First, the bad news. It's going to be four weeks minimum before I get my car back. I'm already starting to experience withdrawl.

Now, the good news. I think his insurance will be paying for my car's damage after seeing the estimate. Well, I suppose that's good news. Read on...

I went to Tarheel Auto Body earlier today. The estimate was for $4594.01, $300-400 of which is my front bumper and the rest being the various frame and cosmetic damage to the rear.

I have a few issues with the estimate, though, and I wanted to ask you all for help.

1) Seeing as how his insurance is paying for it, the estimate is surprisingly, uh, "efficient". It's the little things that upset me, like refusing to replace my tail lamps and muffler. Do I have a case against them if I raise a fuss about this? It's going to be in the shop for four weeks (at least) and they're still in the business of scrimping and saving. It's almost $5000 in damage! I thought body shops were supposed to charge extra to insurance companies!?

2) Speaking of which, my insurance agent has already assured me that getting them to pay to replace my catback will be no problem. Yet the body shop insists that you can repair it. The tip is smashed and the midpipe is bent, I believe. I'm also planning on replacing my driver's side seat with a Corbeau Targa RS thanks to the $411.07 recliner piece to the SOA stock seats (yowch). What's the best way to handle this for those of you who have done it before?

4) What's the easiest way to get them to fix the paint chips and other little things? He noted them as "previous damage" but like I said, if my car's in the shop for a month or more it better be perfect when it leaves. Can I insist on them paying for it? Do I have a case or am I making things hard on myself?

The frame was bent pretty severely. The total of $4594.01 consists of $1300 or so in parts and tax and the other $3200 being labor and paint. Most of that being labor...

This is going to be a rough month for me. Any help would be appreciated!

In my state the claimant picks the repair shop and NEVER is forced to use the shop the insurer recommends.

Find out that is the case in North Carolina and if so, go somewhere else.

Colin-

Such is the case for the state of NC also. However, if I use the shop they "reccomend" (actually one of a list that State Farm reccomends) then I can both bypass the appointment with the adjuster/estimator (and get the work started faster) while being able to go directly to the body man.

I'm considering just saying the hell with it and finding a new shop, but I do trust my insurance agent. He's gone to bat for me before. I'm hoping to call him tomorrow and see if I can get this straightened out.

I'm fairly certain I can, but in case he gives me the company line, I want to have some proof in the matter. The last thing I want is for more hassle.

If those paint chips were there already there is no way the insurance company will pay for them. But if you want to spend the money you could probably get a pretty good deal since they are already doing some painting on other parts of the car. As far as the midpipe being bent, they probably wanted to cut the bent part out and replace it. While yes that would fix it that is not the cat back system you bought. If it is an aftermarket catback system then they should have to replace it. Good luck with your battle, I hope you have better luck than I have.

Colin is right. You should get your own body shop. he might be able to fix it sooner too.

As for fixing the other stuff, they should fix it all, (aside form the paint chips) If you had a passendger in the car that got hurt they would have to pay for that too wouldn't they?! They can't exactly say "...Well he didn't come with the car, so we cannot fix him..."! They should fix it all.

Good luck. And get a different body shop. ask around see whos is good and who is customer friendly vs insurance friendly.