# Question about auto insurance **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 4, 2013, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-auto-insurance/673097 "2013-11-04T21:45:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AntonKo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/58f4c7/32.png) [@AntonKo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AntonKo)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-auto-insurance/673097/1 "2013-11-04T21:45:39Z")
Hello all! My name is Anton and I am glad to have found this forum - I’ve been looking for something like this for a while! Anyways, a few days back a lady crashed into my car which resulted in a huge dent in the rear passenger side quarter panel and scratching on the rear bumper and my rim. Today I talked to her insurance company (AAA) and she admitted fault and basically he told me to go to one of their shops and they will estimate and fix the damage. :smack: FYI I only have liability coverage My question: Is there any way I can just get cashed out by her insurance company and not fix my car? I could definitely use the money and can live with the dent on my car. Could I just call her insurance back and tell them to just pay me the money that they estimate so I can “fix” this myself? Thank you very much ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-auto-insurance/673097/2 "2013-11-04T23:33:22Z")
Insurance companies will sometimes do a cash settlement, but at a discount from the repair cost. If your damage is $1500 to repair, they might pay you off at $7-800. Might sound nice, but consider the loss in value to your car… if it wrecks the resale value, it’s not a very good deal. Losing (say) $1000-3000 in final resale makes that cash pretty expensive, and no you won’t ever fix it later. Unless you car is crap, I’d take the fix. ---
**Author:** ![AntonKo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/58f4c7/32.png) [@AntonKo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AntonKo)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-auto-insurance/673097/3 "2013-11-04T23:46:12Z")
Well the thing is, its only cosmetic and can barely be seen, but the dent is on a panel that is welded on to the body and would take many hours to fix for a shop, the paint damage I can fix with touch up paint. The car itself is very nice for a 1997 integra gs-r, but the blue book value is around 2,300. In my current situation I would rather have the cash, and tomorrow I go in to the body shop that the insurance is sending me to to have an estimate… How would I go about getting cash settlement, would I just call the insurance back and ask about it? ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-auto-insurance/673097/4 "2013-11-05T00:23:14Z")
I wouldn’t take it to their garage. Period. Get your own estimate, and ask for a check in that amount. If the lady did $1500 worth of damage to your car, the insurance company owes you $1500 whether you get it fixed or not. Don’t let them jerk you around about their “company policy.” They owe you the money. ---
**Author:** ![zwede](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ac91a4/32.png) [@zwede](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zwede)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-auto-insurance/673097/5 "2013-11-05T00:33:11Z")
Don’t know if there are differences in different states (I’m assuming you’re in the US?). Down here in TX, you would first take it to one or two body shops and get your own estimates. Then take it to their shop or adjuster and get an estimate. If it is lower, show them your estimates so they can adjust. About a week later you’ll get a check in the mail. It’s then up to you to keep the money, or get it fixed. Cashing the check means you have accepted the settlement, and at that point the other party’s insurance co couldn’t care less what you do with the money. There is a twist, which is that the estimate will usually be low because they only estimate what can be seen. Once the car is in the shop and disassembled they will probably find hidden damage. The shop then files an addition to the claim. The ins co sends an adjuster to look at it, and then pays the shop directly for the additional repairs. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-auto-insurance/673097/6 "2013-11-05T00:59:16Z")
I’ve not been in many accidents, but I’ve never had the insurance company check or even care whether I fixed the car or not, nor known anyone else to have a different experience. They send you a payment not contingent on anything except 2-3 estimates. I would double, triple check that the damage is in fact cosmetic and not something that could be a problem down the line. If your car were “totalled,” which does not imply that it is destroyed in this case, there is that oddness of taking the full amount or buying it back, which I don’t fully understand. ---
**Author:** ![AntonKo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/58f4c7/32.png) [@AntonKo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AntonKo)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-auto-insurance/673097/7 "2013-11-05T02:04:05Z")
Ok so since i Told the womans insurance agent that i want them to fix my car, im hoping i didnt like screw myself over by agreeing but yeah tomorrow they send me to their shop and i will get an estimate. So will it work if I call triple a back, which is her insurance, and tell them what? I can find someone to do the job better? Or say i can do it myself? What would be the best thing to say so i end up with some cash in my pocket ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-auto-insurance/673097/8 "2013-11-05T02:40:58Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > I wouldn’t take it to their garage. Period. Get your own estimate, and ask for a check in that amount. If the lady did $1500 worth of damage to your car, the insurance company owes you $1500 whether you get it fixed or not. Don’t let them jerk you around about their “company policy.” They owe you the money. Yeah, this. A lot of companies have been starting to pull shenanigans like this with their comprehensive and collision policies, but they can do that because it’s written into the policy. They can’t do it with a liability policy, though. Doesn’t mean they won’t try, though. ---
**Author:** ![AntonKo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/58f4c7/32.png) [@AntonKo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AntonKo)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-auto-insurance/673097/9 "2013-11-05T03:32:54Z")
I think there may be a bit of confusion. The company thats going to be paying (hopefully me, in cash) is not my own insurance. It’s the lady that ran into me insurance, triple a. So what step should I take tomorrow after I get back from the triple a certified shop with the estimate? Call her insurance and tell her insurance that im not satisfied with the work they will be doing, so I want a check instead to have my friend do it? ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-auto-insurance/673097/10 "2013-11-05T16:13:56Z")
