If you have been involved in a car accident, you probably want to take your car to a good collision center so that you can have repairs done. However, you might be looking for advice. These tips can help you if it's your first time taking your car to a collision repair.
Contact Your Insurance Company First
Right now, you might not be sure of what you should do first. Typically, you will probably want to call your car insurance company first, at least if your vehicle has comprehensive and collision coverage. Then, they might send an insurance adjuster out to take a look at your vehicle to determine whether it can be repaired or whether it will be declared as a total loss. They might also provide recommendations about where to take your car to for repairs, and they might give you additional advice and instructions about how to have your car repaired.
Ask About Pick up Options
If your car can still be driven, you might be thinking about driving it to a collision center for repairs. In some cases, this can be done in a safe manner, without causing additional damage to the vehicle. If your car can't be driven, however, you might be wondering how you are going to get it to the collision center so that it can be repaired and restored. In some cases, you may find that you will need to work with a separate towing company. However, in many cases, someone from a collision center will pick your vehicle up for you, or they might make arrangements for your car to be picked up by a towing company.
Ask for a Loaner Car
It might take a while for your car to be repaired, and you might need to have a vehicle to drive in the meantime. Depending on your insurance coverage, a rental vehicle might be covered by your insurance company. If it isn't, then you may want to ask about whether or not the collision center offers loaner vehicles. In some cases, collision centers will actually provide their customers with rental cars to drive until their vehicles are repaired. They might not even charge you for the service, or if they do, the rates should be pretty affordable.
As you can see, there are a few helpful tips that you can keep in mind when taking your car to a collision center. Dealing with a damaged vehicle after a car accident can be a pain, but if you follow the tips above, you can make sure that your experience goes as good as possible.