YES…Per MA State Law, you the consumer can choose any licensed repair facility to repair your vehicle. It is unlawful for an insurance company to “steer” you to any shop. This also holds true for rental cars and glass replacement companies; you have the right to choose who you rent from and the glass company that works on your vehicle. 

This is a very complex question with many variables. When you drop our vehicle off for repairs, we first need to inspect the vehicle to ensure that all the damage has been found. Anything missing on the original appraisal will require a supplement which means we must contact your insurance company and request them to dispatch an appraiser for authorization on the additional damages. According to MA State law, they can take up to 3 business days to arrive. In the meantime, parts are ordered, and all damages covered in the original appraisal are moving forward. Test fit of Aftermarket parts will also be completed at this time and OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) parts will be ordered as necessary.

Our goal is to communicate via several different methods (i.e. texting, emails or phone calls) with status updates on the repair process.

As mentioned above, after we take your vehicle apart we will contact your insurance company and request a supplement. We will negotiate on your behalf with them, so all additional related repairs are covered. 

1) Deductible. If you are found at fault for the accident or if your car was involved in a “Hit and Run” per your insurance policy, you are responsible to pay your deductible at the completion of repairs. You have chosen with your insurance agent the dollar amount of the deductible (i.e., $300, $500, and/ or $1000). Questions regarding why you were found at fault should be discussed with your insurance claims adjuster. Unfortunately, we have no say in fault, however, there are ways in which you can argue your case through an appeal process with the state; 

2) Betterment. In the event you have an accident, it is the responsibility of the collision repairs facility and the insurance company to restore your vehicle back to pre-loss condition. For instance, if the vehicle sustains front end damage and a normal wear part such as a tire is damaged, a new tire will be purchased but the wear of the old tire and useful life remaining will be taken in to account. The insurance company may inform us that 50% of the tire's life was used and therefore they will only pay for half the cost of a new tire. You would be required to pay the balance; and 

3) Additional work that you as the vehicle owner have requested to be completed during the repairs that are unrelated to the insurance claim.

In most cases, when you have been authorized to get a rental, we will coordinate having the rental at Etre’s Auto Body Shop when you drop off your vehicle for repairs. You will complete the rental agreement with the rental company representative. You can drop the rental vehicle off at Etre’s Auto Body Shop when the repairs to your vehicle are completed. We will arrange to have it picked up by the rental company.