You need to get an estimate of your own. That’s the only way to ensure that you’re not going to get low-balled by the shop of AAA’s designation. Then you’ll probably have to negotiate an amount with them. Don’t call them at all until you have your own estimate. It’s possible, although unlikely that the AAA shop’s estimate will be higher than the one that you get. In that case, yes, just call them and tell them you want a check. They don’t need to know why and most likely don’t care. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-auto-insurance/673097/11 "2013-11-05T16:43:22Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > If your car were “totalled,” which does not imply that it is destroyed in this case, there is that oddness of taking the full amount or buying it back, which I don’t fully understand. I’m assuming that by “buying it back” you are referring to the practice of keeping the car. In that case, the salvage value is deducted from your settlement because the insurance company could sell the car to a junkyard for that price. The same amount is coming out of the insurance company’s pocket either way- whether it’s $1500 paid to you and $250 collected from a junkyard or $1250 to you. ---
**Author:** ![AntonKo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/58f4c7/32.png) [@AntonKo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AntonKo)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-auto-insurance/673097/12 "2013-11-05T17:19:14Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > You need to get an estimate of your own. That’s the only way to ensure that you’re not going to get low-balled by the shop of AAA’s designation. Then you’ll probably have to negotiate an amount with them. Don’t call them at all until you have your own estimate. It’s possible, although unlikely that the AAA shop’s estimate will be higher than the one that you get. In that case, yes, just call them and tell them you want a check. They don’t need to know why and most likely don’t care. Sounds good! I will be going to their destination here in a couple hours, then go to a couple places of my own. Then I will call them when I get home and let them know that I want a check for a fair amount thats between their and mine estimates. I just hope they dont try to weasel their way out of it somehow or say “you already agreed to get it fixed thru us blah blah blah” Anyways, I will update all you guys how it went when I get home. Thanks a lot! ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-auto-insurance/673097/13 "2013-11-05T17:23:08Z")
> [@AntonKo](#): > > Then I will call them when I get home and let them know that I want a check for a fair amount thats between their and mine estimates. Why negotiate with yourself before the call? 🙂 Tell the company you want the amount of YOUR estimate, and then later if you want to settle for a middle amount, you can. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-auto-insurance/673097/14 "2013-11-05T17:23:52Z")
> [@AntonKo](#): > > Sounds good! I will be going to their destination here in a couple hours, then go to a couple places of my own. \*\*\*Then I will call them when I get home and let them know that I want a check for a fair amount thats between their and mine estimates. \*\*\*I just hope they dont try to weasel their way out of it somehow or say “you already agreed to get it fixed thru us blah blah blah” > Anyways, I will update all you guys how it went when I get home. Thanks a lot! Bolding mine. Tell them you want the amount on your estimate. You may have to settle for less but don’t start at a lower figure. ---
**Author:** ![AntonKo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/58f4c7/32.png) [@AntonKo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AntonKo)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-auto-insurance/673097/15 "2013-11-05T17:30:43Z")
Good point, you guys are so helpful! I didn’t want to come off as a scammer or cheater and have them tell me to screw off, but now i realize they will have to pay the money anyways, so it doesn’t matter to who ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-auto-insurance/673097/16 "2013-11-05T17:47:44Z")
Legal advice is best suited to our IMHO forum. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![RedSwinglineOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a9adbd/32.png) [@RedSwinglineOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedSwinglineOne)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-auto-insurance/673097/17 "2013-11-05T17:56:08Z")
Strictly speaking, the insurance company is not paying you to fix your car. They are paying you for your loss, which is the value of the car or the cost to get it repaired, whichever is less. You can choose to get it repaired or not. The only exception would be that if you owe on the car, your lender might want to see that the car has been fixed so they know that the value of the car (their collateral) has not decreased. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-auto-insurance/673097/18 "2013-11-05T18:05:37Z")
**AntonKo** , what state do you live in? ---
**Author:** ![AntonKo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/58f4c7/32.png) [@AntonKo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AntonKo)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-auto-insurance/673097/19 "2013-11-05T18:54:09Z")
I live in California, Great Sun Jester, and to RedSwinglineOne I own the car and it is paid off. ---
**Author:** ![AntonKo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/58f4c7/32.png) [@AntonKo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AntonKo)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-auto-insurance/673097/20 "2013-11-06T00:06:27Z")
Alrighty so just got done doing the estimates and errands and stuff. The shop the ladies insurance sent me to was within $50 difference of the other couple shops I went to, so I just called her insurance and told her I would like a cash settlement based on their certified shop’s estimate (1,400). She said no prob and had me fax in my registration with claim number. Then, I had to go back to the shop for them to take pictures. Now I think I am done, and waiting on a call from the insurance company adjuster to tell me that my check is in the mail. Thanks guys! I would have just gone ahead with these bullshit repairs if it wasn’t for you, when I just lost a job and needed the money anyways! Thanks again [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-auto-insurance/673097.md?page=2)