Insurance Co. Hit a deer.

[Squid kids Dad]

[thefishingfreak]

here's the deal.
it's in your policy. they can, and do, write for aftermarket parts.
some companies it 1 year or 12,000 miles.

years ago we'd rather put aftermarket then dodge parts on. because dodge parts sucked. they used to dip there parts so hoods would have five foot runs in them all over them.
aftermarket sheetmetal ain't that bad.
it's up to the bodyshop to fit it right, rustproof it right, and paint it right.
there's good parts and bad parts.
we don't use aftermarket chrome because it will rust out within a year.
an aftermarket bumper cover on a five year old camry is ok. it's up to the shop to make it presentable.
like karlf said, if i paint it, put it on and it fits like crap, and is completely un-acceptable,,, they'll pay me to do it over with oem parts.{plus the aftermarket supplier will pay us too}

your insurance company has to restore your car to " PRE-LOSS" condition.
as in,,,, the split second before it was hit....
not restore it to it's former glory.

if it's a junk box? they treat it like one.
if it's mint and well cared for? they treat it like that.

find a good shop that will gaurantee there work for life, and leave it in there hands.

don't get in the middle between the shop and the insurance company.
find a place that will do quality work and leave it in there hands






ohh, and NEVER !!!!
piss off the painter

[Squid kids Dad]

WOW TFF..I couldnt have said it better....Most companies now dont use aftermarket sheet metal until the car has at least 40000 miles and 4 years old..They use aftermarket plastic parts (bumper covers,headlamps,a/c ,radiators) after the vehicle is 1 year old...Always the 1st choice LKQ (Like,kind and Quality)..Basically a used part..But that used part has to be off the same year,same mileage or better and same condition..The insurance companys are mandated by the state by these regulations..Also if the insurance company uses aftermarket parts they will give the same warranty as o.e.m..Its mostly on a car by car basis...Depending on the cars condition...
And like TFF said "read your policy"..It is all stated in there...

[Backbeach Jake]

That's how it works at my shop, too. Most of the time the offshore parts fit just fine, the only ones that really give me heartburn is the composite headlamps. Don't fit and the adjusters are junk. I've noticed that a lot of OEM parts are (I suspect) rejects from the assembly line. Dings and repairs galore. Sometimes they're welded together wrong. Remember '80s Malibu fenders FFreak? Cut the front spotweld and repositioned about 100 of those. It's the shop that makes the repair. And knows how to deal with your insurer.

[Squid kids Dad]

BBJ...Dont forget about using alignment shims...

[Raven]

"someone" should start an islanders\fishermans insurance company.