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Fender Bender-good estimate?
I lightly rear-ended a 2005 Nissan Quest and the owner wanted to settle it without insurance since there was only minor damage. I agreed and I finally got a quote from their shop. I know nothing about auto body, so I was hoping someone could let me know if this seems like a fair price.
New bumper: 323 Paint and Material: 140 Body Labor @ 3 hours: 150 Paint labor @ 4.5 hours:225 Tax: 72 Total: 910. It was only the bumper that was damaged and thankfully no one was hurt. You cannot even tell where I made contact on the Benz :) Thanks for reading! |
seriously? think it will buff out lol.
I would have told them "does the car still drive and stop and act like it did before?" the answer would be yes then all you do is say, Sorry I scuffed your bumper think of it as a battle scar. its going to get screwed up again anyways |
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In all fairness, it wasn't the "bumper" that was damaged, it was only the plastic "bumper shell." Nissan replacement body parts are sold bare, so there's the charge for shooting paint and the 3 hours is really just to remove and re-install the bumper shell. You should be able to get much more competative quotes from a couple other local body shops without much effort. |
Someone in a Saab 9-3 smacked the back of my Tahoe a few months ago. The Taillight was broken and the plastic bumper required removal/repaint/reinstall. Total bill was about $650, with the light accounting for $150 of the bill.
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I'd ask for two more quotes from independant shops using used parts if available, thats what the insurance companies do. If the car is used you should only have to pay for used parts equal to what it was before the accident.
The reality may be that the other party will take the check and touch up the bumper cover and pay bills with the rest...nothing wrong with that but no sense paying more than is fair. If I were in that situation I might ask if they minded if I took it to a shop where I have all my work done and negotiate a fair price from them. If you can get them to admit they really just want the money the negotiation might be easier too. Just keep the negotiations friendly and most people will want to work with you to settle up fairly. |
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He's not wanting to go to the insurance company...maybe, this time he's the victim but his insurance company already warned him "...ONE MORE TIME BUSTER!!!" :rolleyes: I'd see if he wanted to go the "multiple quotes" route first...he's probably expecting you to call him anyways... The other thing? He may NOT have insurance...anyone can carry a card or print one up with nothing actually backing it...and...were the cops called or was this a "Slam, Bam, Sorrry Sam" parking-lot GTG? :eek: :( :D And, unless the cops were called, most insurance companies won't bother with it... I'd write him a check (memo it good) for $500, tops, and tell him the new DTV will have to be financed from his own back-sides...have him send you a picture when the work's completed and you'll (maybe) settle up with him...otherwise, you're handing the bum a $1,000 and you're getting...what? Proof is in the completion of the work... And besides...could this bumper of his have been damaged BEFORE you showed up and tapped him? Just a thought... :rolleyes: |
Paint work on a flexible plastic bumper will often be more expensive than that for a comparably sized sheetmetal part, as a flex agent has to be purchased and mixed with the paint, else the new paint would flake and develop a shattered appearance should the bumper subsequently be struck or flexed.
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Pay the full bill, and document with the other party that this payment represents full settlement for all damages. |
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I was in a similar situation, however, I was the one who was hit. The young girl who hit the rear of my car begged for me not to call the police. She promised to settle up with me and provided her phone#. She appeared to be honest and thanked me many times. I estimated I could get the damage fixed with used parts performing the work myself for $100. At the time I felt it was a very reasonable settlement for which she would be grateful.
I contacted the young lady but she refused to talk to me, her mother jumped on the phone and went on a rant accusing me of taking advantage of her daughter, and finally I was told to F-off. Her mother stated if I went to the police they would deny everything. I learned a lesson, always call the police and look out for yourself. |
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Ask the guy for another estimate and go from there. My daughter tapped a Toyota Avalon in the rear. He said he's get an estimate. Came in at around 700 or so. I asked him to get another. He did. It was higher-around 900. I sent the guy a check and moved on. No insurance No hassle. No premium increase. He was doing me a favor by not going to his insurance company...or the police. Maybe he had a teenage driver too!:D BTW, did you see that this guy had a drivers license and insurance on his car? His motives may not have been entirely pure.;) |
Yeah that sounds about right. They wanted $700 to fix a little scrach on my moms Rav4 bumper.
The guy is doing you a favor, pay it. |
Let insurance handle it. Once you settle and pay the person, and later he comes back with some physical ailment, your insurance company can tell you to take a hike. Really risky stuff taking care of these things yourself.
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I got rear ended in my Honda and the guy ran. Insurance would only pay for a used bumper. Bumper+color matched paint was $650.
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I have settled many many accidents outside the insurance company. I currently have six vehicles insured. I used to have nine when all my kids were driving at once. You can get a claim any day, or more accurately you could have two or three in a day.
I have never had a bad experience from it. |
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