I was in South Lake Tahoe new year's day and some woman witheut ins. hit me. The accident was here fault and I have uninsured moterist coverage. Anywho her jeep took you the drivers side door good, it will need to be replaced and dentend the rear drivers side door but it can be repaired.


What I was wondering is instead of going to a body shop can I replace and repair the doors and then charge the ins. for the door, paint, and labor?

The Damage:
http://imageshack.us/files/hithondasmall.jpg

Go get an estimate, make sure they know you have insurance too, it will be a higher estimate, which is a good thing for you. Then give it to your insurance company. Tell them you want the money instead of having someone do the repair. You have to sign a paper saying you understand that this what you will get.... if there is a problem with the vehicle later on missed in the initial estimate, hidden damage or what have you, you can't have it fixed by insurance, because you waived that right when you took the cash.... least this is how it worked when I got in an accident like this. Hope this helps. I have Mercury for what it's worth.

Oh yeah, I had to waive my deductable from that amount, even though the other person was at fault. I probably could have got it if I pressed the issue, it was a hit and run and I had a witness. But I left it at that, because I really was tired of dealing with the whole thing.

I have done this in the past. Have them make the check out to you.

Make sure you go to the REALLY nice shops. You know, the ones that have the mercedes and the bmws sitting out front. Get high estimates and turn those in if your wanting to make a little money on this. Saying that I know I'm about to get hit with the "My insurance rates are fucked up because of you" crap, but you pay insurance for a reason, and if you can make a little coin have at it.;)

You can collect the check and NOT do ANY repairs.

The insurance company will often try to say you can't and then try to enforce it by making out the check directly to the repair shop.

You tell them; FUCK YOU, I want my money. I have the right to repair or not repair my vehicle at my discretion. I have the right to take the money and scrap the vehicle because i don't want it any more.

I have the right to do whatever I want with my money.

Of course, that is assuming you don't have a loan on it.

If you do the bank has a right to insist that it is repaired because that is their collateral. he only way around that is if YOU ARE an authorized repair shop.

yep just tell the insurnce you want to cash out did it awhile back estimate was 1100 i fixed it to my standards for 70. Gotta love my Dads employee discount. only on mine I had them take things off the estimate so they wouldnt total it (cheap truck not big damage)

I've done it twice on the same vehicle. (for completely different damage.) Hope you don't have Farmer's. They are a pain in the ass to collect from.