Expert: Charlie Barone - 3/10/2010

Question
I was turning around in the parking lot behind my building when I bumped into the door of a parked car.  It left a scratch about 6 inches long on the other persons passenger door.  I left the man a note and he got an estimate.  He says it will cost 1100 to fix this.  This seems very high to me.  I was expecting a few 100 dollars.  I took a picture with my phone at the time of the accident.  Should I go through my insurance company or pay out of pocket.  We have Geico and I didn't want my rate to increase but not that I see how much it is, I think the man is just trying to get money out of me.  I never met him in person but he did not seem nice on the phone.  Does this sound like too much?

Answer
Suzi,

Collision repair costs always seem high to the person paying the bill. However, there are quite a few required procedures to repair the damage your car caused in his door, such as the cost to remove and reinstall (R&I) all moldings, handles, and trim attached to the door panel. What's more, there are the costs associated with the procedure of blending color into adjacent panels and all the R&I work required. The cost of the materials is very high, both to the body shop and to the retail customer paying the bill.

You deserve to have the opportunity to see an itemized estimate for the repair costs from the body shop the other party took his or her car.

Call your agent and ask if this claim would cause them to raise your rates. There is nothing to fear for telling him you had the accident, but filing a claim may set into motion a review by their underwriters of your risk and a rate increase.

Charlie