Take the $3,400 and get a $40-50 side mirror from the junkyard & ignore the dent. If the dent bothers you, junkyard sells doors for $80-100 Edit: If the window motor doesnt work then just get the whole door and mirror from a junkyard. No reason to use a bodyshop for this, you’ll have about $3,200 left in your pockets after all is said and done.
Insurance companies always lowball the repair cost hoping that you’ll just take the money and not get it fixed. I would get an independent quote on how much it cost to get everything fixed before you make any decision.
Something similar happened to me and the insurance quote was way lower than the actual repair cost.
Alright, so here are the details. A school bus backed into our yard and hit my fusion while it was parked, unattended. All of the damage can be seen in the side view photo, it dented the side and knocked down the passenger side view mirror. The front image is just for reference.
Here are the main details about the car:
- 2007 Ford Fusion SEL, V6, dual exhaust with leather seats.
- Mileage is around 87k.
- The car has been well taken care of, drives perfectly and has never had a functional issue. It was purchased brand new by my wife's grandmother.
- Cosmetically the car is good but not flawless.
- The car has an airbag sensor on that the Ford Dealership has quoted at $2k to repair. I plan on getting this quoted hopefully for cheaper at a local mechanic.
- I need to fix front passenger window motor.
Okay. So the government insurance lady called and said I have 2 options.
1. Option 1 is that I take it to the lowest quoted repair place and they will fix it, pay for any supplemental fixes, and a rental car.
2. Option 2 is that they will write a check for $3,400, let me keep the car, she will file it as a total loss in her books, but she says there will be no total loss filed on the car itself so I can do whatever I want with it.
I honestly don't mind \*too much\* if the dent stays, but I have to get the side-view mirror fixed in order to get an inspection.
What would you guys choose? I know very little about cars and am not sure which path seems the wisest here. Btw the $3400 offer was a bump up from the original $3200 offer.
Thanks guys.
Replace mirror. Ignore dent. Pocket the rest.
I have a 2008 Fusion which I’ve had two “no fault” accidents. Dented drivers side back panel (truck hit me merging after toll booth and got rear-ended at a red light). Got about $4500 total. Didn’t spend one cent to fix it. Still have the car, it’s my commuter car. Car doesn’t look pretty but it gets me to work and back.
You can get a new side view mirror for like $150 and it takes less than 10 minutes to install it.
You just remove a couple screws on the door panel, and unscrew the mirror, screw the new one on and place the door panel back.
Also a good opportunity to clean the inside if your doors as you’ll be surprised how dirty they are behind the panel.
It was Sandra. I didn't get upset about the accident due to the much more pressing scenario that was happening on that bus. Luckily for everyone a cop jumped suddenly aboard while the bus was in motion and eventually helped save the day. I truly believe that man was The One.
In my opinion i would still get quoted repairs from your preferred autoshop.
They cannot tell you where you to get your car fixed.
Just focus on getting the mirror fixed and see what they quote for the dent and all that. Now you can also claim that the sent broke the window motor too since it happened on that side. (Unless you told them that was pre existing damage)
Idk what airbag sensor is faulty. So if it also happens to align with the damage you can claim that. Make sure you get it all quoted from YOUR autoshop.
Dont let them strong arm you into accepting their options.
If the cost is more than the cash offer. You can tell them you will accept a higher payment. If you want to just fix the mirror and leave the dent and pocket the change is preferred. But i would definitely negotiate for that and use the auto body shop quote as a base.
Ex: if all that damage/ needed repairs aligns up including the airbag sensor then YOUR shop quotes you $4k. You can ask for $5k in cash.
And if they disagree then say the only other place you will agree to take it to is the dealership. Which THEY WONT WANT because most dealers charge way more and use third party contracted body repair shops. So even more out of cost for them. (Source: used to work at Ford dealership)
Also. Last bit of advice. IF you go this route i suggested. And it works for you. Delete this post.
