This weekend I came out of the library to find that my right rear fender was sideswiped by a white car, leaving a smallish dent and several deep gouges, right to the bare metal. What would be the best thing to do? Call my insurance company? Take it to a body shop? Rub out the scratches and paint it with Bondo? I’m trying to keep the thing going as long as possible, it has low mileage and brand new tires. But it’s a 12 year old Chevy Blazer, it needs repairs more often and may very well go wheels up soon. The thing is, I hate to put hundreds of dollars for a paint job into it. Is it worth calling the insurance company?
Last month someone hit my '99 Jeep Cherokee. (i.e., about the same age, same type of vehicle.) More than a sideswipe, though. They hit the left passenger door and moved the Jeep over about two feet and knocked down part of my wooden fence. I called the sheriff’s department and made a hit-and-run report, then called my insurance company. Total damage was about $2,300. They painted an undamaged salvaged door, so there’s only a little metal work they had to do. Since it was a hit-and-run, my deductible was the uninsured motorist’s $300 instead of the normal $500.
My Jeep has 208,000+ miles on it, and it still runs great. Down a little on power from when it was new, but everything works and it still looks good. The only thing ‘wrong’ with it is that it has a cracked exhaust manifold (common on the 4.0l Jeeps), but the computer compensates for it. Is there a reason you think your Blazer is going to go wheels up soon?
Oh, “The Library”, huh? What’s that, code for the corner bar? The Bunny Ranch? Bookie’s? C’mon, “Library”, that’s a good one! (We won’t tell! :))
Just depends on how much the repairs will cost. If it’s too much to pay outta pocket you’ll have to make a claim w/ your insurance & risk a rate hike, as unfair as that would be. If you can swing it, just get it done & pay it off… Sounds like the car’s worth keeping on the road, but again, depends how much the bill will be. (& the lesson is, stay away from those pesky “Libraries” )
Oh those “libraries” are OK: they’re not like those darned “book stores”, that will drain you of your life savings, and leave you with a room full of “books”.
First thing, drive over to an autobody shop and ask the guy for a ballpark non-commit figure. Is it going to be $1000, or $2000, or $5000? (And how much less if you pay cash instead of through insurance?)
Then determine whether you get dinged for a hit-and-run accident. If it makes your rate go up (or you lose a deduction), and by how much, and for how long?
Then - are you the type that doesn’t mind driving a clunker with just primer on it, provided it works? So the question will be, is it worth the deductible and rate increase to repair it? Is it cheaper just to pay out of pocket? Or just get a spray can of primer to prevent rusting, unless you plan to sell it soon and the repair will therefore pay for itself?
Basically, one part of life is about spending what you can afford to satisfy yourself.
I have a 1997 Ford Contour, and had almost exactly the same experience as the OP several years ago. As I intend to keep this car for decades more, and as I don’t like driving something that looks like it belongs on the scrap heap, I called my insurance company (USAA) and told them about it. They said take it in to a body shop and get an estimate, which I did. Came to a bit more than $1,200, and USAA paid without a quibble. Even lowered my deductible to $200 since I’ve been with them since 1953.
Now the car looks brand new again.
:eek: I wasn’t even an idea then!
I’ve been with USAA since I got my first car in… 1980? They’ve always done right by me.
This happened to my car last year. It was on the front passenger fender and it was during December and I had driven it all around one weekend and then noticed it on Monday. I called up USAA, took it to an auto body shop, had a rental for a couple days, paid the deductible and drove my car home.
(P.S. Bondo is filler, not paint)
Thanks for the input. I’m still trying to decide. 12 years old is pretty old for a car in a snowy state, the road salt really does a number on the undercarriage.
I have to say that USAA is hands down the best insurance/bank I’ve ever had the pleasure of dealing with. I’ve been a member since 1991 (thanks Dad!) because at the time, I believe they were still exclusive to military officers and their immediate families, and I was a lowly enlisted grunt wallowing in the sand in the ME.
They are an awesome insurance company.
Aha. I’m from SoCal, and where I live now isn’t very snowy (and they use sand instead of salt).
When I went into the Army in 1953 (that little Korea thingy, remember), the only company that would insure members of the Armed Services was USAA. Have NEVER regretted hooking up with them.