How's this estimate for my car?

There are two basic types of vehicle designs:

A body-on-frame design consisted of a frame (usually ladder or wishbone-shaped) that supported the engine and drivetrain and had a body sitting on the frame. This used to the be most common construction type and is still used in some SUV's and in full-size vans and trucks other than the Honda Ridgeline.

A uni-body (A.K.A. unitized body, monocoque) uses formed sheet metal to give the car its strength. This design is generally lighter and makes for a very rigid chassis, which improves handling. Most modern cars use this design as do open wheel race cars (like Indy and Formula 1). Because the car itself is the frame, there is no conventional frame to replace although some unibody designs use sub-frames to hold the suspension, engine, and transmission.

A bent unibody is usually straightened by putting it on a frame machine and using special attachments to pull the bent part until it is straight. If a part is bent too severely, it is cut out and a replacement piece is welded in its place.

Whether you can trust the body shop to put new parts in your car depends on the body shop. If you do not know if they are reputable or not, the only way to tell is to inspect the part after it is installed. Insurance companies try to save money by using recycled or aftermarket parts. Many states have laws that prevent the insurance companies from forcing you to use recycled or aftermarket parts so they will use various ruses to get you to agree to them. Read the fine print on any authrorization to repair.

What they are really saying is that your car has a "uni-body", NOT a conventional frame. There is no frame to replace. The uni-body must be repaired.

Merritt

Does your state require owner's consent for non-OEM parts?

That looks pretty reasonable for that much damage, if you have reason to believe they will do the job right. My Matrix had a minor scrape on the rear bumper cover which also wiped out a small spoiler underneath and it was $1400 to fix.

You vehicle is not built on a separate frame, hence the need to refinish the front ends of the box, and a front clip from a salvage yard. If they use all new parts the loss may exceed the value of the vehicle and they would total the car.. Toyota crash parts are very pricey.

I've been in the business for over 50 years and the estimate looks good to me. Your car is not hit bad, it looks worse than it is. Not to worry, All State is a reliable company. It will look as good as new, when it is finished.

What surprises me is, where do you live that the shop rate is only $40? In our area the shop rate is more like twice that amount.

mike hunt

likeit wrote:

And in Connecticut 3 TIMES that amount! That car would have been totalled in CT.

Thanks Mike. You made me kinda relieved.

I'm in New York City. The shop is called "Expressive Auto Body" located at 54-24 Flushing Ave, Maspeth, NY 11378. It's in Queens if you know about New York City. The shop is actually the place my car was towed to by the towing company. I checked BBB.org, they had one complaint in last three years. Can't judge the shop just on that. So hopefully it's a good shop.

If $40 isn't the right labor rate, what should a good autobody shop charge? There are lots of autoshops here so there are lots of competitions here too. Most of shops look crappy from outside. I can't tell how good a job they do.

Mine was 80 bucks an hour (Florida)

$60-100 MA

My guess is they give you insurance company a special rate. There is a shop on 38th, near the fire station, MB dealer, and the Javits center, to whom we sell dozens of police cars. They convert them into taxis. It looks like crapo but the do first class work. It must be a NY thing. ;)

mike hunt

likeit wrote:

We operate in six easter states, including Florida, and that is what we see $80 to $110.

mike hunt

Mark wrote:

I'm not sure why you're so involved in the process. Way back in '92, my beloved '87 Corolla got mushed at 1 am whilst parked on the street, while I was sleeping. I called my Toyota dealer in the morning, asked them who they recommended for repair, AAA towed my car to that shop. I called my insurance company, told them where my car was, they dealt with the repair shop. I didn't do a thing until I picked my car up, looking and running like new. Why are you doing your insurance company's job? Don't you pay them enough?

I noticed that, too. It would be $4500 in California, IF they didn't gouge you another thousand on parts.

My guess is that is because of California goofy environmental laws and the extranodinarly high price of Japanese car parts.

mike hunt

Joseph Oberlander wrote: