Body damage- DIY or body shop?

Yesterday I backed into a pillar on my rear left while watching another pillar to my right.

Mostly a busted lens, but a bit of body damage, bumper's tweaked as well. Would this be a DIY repair ya'll would attempt, or farm out to the pros? Also, how does it look like it will cost?

Red arrows point to metal+paint damage

 

that needs a pro, preferably before it starts to rust where the finish is broken at the tail lamp lower area. Ski

 

I vote pro too. Unless your a body shop worker. Sooner the better, they are going to replace bumper, lense. Other body work, I’ll guess $2500

 

Ouch! I've never banged up a vehicle before, I have no experience filing auto insurance claims. Looking on my policy info I see a $300 deductible each for comprehensive and for collision. Since I did it, would my insurance company pay for damage done by me? Or, will they raise my premiums because of filing a claim? Out-of-pocket is going to hurt if it runs over $500...

 

just my opinion, anything under $3k should just pay out of pocket and not filing a claim because in your case it'll be a claim for which you're at fault. That jacks up your insurance premium a lot for the next 2-3 years, and you'll probably end up breaking even.

Plus you lose the safe driver streak discount

 

Jking...get a pro

 

I would run it through a shop, there’s a good chance the inner taillight pocket got tweaked as well and needs pulled out. While it’s not a hard job there’s enough there to warrant a claim if you don’t want to pay out of pocket. I just fixed mine from a similar style accident.

 

Id just get a new tailight and new bumper cap and just use some touch up paint and be done with it.

 

I have an appointment at a local shop tomorrow. I did start a claim with my insurer(USAA), but have not completed it. I want to see how much $$ the body shop is going to say, before I go further with the insurance co.

It's weird, I JUST paid off the loan on this truck last week....<shrug>

 

Thank God you didn’t have MESO’s new tail lights on when you did that l

 

Painter here. Let a pro get it done for you.

 

I would say DYI if the damage was only the tail light and the bumper, but after seeing the body damage at the bottom, I would say go to the pro. I wouldn’t involve insurance for this thought. Two options, body shop or try those skilled traveling body fixers.

 

Nobody mentioned the Carfax ding if you take it to a reputable shop. If you are keeping it for life it wont be a problem, but if you want to ever sell it, some buyers will bicker about it and pass it over if Carfax gets a report about body damage. I am not sure if there’s a minimum reportable damage amount though - you may be below it if there is…

 

I'm not exactly sure how carfax document accidents, but I suspect they only record serious accidents that possibly have police report created.

I messed up the whole side of my truck once scrapping against a tree, it's repaired by a legit bodyshop approved by my insurance claim, and when I sold the truck, the carfax's clean.

 

You have done more damage then you think.


You have pushed the bottom of the tail lamp into the box side. See the side has rolled inwards at the bottom, and there is a large gap at the top. This also means the support structure that mounts the lamp behind it is also bent. Definitely a job for a professional.

 

Just looking at the Carfax website about information sources they use - dealerships for maintenance and repairs, and insurance for accident reports. It mentioned accidents that do not result in a total loss, but that could be very high. Guess there is a minimum amount they will not report, that’s good to know. How much was your damage estimate?

 

progressive approved $2950 for the bodyshop and I had to chip in $500 deductible

 

Just got back from the local body shop, estimate: $2017.06. I'm leaning towards paying myself, I don't want the insurance company gouging me with rate increases for the next 3 years. I did start a claim on USAA's website, I don't know if I went too far, even if I cancel the claim they know about the damage and jack my rates anyway....?

 

Bedsides just bolt on. Find one from a wrecking yard.
New bedside, bumper cap and taillight has got to be cheaper than $2017.06 I would think.

More than your deductible though.

 

My advice is to talk with them concerning the claim. Our son had a terrible accident with his first car....over $4K worth of damages but no injuries. After I got the car fixed by the insurance company I shopped for insurance and found LOWER rates with more than one company. You pay for insurance to cover damages....let them. And if they jack up your rates, then shop around. Most people never change companies...and thus they pay more than they should. This accident is a super minor claim...with no personal injuries...let then fix the vehicle as they should.