What your customers don't know can do harm to them! What YOU do know, when used to educate your customer, can assist them in realizing fair, honest, and proper repairs on their collision damaged vehicle. They've already had one bad collision. Don't let them suffer another with an insurer who doesn't care enough to fix it right AND pay for that rightful service! MYTH: The insurance company chooses which shop performs your vehicle repairs. FACT: The choice is yours, and yours alone. While there are networks of preferred providers for collision repair, and direct repair options presented to policyholders when they make a claim, the insured's right to choose MUST always be upheld. MYTH: If the insurance company's estimate is lower than the shop of your choice of shop, you must pay the difference. FACT: The insurance carrier must negotiate in good faith with your choice of shop to arrive at an agreed price for repairs. It is the role of the professional collision repairer to be an advocate for his or her customer by working with an insurer to document and identify physical damage. MYTH: Once an insurance company issues a check, you are responsible for any additional charges. FACT: Any estimate is just that - an estimate. An appraiser can only report the damage which is visible. When additional damage becomes evident as the repair progresses, the shop will report the additional damage to the insurance company. In fact, most large collision repairs require at least one supplement to the original estimate. MYTH: You will be forced to use the repair shop with the lowest bid. FACT: The choice of shops is entirely up to you. The repair facility which writes the lowest estimate is not necessarily the best place to have your car repaired. In fact, obtaining repairs from the low bidder is usually not in the best interest of the customer. When one considers the safety issues involved in collision repair, and the considerable investment one has in his or her vehicle, the value of quality repairs becomes clear. A modern, well equipped collision repair center represents an enormous investment in equipment, training and people. As is often the case with goods and service, one gets what one pays for. MYTH: Once a car has been in an accident, it will never be the same. FACT: A collision brings about many changes to an auto. It is the role of the collision repair technician to restore the safety, function and appearance of your car to pre-accident condition. Using the latest in repair technology and original parts, your car should be structurally rebuilt to its factory dimensions and tolerances. Then it should be refinished using the finest, factory/industry approved automotive finish which, in many cases, will actually surpass the original finish insofar as corrosion protection and gloss retention. And, ALL work, parts, and paint should have a Life-Time Guarantee. MYTH: My car will never be worth what is was prior to the accident. FACT: Value retention and safety should be of primary concern to a collision repair customer. An inexpensive or otherwise poor repair will cause additional loss to a car owner in terms of their enjoyment of the car, safety, and return at trade-in. Substandard repairs, which often go unnoticed by consumers, can lead to premature failures of the repair, inconvenience, and/or liability. Individuals with leased vehicles should also be careful in selecting body shops. Substandard repairs, which often occur without their knowledge can result in end-of-lease chargebacks.