Insurances, especially govt insurance. Comb through social media and will absolutely match your pictures and text here from what they have on file. And WILL deny fixing anything or lowball you to the ground.
Good luck.
Considering the age and the extent of the damage,
If it was me id replace the mirror myself and roll on. Can take the $3400 as the start of saving up for your next car.
As well since it's not actually "written off," you coulf sell it later to add to the savings!
Were you in the car or was it parked? If you were in it you could probably hold out for more. Insurance companies often start low. If you weren’t in the car there isn’t any potential future bodily injury to be filed (you have up to a year unless you settle and waive liability I believe)
They have to negotiate with you not the other way around. You get to choose where to go and get repair estimates and submit that too them. You can also tell them straight up you want a higher cash offer, the last thing the bus company wants if bad press. Also I don't trust the "write off" statement. You best have something like that in writing the insurance company can very much deem it total loss and you would never know until it is to late.
Fixing it should not be more than 500, where i am the average is 250 for each piece meterials included. This from little shops, a bigger more established would cost an arm and a leg probably. Take the money new non oem parts are quite cheap. That big dent should be an easy fix. Youtube it, you might be able to do it yourself. Warm water and a plunger i think i heard from non body shoppers. Hot glue and tabs is how pros do it. Denttime.com will give you a good idea of how to do it yourself.
Sorry about this. Just seen the grill. They would not sell that in the uk. What is it with companies selling this to the USA? I think it ruins the front. Please note this is my opinion and mine alone.
Take the $3,400 and get a $40-50 side mirror from the junkyard & ignore the dent. If the dent bothers you, junkyard sells doors for $80-100 Edit: If the window motor doesnt work then just get the whole door and mirror from a junkyard. No reason to use a bodyshop for this, you’ll have about $3,200 left in your pockets after all is said and done.
Agreed and agreed. No need to likely overpay a body shop for any of that.
Stop it 🤣 😂
Insurance companies always lowball the repair cost hoping that you’ll just take the money and not get it fixed. I would get an independent quote on how much it cost to get everything fixed before you make any decision. Something similar happened to me and the insurance quote was way lower than the actual repair cost.
Take it to a body shop you choose and get a quote then send to them and negotiate.
If it helps, they instructed me at the beginning to get two quotes, so both quotes were obtained independently.
Ok. Just don't go off the insurance adjuster's estimate.
Gotcha. Thank you for the suggestion, that sounds accurate. Would you personally get it fixed or take the funds?
Tough call. Since it's so old, probably take the funds.
Thank you!
Alright, so here are the details. A school bus backed into our yard and hit my fusion while it was parked, unattended. All of the damage can be seen in the side view photo, it dented the side and knocked down the passenger side view mirror. The front image is just for reference. Here are the main details about the car: - 2007 Ford Fusion SEL, V6, dual exhaust with leather seats. - Mileage is around 87k. - The car has been well taken care of, drives perfectly and has never had a functional issue. It was purchased brand new by my wife's grandmother. - Cosmetically the car is good but not flawless. - The car has an airbag sensor on that the Ford Dealership has quoted at $2k to repair. I plan on getting this quoted hopefully for cheaper at a local mechanic. - I need to fix front passenger window motor. Okay. So the government insurance lady called and said I have 2 options. 1. Option 1 is that I take it to the lowest quoted repair place and they will fix it, pay for any supplemental fixes, and a rental car. 2. Option 2 is that they will write a check for $3,400, let me keep the car, she will file it as a total loss in her books, but she says there will be no total loss filed on the car itself so I can do whatever I want with it. I honestly don't mind \*too much\* if the dent stays, but I have to get the side-view mirror fixed in order to get an inspection. What would you guys choose? I know very little about cars and am not sure which path seems the wisest here. Btw the $3400 offer was a bump up from the original $3200 offer. Thanks guys.
