Frequently Asked Questions

WHERE DO I GET A CLAIM NUMBER?

Claim numbers are issued by your insurance company at the time you report your accident. Just jot it down and bring it in with you when you come in to begin the repair process, First Class Collision of Escondido, Inc. will do the rest.

WHAT IS A DIRECT REPAIR SHOP?

A direct repair facility is a body shop that works directly with your insurance company as a preferred shop. Body shops earn the right to be in preferred shop programs by meeting certain requirements. These include having certified technicians, using the proper equipment, and most importantly, having a record of satisfied customers. When you use a preferred shop, the repair process is streamlined. A preferred shop actually writes the estimate, orders the parts, and repairs your vehicle without having to wait for an insurance adjuster. Insurance companies constantly monitor their preferred shops to ensure quality repairs.

ARE YOU OPEN SATURDAY?

No, but we are open Monday-Friday 7:30am to 5:30pm.

WILL THE PARTS BE ORDERED BEFORE I DROP OFF MY VEHICLE FOR REPAIR?

Absolutely. We generally order your vehicle's parts at the time that we write the estimate and schedule your vehicle for drop-off a couple of days later. This enables us to provide quicker turnaround time.

IF MY VEHICLE'S FRAME IS DAMAGED IS IT A TOTAL LOSS?

No. A car is a total loss only when the price of repairs exceeds the insurance companies determined value of your vehicle. Nowadays, most cars are built using unibody (frame and body as one) construction. Our highly skilled technicians, with the aid of our state-of the-art laser measuring system , can return your vehicle to its original factory specifications. If it is determined that the frame section is bent beyond repair, that section can simply be replaced

CAN YOU MATCH THE PAINT COLOR?

Today's modern factory finishes incorporate multiple layers of highly specialized paints. First Class Collision of Escondido, Inc. has made a major investment in the finest paint system available and constantly upgrades its technology and equipment to ensure that each vehicle's paint matches. We take special pride in our ability to match factory finishes as the final step in the restoration process.

CAN I GET OTHER SERVICE WORK DONE ON MY VEHICLE WHILE IT IS IN THE BODY SHOP?

Yes. Just let your advisor know what other work you would like done so that he can make the necessary arrangements.

HOW LONG WILL THE REPAIRS TO MY VEHICLE TAKE?

Your advisor can give you an estimate of the time it will take to complete the repairs to your vehicle. As a general rule, drivable cars are scheduled in on Monday and whenever possible delivered back to customers by Friday. Be sure to check with your advisor for the specifics on your vehicle.

CAN I GET A RIDE HOME WHEN I DROP OFF MY CAR?

Yes, we would be happy to provide this service to you. We want each customer's visit to be a positive experience and will work diligently towards that goal.

HOW CAN I GET A RENTAL CAR?

We offer rental cars, so if you need a rental car, we can help you make the necessary arrangements. Insurance companies will only pay for a rental car if you have that option on your policy. Check your policy and/or call your insurance company to find out if you have rental coverage and what your specific limitations are.

HOW WILL I KNOW WHEN MY CAR IS DONE?

You will be notified by phone when your vehicle is ready to be picked up. Feel free to call or e-mail your advisor during the repair process if you have questions or concerns.

IS THERE A WARRANTY ON THE REPAIRS TO MY VEHICLE?

Yes. First Class Collision of Murrieta, Inc. offers a written warranty on all repairs for as long
as you own the vehicle.

DO I HAVE TO PAY A DEDUCTIBLE?

The amount of deductible that you will be responsible for is determined by your insurance policy. If you carry standard collision, you will have to pay your deductible regardless of whether you were at fault. If you carry broad collision, and you were not at fault, your insurance company most likely will waive your deductible. Insurance companies determine fault by your account of the accident when you make the claim, and by reviewing the accident report filed with the police department. If you aren't sure about your deductible, you can call your advisor and he can tell you whether your insurance company has waived your deductible or whether you will be responsible to pay this when you pick up your vehicle.

WHO DO I PAY MY DEDUCTIBLE TO?

If your deductible is not waived, it will be your responsibility to pay First Class Collision of Escondido, Inc. when you pick up your vehicle. If you aren't sure about your deductible, you can call your advisor and he can tell you whether your insurance company has waived your deductible or whether it will be your responsibility.

WHAT FORMS OF PAYMENT DO YOU ACCEPT?

We accept cashiers checks, cash and major credit cards.

WHAT ARE BETTERMENT CHARGES?

Parts that wear out and need replacement with time and use (i.e., tires, batteries, and suspension parts) are commonly subject to betterment charges when they are replaced during the repair process. These betterment charges are determined by your insurance company and are pro-rated based on actual miles on your vehicle.

WHAT IF YOUR ESTIMATE IS MORE THAT THE ONE FROM MY INSURANCE COMPANY?

No problem! Insurance companies know that there might be additional repairs necessary so they have a system for approving them. And most of the time they will pay us directly so you don't have to worry about coming up with more money.

DO I HAVE TO TAKE MY CAR TO WHERE MY INSURANCE COMPANY TELLS ME TO?

NO, the decision is up to YOU where you choose to obtain an estimate. There is an anti-steering law in California that makes it illegal for insurance companies to tell you to take it to a shop of their choice.

DO I HAVE TO GET TWO DIFFERENT ESTIMATES?

There is no law that requires you to get two estimates. In most insurance cases an estimate from a body shop is not necessary because the shop has to work directly from the insurance estimate when doing auto repairs. Obtaining two estimates is a courtesy to a person at fault who wishes to pay out of pocket.

CAN I WASH MY CAR?

RECOMMENDATIONS AND PRECAUTIONS IN THE FIRST 30 DAYS

DO'S

DONT'S

RECOMMENDATIONS AND PRECAUTIONS IN THE FIRST 90 DAYS

WHAT IS BLENDING?

The one question that all of our first-time customers ask is: "Is my paint going to match?" While there is no such thing as a "perfect" match, the color can be custom tinted to a point where the color is close enough for a blendable match. That's where blending comes in. Blending is a technique used during the final refinishing of your vehicle to ensure as close a color match as possible.

WHAT DO ALL THESE ACRONYMS FOR PARTS MEAN?

Just like most industries ours is full of industry specific acronyms. One area that raises a lot of questions is the acronyms used to define what kind of parts are listed on the estimate. We'll define four different acronyms here that describe what kind of parts are listed on a collision repair estimate.

OEM

OEM refers to Original Equipment Manufacturer. Basically this means the parts specified will come from the manufacturer of your automobile. For example, if you have a Mazda, the parts would be purchased from a Mazda parts supplier. This doesn't mean that Mazda actually made the part but that they have had the part manufactured for them to a specific set of criteria and standards.

A/M

A/M refers to aftermarket parts. These are parts that are manufactured by companies other than the Original Equipment Manufacturer. Sometimes this is O.K. and sometimes it's not. It all comes down to the quality of the part. Sometimes these parts are just as good as the OEM parts. They may have even been made by the same manufacturer. Other times the parts are not of good quality and may not provide a good repair. These parts should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and only used when they are of equivalent quality to the OEM parts they are replacing.

QRP

QRP refers to Quality Replacement Parts or Quality Recycled Parts. When used as Quality Replacement Parts it is an alternate acronym for the A/M acronym defined above. When used as Quality Recycled Parts it is an alternate acronym for the LKQ acronym defined below. These terms are being used more in the electronic estimating systems to give the impression that the parts being listed on the estimate are quality parts. Again, these parts should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and only used when they are of equivalent quality to the OEM parts they are replacing.

LKQ

LKQ refers to Like Kind and Quality parts. This generally refers to used parts from a vehicle recycling center or salvage yard. These parts are defined as Like Kind and Quality because they are from a vehicle just like the one being repaired. Typically they should be from a vehicle the same year model, or newer, as the vehicle being repaired. These parts differ from A/M and QRP parts because they are just like OEM parts they're just being re-used from another vehicle. Just like A/M and QRP parts, LKQ parts should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and only used when they are of equivalent quality to the OEM parts they are replacing.