Customer FAQ's and Common Insurance Terms
What are OEM Parts?
What are "Aftermarket" Parts?
What are "LKQ" Parts?
Do I have to accept used parts?
Do I have to use the shop my insurance company recommends or can I take it to Weber's Body & Frame?
Do I have to get multiple estimates?
What happens if more damage is found?
What is a deductible?
When and where do I pay my deductible?
Can you save me my deductible?
What is the difference between collision insurance and comprehensive insurance coverage?
Will my insurance rates go up?
Is it hard to match the color of my paint?
What about my personal belongings?
Does Weber's Body & Frame fix my kind of car?
Does Weber's Body & Frame guarantee their work?
What will it cost me?
What makes Weber's Body & Frame different from other body shops?
Will Weber's Body & Frame coordinate a rental car for me?
What are OEM Parts?
OEM stands for "Original Equipment Manufacture" and is used to describe parts made by or for the manufacturer of your vehicle. So OEM Ford parts come from Ford, Mercedes parts from Mercedes and so on.
What are "Aftermarket" Parts?
Aftermarket (A/M) is used to describe parts that are produced by some manufacturer other than the one who originally made your car. Some aftermarket parts carry certification that helps ensure the basic quality of the part. Aftermarket parts are usually less expensive than new OEM, but for some applications may be a better choice than used OEM parts. While it is not the practice of Weber's Body & Frame, some repairers and insurers list these parts as "Quality Replaced Parts."
What are LKQ Parts?
LKQ stands for "like, kind and quality." Most of us are more familiar with the other term for this category which is "Used Parts." The term LKQ should more precisely define a sub-category of used parts that are just like the ones on you vehicle before the loss.
Do I have to accept used parts?
No, you do not have to accept used parts. Most customer oriented insurance companies will only suggest used parts (LKQ) when there is agreement from all parties; generally used parts are suggested when there needs to be a savings to justify the repairs. The insurance company's obligation is to restore your vehicle to "pre-loss" condition - not better than it was and no worse.
Do I have to use the shop my insurance company recommends or can I always take it to
Weber's Body & Frame?
You can always take it to Weber's Body & Frame. The insurance company can not tell you where to repair your vehicle. Some insurance people with special interests will attempt to convince or STEER you to fix your vehicle at their PREFERRED SHOP; a shop that gives the insurance company special deals. These deals will often come at the vehicle owner’s expense which could compromise safety and the quality of repairs.
Should this happen please contact Weber's Body & Frame; our professional claims handlers can guide you through this unfortunate practice Remember that it is the insurance adjuster's job to satisfy the customer and close the claim at the lowest possible cost.
If you decide to use your insurance company’s preferred shop, ask if your policy contains an “elects to repair” clause, causing your insurance to be responsible for the quality of repairs and possibly loss of value.
Do I have to get multiple estimates?
No, you do not need to get multiple estimates; you only need to notify your insurance representative as to where you will be having your repairs done. Your insurance company will work hand in hand with your choice of shop to insure you receive the service and quality repairs you have come to expect.
But what happens if the insurance company’s estimate is lower than the one I get from Weber's Body & Frame?
Insurance companies are generally willing to pay for a proper repair. The insurance company appraiser may include only the most obvious damage in their estimate. At Weber's Body & Frame, we try to write as thorough an estimate as possible.
Just bring the insurance estimate in with you and we can go over the differences. If necessary, we'll notify the insurance company of the changes we need to make. Generally this just takes a phone call and we will bill your insurance company for the supplement at the completion of the repair.
Although it does not happen often, some insurance companies will refuse coverage of certain necessary operations even though those operations are required to properly repair your vehicle. Unless you, "the Boss," tell us to perform the inferior repair, we will charge the insurance company storage while the vehicle is left idle in the shop. Generally, that provides some amount of motivation to resolve the impasse and provide you with proper repairs.
What happens if more damage is found?
Today’s vehicles are very complex; so it can difficult to see all the damage during the initial inspection. Therefore, finding additional damage has become very common; estimates written without a thorough disassembly of the vehicle often have overlooked additional damages. Weber's Body & Frame is the exception; our DFR process (Disassembly for Repair) all most always assures no surprise damage.
If additional damage is found, it is documented and discussed with you and the insurance company. The insurance company may, or may not, want to come see the damage. These supplemental charges are itemized, authorized and billed along with the rest of the repairs.
If the insurance representative wants to come see the additional damage, the repair process could be delayed from 2 - 5 business days. Be mindful that any additional parts found to be damaged will have to be ordered and that can lead to another delay (based on availability.)
What is a deductible?
A deductible is like a ”co-pay" on health insurance. It is a portion of the repair bill that is not covered by your insurance policy. The amount is determined by your insurance policy and is first set when you first purchase your insurance.
Deductibles are commonly $100, $250, $500 and $1,000. The higher your deductible amount, the lower your insurance premium.
When and where do I pay my deductible?
