passenger side damage (pic)

From my understanding of the claim we just did in January, they HAVE to pay for the repair at the shop of your choice. I just did the geico shop because the car being repaired isn't overly valuable and they make it very easy to use their preferred shop (they have a claims agent stationed right at some of them).

However, you should be able to go to any shop you want and run your claim through them...I think its a legal issue to prevent shady things between the shops and the insurance companies.

 

A salvage part is OEM. I doubt a Toyota body shop would touch aftermarket parts. Over the years I paid for new, salvage & aftermarket panels. I would stay away from aftermarket. The ability of the people working on your car is more important than the source of the parts.

Your estimate as posted is for aftermarket, not salvage parts. If this is the coverage you paid for then I suspect the best you can expect is to pay for the difference if slvage or new parts are used. Otherwise insist on new & settle for salvage if you must.

 

I recall that you were displeased with the fit between the aftermarket hood and the fender. Did you decide whether this was due to the hood, the fender, or both?

Did you notice any differences between the $39 aftermarket fender and original equipment, in terms of thickness of the sheet steel, the quality of the finish, etc.?

I see nothing wrong with the use of a salvage body part as long as the part doesn't show evidence of corrosion. OTOH, a salvage component would not be acceptable if subject to wear i.e., a component with moving parts within.

 

What I would do is look around for a salvage fender in good condition that is the correct color. Then there would be no paint charge. The fenders are easy to replace, they just bolt on. Since the damage is mostly cosmetic, there should be no great rush to fix it, so take your time, and find the part. If you file a claim with Gieco, they probably will raise your rates, and you will pay for it later. If you can find the fender, you should be able to get the whole job done for around $500.

 

The OP is going to have his insurance company pay for the repair, so once the total has exceeded the $250 deductible, why would he care whether the total is $500 or $1,300?

Even if the replacement salvage fender is the correct color, I would expect it to be repainted to match the rest of the car, not to mention the front bumper and RF door that have to be painted. Metallic colors are not easy to match - I personally find it painful to look at a car with a fender whose color is slightly off compared to the rest of the car - as it looks like a not-very-well-done DIY job.

 

It would be customary to remove the traction battery if welding is required. Also would not hurt to have the battery out while the paint is being dried under heat lamps.

If the car won't start, then you'll complain to the body shop.

 

The hood was total crap. It came with the car so at least I did not choose to buy it. I replaced it with a new OEM Toyota hood. The fender on the other hand was just fine. It was the same gage thickness as the OEM part and fit just fine. After I replace the hood everything else lined up fine. I prefer salvage parts (in good condition) because they are chemically treated at the factory for corrosion resistance. Even OEM Toyota replacement parts do not come with this treatment. I especially like to use salvage plastic bumper covers as it is very difficult to get paint to stick to the raw plastic.

 

I'm glad that you are pleased with their work. It's been about 7 years since they worked on my truck and I had no way to know whether the business was still run by the same people. It's good to know that some still take pride in their work and charge a fair price. Unfortunately, that's not something that we find every day.

 

Totally agree. On the other hand, I found that after a good car wash I often get door dings... seems like people hate others who are anal about their own stuff... So I keep the dust coat and people are so focused on NOT to brush against my car.