Help me out with a quick question

[troysteelerfan]

Let me first state that I am going to get/request a second estimate on this....long story....my son rear-ended a car...the people didn't see the need to involve the insurance and have my son's rate go up ...which is good...but here is the question..
the estimate the gave us was way more than I thought it would be....he rear ended a 1999 Honda Accord with 205,000 miles on it ... the bumper is barely scratched...(photo available upon request  ) ...they got an estimate and according to the estimate the bumper has to be replaced because it is plastic...and parts labor etc it came to over $850....thoughts & comments please
thanks in advance

[austin5string]

My gut reaction is that seems awfully high.. w/o knowing any specs on the car at all, I just guessed a 4DR DX Sedan in excellent condition and got a Kelley Blue Book value of $3400.  With the car worth probably less than that, I have a hard time seeing how replacing the bumper is going to cost $850. 

Having said that, it's probably worth paying a little more to keep it off the insurance, but I wouldn't think that much..

[Martini]

First of all, probably worth paying just about anything to avoid having insurance go up especially factoring in deductible. But if you think you can find a better price you can offer to have it done at a different shop and see if they are agreeable to it.

[William]

Problem is this though. Parts have a fixed price, regardless of age of the vehicle they are going to put it on. And labor will always increase the price further. And if it needs to be painted, price goes up even more.

I don't think you'll be able to get it done much cheaper than that. Calculate how much the insurance premium will go up, calculate that for a max of 3 years, and determine what part of the repairs will be covered by the insurance. That should give you a decent estimate if it's worth paying for the repairs yourself or having the insurance cover it.

[Kunstmilch]

The replacement of the bumper is pretty standard these days, it's exactly what a body shop would do, and they would charge the insurance company...the price is right in terms of what you would see quoted. However, what you won't see is the shop doesn't actually pay that price, they buy the part from an in between person for a lot let, the insurance also gets a deal from this . The price that is actually paid could be as low as, say $200 after taxes, but good luck finding a place near you, as they aren't in the phone books, and good luck trying to convince the other party that it's the same bumper they would get anyway. If you ask me, either go with what they ask (ask for an invoice) or find a place yourself that is a little cheeper and to their satisfaction and pay for it. All in all though, I think they are being honest with you.

[Wedge Rock]

I don't know if you have minitort in your state (where the responsible party has to pay the innocent party's deductible), but if so, you might use that as leverage.  If the bill really was $850 and they had a $500 deductible, they'd pay $500 and the insurance company would pay the $350 difference.

Also, you might ask if they mind you shopping for a second quote.  If all they want is a repair done right, it shouldn't be a big deal.

[Martini]

@Wedge Rock
Leverage is kinda backwards, no? His son did the rear ending and is at fault so he'd owe the deductible.

[Wedge Rock]

In a no fault state, it doesn't matter whose fault it is...  you pay your own deductible (thus, the term "No Fault").  However, here in Michigan, we are a NF state, but we have a mini tort provision -- if you are at fault, you may be responsible for the other party's deductible up to $500.

So, if the OP is in a state where the other driver is going to have to pay his own deductible regardless of fault, he may be able to use that to his advantage.  Be careful, though.  You don't want to make it so unattractive that they just decide to report it to insurance and say forget you.

[Martini]

OK, I understand what you're saying now. I guess I got in more car accidents I'd know this stuff!