Your deductible is paid directly to Weber's Body & Frame when your repairs are complete. The insurance company pays us for the work performed minus your deductible.
Can you save me my deductible?
No. And neither can any other honest repair facility.
Your insurance policy is a contract between you and your insurance carrier. It specifically outlines what is covered by insurance and what is going to be your financial responsibility.
Falsely manipulating an insurance claim to advance one party's interest is unethical and in many cases it is illegal. There may be legitimate ways to reduce your cost, such as appearance allowances or "cashing out" and declining some portion of the repair. We suggest that you consult your insurance company for details.
Be wary of a repair shop that offers to "cover your deductible".
What is the difference between collision insurance and comprehensive insurance coverage?
Collision insurance and comprehensive insurance may vary. Generally, collision insurance covers damage to your vehicle caused by a collision with another object. Comprehensive insurance covers damage to your automobile from incidents such as vandalism, theft or glass breakage.
It is generally a good idea to periodically review your policy and ask your insurance agent what exclusions are in your policy.
Will my insurance rates go up?
Your rates may or may not go up depending on who is at fault, and the type of loss; also your driving history may influence a rate increase. Your insurance agent or customer service representative can assist you in determining the impact of a given claim on your own policy premium.
Is it hard to match the color of my paint?
All most all colors can be matched by creating an illusion. Weber's Body & Frame employs highly skilled paint professionals who are factory trained using state of the art equipment to assure colors are matched to manufacturer’s standards.
Weber's Body & Frame uses the following steps to ensure your satisfaction with the color match.
1. Your vehicle has an information label that includes a paint code. This code identifies the color of your car.
2. Our computerized paint-mixing system includes the standard color for your car and known variants. The database of known variants is important because in the vehicle manufacturing process there is some variability (such variations typically occur between paint lots or between factories). We check for the best match among these base colors and their variants.
3. A perfect match usually cannot be obtained by tinting alone.
4. Blending is used to fade the freshly painted finish into the original. Between tinting and blending, the color match area becomes completely invisible.
What about my personal belongings?
Before dropping off your vehicle, we recommend that you remove your personal belongings or anything of value. Our insurance covers damage to your vehicle as a result of fire, theft, or even employee error, but it only covers the vehicle and its factory installed parts. Consequently, we do not assume liability for other items that you choose to leave in your vehicle.
Even though our team is comprised of very honest people, they often remove interior parts to gain access to the damaged area or to protect the interior from damage.
One misplaced item can cause a lot of hard feelings and we value your good opinion.
Does Weber's Body & Frame fix my kind of car?
Weber's Body & Frame’s skilled technician’s are trained to repair all makes and models of vehicles, foreign and domestic. We also have technicians who specialize in certain makes of vehicles.
Does Weber's Body & Frame guarantee their work?
Weber's Body & Frame warrants every repair we do. We offer fast friendly quality repairs that are guaranteed! Will Weber's Body & Frame repair my car as good as new? At Weber's Body & Frame we believe in the “invisible” repair; we repair our vehicles to meet or exceed all manufacturer repair standards. This allows us to offer our life time warranty.
What will it cost me?
If you are filing an insurance claim with your insurance company all you will be responsible for is the price of your deductible. If you will be paying for your repairs yourself, an estimate will be provided to you after we have the opportunity to asses the damage on your vehicle and explain the repair process to you.
What makes Weber's Body & Frame different from other body shops?
-
Weber's Body & Frame is Ohio’s premier auto repair facility for over 30 years.
-
We specialize in Insurance Claims Handling; “LET US DO THE WORK”. We work with your insurance company so your claim is expedited in the most efficient manner.
-
Weber's Body & Frame warrants every repair we do. We offer fast friendly quality repairs that are guaranteed!
-
We are a collision facility that will keep you informed throughout the repair process by offering daily viewing of the repairs with the AutoWatch service at www.webersbodyandframe.com. You will actually have the opportunity to view the daily progress of your vehicle
-
At Weber's Body & Frame we pride ourselves in ensuring that all of our collision technicians are certified with continuing education. Our technicians are certified in: o Structural correction
-
Welding
-
Mechanical
-
Brakes
-
Wheel Alignment
-
Refinishing
Will Weber's Body & Frame coordinate a rental car for me?
Yes. We can coordinate a rental agency to pick you up at Weber's Body & Frame when you drop off your vehicle for repairs. We also have rental cars on site.
AFTER AN ACCIDENT
How do I get my car fixed??
Your first step is to call Weber's at (937)839-5946.
Contact a quality body shop before calling your insurance company to save time and avoid claim pressure.
We are very experienced in insurance claim handling and are able to help you through your insurance process, making your claim quick and simple for you.
Starting with a friendly tow, we'll get you and your vehicle back on the road.
Need a loaner car? We can coordinate a rental agency to pick you up at Weber's Body & Frame when you drop off your vehicle for repairs.
(We also have rental cars on site.)
We'll give you a detailed estimate at our facility and make the process easy, so you can be back on the road soon.