releases, etc.  



I had a similar situation a couple of months ago. I have a leased car. The driver hit into the back of me and wanted to pay out of pocket. I think she was expecting it to not cost much. I contacted insurance and they provided a list of shops they deal with that I could use. I went to Modern Auto Body and was very happy with their service. It  was expensive, but it looks the exact same is it did before the accident. The last thing you want is to return it when the lease is up and have them say the work is unacceptable. 


A huzzah for Union Collision:

I needed to replace a fender liner in my Civic and ordered an OEM part online last week, intending to try doing the repair myself. The more I thought about twisting up into the well and messing with all the tabs, plus the extra tool or two I’d need to buy for the job, the more I decided to see if a shop could do the labor for me.

I asked Union Collision if they’d be willing. Not only did they do it, but they insisted on doing it gratis — for some stranger who had never stepped in the place before. Exceptional service.


Some dealers have a body shop. Years ago when my leased BMW was broken into and damaged I took it over to one of our local body shops. They advised me to take it to the body shop at bmw. The cost was lower and the fix met BMW standards. As was noted above, if you take it to the dealership they can manage the repair or recommend where to take it for the repair. I did this with another car.


I was hit by a young lady in a parking lot about 25 years ago.  I had pulled out of my spot and was now perpendicular to the spot I was just in.  She backed out of her spot and hit me in the right rear quarter panel.  I had a small dent.  She had a scuff on her bumper.  She got out of her car crying and begging me not to call police or go through insurance.  We exchanged information and agreed to get quotes for our respective cars and touch base at a later date.  Mistakes were made and learned from.

Mistake 1 - not getting police involved.  Turns out she reported to her insurance company.  Without a police report she claimed it was my fault.  She sent me a letter stating that the damage to her car was in excess of 2K (this was 1990) - the damage to my car was about $700. 

Mistake 2 - Me not reporting to my insurance company.  After she went to her insurance company and said it was my fault they filed a claim against my insurance.  My insurance company called me and said I was in violation of their policy of reporting any accidents within "X" hours/days.

At the end of the day my car still needed to be repaired.  My insurance company paid.  Don't know how they worked it out with her company but they dropped me for not reporting the accident.

Just be careful.


@shoshannah - how did everything work out?


yahooyahoo said:

@shoshannah - how did everything work out?

Got it fixed. Used Fine Finishes.  Looks perfect.  Perpetrator sent me a check for exact amount of repair and rental car for a week.



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