Automotive Repair Facility in Merced, California

When we look at your vehicle, it is a visual estimate only until we can take off the panels needed in order to see if there is any additional damage. Until this is done, we can only speculate how long the vehicle may be in the shop at the time of the original estimate.

This is still a hard question to answer because there are so many variables that go into fixing your car. We give you what is called an estimated time of delivery, but that can change many times during the repair, especially if there are parts involved.

You may want to check your policy to see what it states on your rental car coverage. Most policies typically have a 30-day maximum or a dollar limit on what you are allowed.

The best thing to do is to call the Rental car company that your insurance is contracted with to make sure they have everything they need to get you in and out as soon as possible. Most rental car companies require a credit card to put a $50.00 hold. The price may vary, a valid driver’s license and proof of insurance.

Parts are our biggest nemesis. We are unable to control what is available from the manufacturer. We do try to be diligent in returning your car to you as quickly as we can.

Unfortunately, in most cases, the insurance company will only pay the maximum amount, and that is all. The shop would evaluate the situation. Each case is unique, if you have any questions, please contact management for further discussion. The shop would only pay for a rental if there was a delay that we caused like technician sick, parts not ordered on time, etc. If it was due to circumstances out of our control, for example, a back-ordered part from the manufacture, there is really nothing we can do at that point.

Your insurance will give us an ok, but you are the vehicle owner, and you have to authorize what we do on your vehicle. If you do not authorize the repairs, the shop will be unable to continue until we get authorization from you.

The law requires you to authorize any and all repairs to be done on your vehicle, and that includes diagnosing any mechanical issues. We hear many times that customers say ever since the accident, my transmission slips, my window does not roll upright, there is a check engine light or ABS light on. Even though we understand that you know your vehicle better than we do, we are still required by law to get your authorization and advise you of the out of pocket expense that may occur if the issue is determined to not be part of the accident.

All mechanical issues are sent to a mechanical shop to scan and diagnose the cause of the issue. The information that is provided to us will be forwarded to the insurance company. It is up to your insurance company to either authorize or deny the issue. Any questions will need to be directed to them at that point.

We require that the vehicle be dropped off with at least a ¼ tank of gas. We require this because when we do our quality control inspection after the vehicle is repaired, many of the vehicles require a test drive. If there is no gas in the vehicle, we cannot perform the test drive, which ultimately may lead to problems with your car once you take possession. That is the last thing that we want to happen.

We write the estimate based on the policy information that is provided by your insurance company. We do our best to price match the non-oem part prices, but sometimes we just can not come close. If there is a question on the policy, you will need to reach out to the agent that wrote your policy and talk to them about the parts usage. Some insurance companies offer an “OEM endorsement” policy, which means you get OEM parts as long as they are available.