ThE sPaCeCoWbOy

the other day after practice i ran into a ford probe backing up....it hit the fender put a dent....well i thought it wouldnt cost that much to fix so i said i'll pay for it out of my pocket

the estimate.....676.85

what should i do......just have insurance pay for it or bit the bullet?

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triscadek

I suppose that's not a whole lot to pay to keep your insurance record clean,considering that you're driving a "high performance"rated car.

If you can afford it I would, because if you have a larger claim that you can't so easily pay within the next 3 years it will then be your 1st not your 2nd. If your rates go up $19 a month you will have paid this claim anyway.

I have learned a new outlook when a co-worker got fired for being late to work after being caught by a train. The company said that it wasn't that 1/2 point that got him fired, but the previous 6 1/2 points.

Somebody recently backed into my car and left me with a $1049.00 bill. I had a collision and claim 2 1/2 years ago and don't want to add to that, I'm just going to swallow hard and pay up, and in 6 months I'm back to a clean record and lower rates.

EDIT: Considering how prone these cars are to attract a ticket to add to the collision.

Hope this helps

Enzo's Nightmare

How big was the dent, and was was there paint damage? If there was no paint damage, then it could probably be removed by PDR. There is probably a Dent Wizard in your area, or a similar service. It will be a lot cheaper that way.

ThE sPaCeCoWbOy

its wasnt my porsche that i was driving....it was my subaru....

i dont think there was any paint damage...

what happened what it dented in the fender that is right near the door, now the guy cant open his door because of it...i dont think the door was damaged though...just the fender......

i was really thinking about the insurance way...if it only raises my insurance up 19 a month, i can handle that....

but i do have the cash to pay it off....i heard the price and thought that its a little high for a fender....i was worried that maybe he had someone on the inside taken advantage of my honesty and paying out of my pocket...

keep the advice coming please....

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Peckster

I'd politely ask if the owner could take it to another shop, of your choice, for a second opinion. I don't think you can do much more than that.

Make sure the second shop doesn't know what the first one quoted.

ThE sPaCeCoWbOy

ok....i'll ask him to do that...

what about if its the same quote...

should i then go with insurance or out of my pocket

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iloveporsches

Any type of automotive repair -body, mechanical, paint- has grown to outrageous prices as of late. I was just rear-ended last Friday, and although I haven't gotten an "official" quote yet, my friend who works for a body shop said the repaint, hammering out the dent (not that bad), and labor, because they'll have to remove the bumper, will be over $1000.

I do have a question about insurance policies/ procedures. I'll get the quotes at where ever they send me, but after they give me the money do I have to take it to those places? My grandpa's friend could fix it, and all the other dings, for probably about a 1/3 of the price, and do a professional job too.

Edit: I forgot to mention luckily it wasn't in the Porsche. It was in my Lumina which I'm trying to sell, and that didn't help matters too much,

cmoss

My rule of thumb is that when the paint gun comes out... $500 minimum. That was 5 years ago, so now? Maybe $750 minimum.

dgz924s

FORD PROBE!....POS IMO! Go to the bone yard and buy a fender and do the work for him/her! It is an easy task at that! Been there-done that! Fenders for that car are a dime a dozen! Take the time to search and you will find one, trust me on that! Be selective and the color will match and you are good to go! My 2cents worth.... <img src="graemlins/oops.gif" border="0" alt="[oops]" />

Peckster

iloveporsches, if they give you the money, you can do whatever you want with it.

sapcecowboy, as far as offering to do it yourself, I think that would make the person you hit very nervous. They have no idea who you are or what you could do. If someone suggested that to me in this situation, I'd just say forget about our arrangement, I'm calling my insurance company.

You have to decide how much you can afford to keep your record clean. Personally, I'd pay it without a second thought if I knew I was at fault and could afford it.

icat

[quote]Originally posted by triscadek:
<strong>Somebody recently backed into my car and left me with a $1049.00 bill. I had a collision and claim 2 1/2 years ago and don't want to add to that, I'm just going to swallow hard and pay up, and in 6 months I'm back to a clean record and lower rates.attract a ticket to add to the collision.</strong><hr></blockquote>

All insurance companies are different, and coverage may vary from state to state. But in Texas, with State Farm, the situation you described is considered a hit and run. If you file a police report, then the accident is not chargeable and your insurance rates would not go up. I know this from personal experience - been there, done that. In addition, with State Farm, my deductable for the hit and run is one half of my normal deductable. Might want to contact your agent and get the skinny in your neck of the woods.

Bob S. 1984 Silver

I definitely have to look into the insurance industry as a way to get filthy rich real fast....Let's see....The insured pays a premium to an insurer that should cover him or her for accident damage, then has an accident. Rather than call the insurance company, the insured considers paying for the repairs out of pocket. That way, the insurer will not raise the insured's rates, which is the penalty the insured pays for having the accident that was supposed to be covered by the insurer in the first place!!! How many years of higher rates will equate to the sum of the lower rates and the out-of-pocket expense?

Sounds like a real deal to me!!!! (and to think I'm wasting my life as a financial planner)....

Thaddeus

BobS, you have a point. I need to start an insurance company too... or maybe a credit card company. They charge the merchant like 6%, then hit people for the interest... free money! Scoundrels.

Probesport

I have a few spare fenders for a 2nd gen probe (1993-1997) if you want one let me know

[quote]Originally posted by dgz924s:
<strong>FORD PROBE!....POS IMO! Go to the bone yard and buy a fender and do the work for him/her! It is an easy task at that! Been there-done that! Fenders for that car are a dime a dozen! Take the time to search and you will find one, trust me on that! Be selective and the color will match and you are good to go! My 2cents worth.... <img src="graemlins/oops.gif" border="0" alt="[oops]" /> </strong><hr></blockquote>

POS why? Because you didnt like them?

dgz924s

Actually they are a good looking car! Just that my opinion is based on all the lemons in the earlier models. My buddy had one and was in the shop more than it was his driveway! Also in my neck of the woods,they don't seem to handle the climate well and rust and the paint peels. But for the cost of repair I got 2 fenders,header panel and a hood for 500.00 like new from a bone yard. I made the same dent in a Camaro and replaced the fender for 75.00...with no risk of insurance sky rocketing! Sorry if my opinion offended you! Like I said...2 Cents worth! Peace D <img src="graemlins/oops.gif" border="0" alt="[oops]" />