Commuting is a necessary evil in today's world. We, as humans, have to travel to make a living, see family members/friends, and get the things we need. We designed a machine to help us with this, the car, but using it comes at great cost to our personal and interpersonal safety. Getting on the road always poses the risk of a collision and it's not something you can always see coming.
Luckily, vehicles today are designed with incredible safety features and other devices to keep you protected and increase the survivability of accidents. If you've been in a fender bender or worse, the next step is repairing your ride. But, at which point does the repair cost become too much? Toyota of Clermont is here to walk you through when to tell when auto body damage is too much.
Know When to Repair or Walk Away
Car accidents that result in auto body damage (aka, most of them) can range in severity. A fender bender can leave you with a dent and a few scratches, or you could wind up with wheel damage, a bent body, and an inoperable vehicle (sounds like this author has been through it). Regardless of the severity, there are a few things you should consider before you decide to repair or walk away.
The Damage
An obvious one, yes, but assessing the overall damage on your vehicle after you've been in an accident can give you an idea of the cost and if it's smart to repair the auto body damage. If all you can find is a few surface area scratches or a cracked headlight assembly, then repairing the Clermont damage is likely not going to cost too much. If you have to tow your vehicle from the scene of the accident because it can't be driven, you might want to think about an alternative.
Consult Your Insurance Company
The great part about driving anywhere in North America is that you need to have some form of auto insurance. While it seems like a waste of money most of the time, it won't when you finally have to file a claim. As part of any auto body damage claim, an assessor will be tasked with determining the damage done to your vehicle. From there they can determine if the vehicle is worth the repair or if it's a "totaled loss." This term means that the Clermont auto body damage repair estimate far exceeds the worth of the vehicle. Your insurance company will issue you a payout for the vehicle's current value and you can use that money however you choose. Unless your vehicle has some sentimental value to you (priceless), then you should opt for this route.
Figure Out How Much You're Willing to Lose
Repairing auto body damage on your vehicle can be painful (especially when you see the price). After getting the green light to repair your Clermont Toyota vehicle, figure out how much you'll be responsible for covering out of pocket. If you're overall loss isn't too high then it's safe to proceed. If the repair cost exceeds your maximum willingness to pay (some microeconomics right there), then figure out another way to repair or walk away.
Car accidents are jarring and quite the financial headache. Always keep in mind how much you're willing to repair and you should find yourself on the right side of a unwanted transaction. If you're looking for top quality auto body repair, visit Toyota of Clermont's certified collision center today at 16851 State Road 50.
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