But the stats are against us.  Research shows that each of us will be involved in some sort of automobile accident once every eight years.  When we do, we’re put in the uncomfortable position of having to deal with our insurance company.

And we’re at a disadvantage there.  After all, all our insurance company does all day long is deal with folks like us that have a claim.  They know what they’re doing.  We don’t even know what questions to ask or what our real rights are.  Until now.

Here are some important things to consider when dealing with your insurance company after an accident:

• Obtaining three repair estimates is not necessary, unless it is stated in your policy.
• You can go to any body shop, unless your policy specifies a list of body shops to visit.  Learn what to look for in a body shop here.
• Before work is done to your vehicle, you should be presented with an estimate to know what is being repaired on your vehicle, unless a policy states otherwise.
• When you do choose a shop, the shop management should contact the insurance company and advise on damage. You should also notify your insurance company to confirm your vehicle’s location.
• Unless stated by your policy, it is not necessary to take your vehicle to a drive-in claims service. Usually, the vehicle can be examined by a claims person at the body shop.
• Whether your insurance company is paying the shop directly or you are paying the shop, unless payment has been made to the repair shop, your car will not be released to you.
• Insist on having your vehicle restored to its most original condition.
• Do not let price be the determining factor of where your car gets repaired. Lower prices may not always mean quality work.
• Ask for a copy of your shop’s code of ethics, which is designed to protect you and your property.
• If you are having problems with either your insurance company or the other party’s insurance company, a lawyer, though costly, will often speed up processes.

And if you are not getting satisfaction from working with your insurance company, check out the Consumer Insurance Bill of Rights on GarageFly.  There are links at the end of the article that may help you get some help.

Let’s be careful out there!

Our cars are a critical part of our lives. We depend on them. And when they break, it causes us a tremendous amount of stress. Especially if we don’t have confidence in where we can go for help.

The best solution: Having a relationship with an auto body shop or auto repair shop that you can trust. Not having to scramble to find a shop when a crisis hits.

Take a few minutes, and to to GarageFly.  Search for either an auto body shop or auto repair shop by your home or work zip code.  A list of shops in your neighborhood will pop up.  Read what their customers have to say about them in the shop’s reviews.  There’s no better indicator of how you’ll be treated at a shop than to know how that shop has treated the customers that have gone before you!

For many years, I really enjoyed getting my oil changed at the same chain lube-and-oil shop in Mesa, Arizona … let’s call it, “Acme Lube.” I first found it because it was in the neighborhood where I worked. But after I moved jobs to another part of town, I made it a point to keep coming back to Acme. It was an extremely clean lube-and-oil shop with happy personnel, a pleasant waiting room with a television and great magazines.

Yes, they would make gentle suggestions about additional things I might consider getting done that day (the infamous dirty air filter pitch) or car maintenance items that I should keep on my radar.  But I never felt high pressure from the folks at Acme, and they always got me in and out of the shop quickly … and for what I thought was a good price.

One weekend, my husband decided to tag along with me for my oil change. He was driving. I couldn’t wait for him to experience the same great service from Acme that I had been raving about for several years.

We drove up and were met by one of Acme neatly dressed technicians, carrying his clipboard and giving us a pleasant greeting, as usual. My husband confirmed that we were there for an oil change.

My expectation: “No problem. Our best deal is $24.95. We’ll check all your fluid levels and give your car a good once-over. Will that work for you?”

My unexpected reality (after flipping the clipboard to the side I’d never seen): “No problem. Our best deal is $14.95. We’ll check all your fluid levels and give your car a good once-over. Will that work for you?”

WHAT????? A ten-dollar difference? A 40% reduction in cost? Because a man drove up instead of a woman?? Are you kidding me?

Needless to say, we haven’t been back to that oil-and-lube shop. Their dealings with me had been dishonest. I felt violated. Ripped off.  Taken. Angry.  Embarrassed.

I’ve learned my lesson.  I made a plan.  I decided that I needed an auto repair shop that I could really count on, not just for oil changes, but in the eventuality that something would break.  After all, my car is a machine, and machines need maintenance and sometimes break down.  I wanted a shop where I knew the owner and I knew each other’s names.  I wanted a relationship with a honest business owner.  I decided to find a reputable and reliable “mom ‘n pop” shop.

GarageFly can help you find a shop you can trust.  The auto repair shops listed on the website have been reviewed by their real customers.  You can search for a shop by zip code, and find shops in or near your work or home neighborhood.  Then you can read what their customers say about them and choose a shop that’s right for you.

Not sure what to look for in choosing an auto repair shop?  GarageFly can help there, too.  Their “I Need Service” page gives you tips in how to choose the right shop for you, what to expect when your car is getting repaired, and even a list of things to do to keep your car running smoothly.

My best advice:  Make a plan.  Create a relationship with a shop you can trust.  Know before you go.