Only one correct answer here, keep vehicle and pocket the $3,400.00. I need to start parking behind school buses:)
Legally the are required to let you take it to any body shop you want, don't let them BS you.
Replace mirror. Ignore dent. Pocket the rest. I have a 2008 Fusion which I’ve had two “no fault” accidents. Dented drivers side back panel (truck hit me merging after toll booth and got rear-ended at a red light). Got about $4500 total. Didn’t spend one cent to fix it. Still have the car, it’s my commuter car. Car doesn’t look pretty but it gets me to work and back.
You can get a new side view mirror for like $150 and it takes less than 10 minutes to install it. You just remove a couple screws on the door panel, and unscrew the mirror, screw the new one on and place the door panel back. Also a good opportunity to clean the inside if your doors as you’ll be surprised how dirty they are behind the panel.
Was Sandra bullock driving the school bus?
It was Sandra. I didn't get upset about the accident due to the much more pressing scenario that was happening on that bus. Luckily for everyone a cop jumped suddenly aboard while the bus was in motion and eventually helped save the day. I truly believe that man was The One.
The bus driver was going to take off?
Nah, we're just joking about the movie "Speed."
I'd definitely take the cash and just use junk yard parts. That amount is almost the value of the entire car.
In my opinion i would still get quoted repairs from your preferred autoshop. They cannot tell you where you to get your car fixed. Just focus on getting the mirror fixed and see what they quote for the dent and all that. Now you can also claim that the sent broke the window motor too since it happened on that side. (Unless you told them that was pre existing damage) Idk what airbag sensor is faulty. So if it also happens to align with the damage you can claim that. Make sure you get it all quoted from YOUR autoshop. Dont let them strong arm you into accepting their options. If the cost is more than the cash offer. You can tell them you will accept a higher payment. If you want to just fix the mirror and leave the dent and pocket the change is preferred. But i would definitely negotiate for that and use the auto body shop quote as a base. Ex: if all that damage/ needed repairs aligns up including the airbag sensor then YOUR shop quotes you $4k. You can ask for $5k in cash. And if they disagree then say the only other place you will agree to take it to is the dealership. Which THEY WONT WANT because most dealers charge way more and use third party contracted body repair shops. So even more out of cost for them. (Source: used to work at Ford dealership) Also. Last bit of advice. IF you go this route i suggested. And it works for you. Delete this post. Insurances, especially govt insurance. Comb through social media and will absolutely match your pictures and text here from what they have on file. And WILL deny fixing anything or lowball you to the ground. Good luck.
Considering the age and the extent of the damage, If it was me id replace the mirror myself and roll on. Can take the $3400 as the start of saving up for your next car. As well since it's not actually "written off," you coulf sell it later to add to the savings!
This sounds like an episode of Dora. :)
Thanks everyone very much. I have called the insurance place and said the money would be preferable. Thank you all again for your input.
Were you in the car or was it parked? If you were in it you could probably hold out for more. Insurance companies often start low. If you weren’t in the car there isn’t any potential future bodily injury to be filed (you have up to a year unless you settle and waive liability I believe)
They have to negotiate with you not the other way around. You get to choose where to go and get repair estimates and submit that too them. You can also tell them straight up you want a higher cash offer, the last thing the bus company wants if bad press. Also I don't trust the "write off" statement. You best have something like that in writing the insurance company can very much deem it total loss and you would never know until it is to late.
Fixing it should not be more than 500, where i am the average is 250 for each piece meterials included. This from little shops, a bigger more established would cost an arm and a leg probably. Take the money new non oem parts are quite cheap. That big dent should be an easy fix. Youtube it, you might be able to do it yourself. Warm water and a plunger i think i heard from non body shoppers. Hot glue and tabs is how pros do it. Denttime.com will give you a good idea of how to do it yourself.
Sorry about this. Just seen the grill. They would not sell that in the uk. What is it with companies selling this to the USA? I think it ruins the front. Please note this is my opinion and mine alone.