Last weekend I was at a movie and the Vette was parked in a public parking garage. It was a Sunday and I parked in an end stall right by the center crossover drive with plenty of room between me and any car that would park next to me. A car parked on the opposite side and up from me just a little was left out of gear with the parking brake barely on....needless to say during my movie that car decided to roll back and rest against my car.

It contacted my car on the right rear quarter panel from the center of wheel well to about the door. After the car was pulled away from my vehicle there was very little damage that I noticed, a little scuff that looked like it could easily buff out. I took it to the body shop yesterday and they noticed that the wheel well, at about the 10:00 o'clock mark has a crack in it right at the edge of the wheel well.

The body shop wrote the estimate for a repalcement quarter panel but said that many times the covering insurance company will elect to repair the panel rather than replace it. He said he has no problem repairing it, and would warrant it in the future, but said he would prefer to replace.

What is the consensus regarding repairing versus replacement, my preference is obviously replacement, and do I have the right to say that I refuse to have it repaired? I know I can say anything I want but do they have a responsibility to repair it as was versus patched?

 

About six years ago while parked in a shopping center someone clipped the drivers side rear quarter panel and left a five inch crack on it. My deductable is 1,000 so I knew it didn't pay to go through insurance. I brought it to my trusted shop and they repaired the panel and said it the repair will hold up just fine and not to worry. Six years later and the panel is perfect, no problems whatsoever. As long as the shop has experience with plastics and fiberglass I would do the repair and not worry about it, but if the insurance company will pay for a new panel then let them. Good luck with the repair!

 

I would lean to wanting the panel replaced. I would hate to have it repaired and then at some point down the road being able to see where it was fixed.

 

If it is a small crack, just have it fixed

 

I hit a cat over a year ago, and I elected to pay for the repairs myself versus going through the insurance company. My body shop said the could repair the cracks in the front facia and not replacement. I figured I could always replace it if I have to....the repair is fine.

If the repair is done properly, you will be very happy with the outcome.

 

Thanks for the responses...

and I agree, if it was me paying for the repair I would repair it, however this is being repaired by the other drivers insurance so that is why I tend to push for replacement. I'm just wandering if I have any leverage/right to get the insurance company to replace versus repair. After all I DID NOT have a repaired panel on my car previously! So why should I now???

 

Tell them just like that it's your car and they can't force you to accept their repair.

 

You should take this position. GIECO tried that with a minor accident about a year ago. They wanted to put bondo in the driver door (Chevy Equinox) rather than replace the door skin. I had three estimates calling for replacement but their adjuster said it could be repaired. After talking to the GEICO area manager and expressing my displeasure with their position he asked me to have the body shop call him. They all knew each other and I did get a new door skin. Ask you body shop if they know the adjuster at the other drivers company. If he suggests replacement then he will likely get it for you.

 

I would go for the replacement, fenders are easy to take off and put on. Have the body shop get a new fender, paint it and then make sure the color and orange peel match the rest of the car before having them unbolt the other fender and installing the new fender.