So my pickup truck has some scratches on the side of the bed. I bought the truck with those scratches because I knew I would get it fixed. Well that didn't happen and through time a little surface rust came through. So I have been taking it around to body shops to get quotes to get it fixed. I've told them all I'm paying out of pocket and all didn't care, besides one place. This one place I went was basically calling me stupid for not going through insurance. Now I know nothing with auto insurance but I thought since I bought it with the scratches that they wouldn't cover it, yet they never knew about them. So my question is can I go through insurance so it knocks it down lower or is that a POS type person move? Also of I went through insurance do they jack my rate then?

Wouldn't the above question/statement be able to be used against you in an insurance fraud case if you where to do such a thing?

 

I wouldn't expect my insurance would cover it anyway --

You're doing the right thing, paying out of pocket to fix scratches the truck had when you bought it.   I applaud your honesty.

 

I would have thought you'd have an easier time finding a shop to discount if they know you are paying out of pocket.   Usually, the first thing they ask is whether or not it's an insurance claim, and it's not uncommon to get a significantly lower quote if they know it isn't.

As mentioned I had no clue and I thought it would be such a prick move to have it go through insurance since scratches were there when I bought. Just that one shop was down my neck about me paying cash, ironically they were the most expensive quote and everything. I have no problem paying out of pocket, as mentioned above usually you get a discount rate since it's going be straight cash.

Don't forget about deductible on your car insurance - I don't know how much shops quoted you for this work but even with $250-ish (or $500-is) deductible you'll still end up paying a huge part out of pocket, probably NOT having "straight cash" rate from the shop and most likely having your insurance rates jacked up in the next period...

 

Unless it is a paint job for several thousand $$ (which is quite unlikely, I guess), I would absolutely go for cash out of pocket not even for ethical reasons (who cares about ethics these days, sigh...), but for pure economical reasons...

Man I hate insurance companies.

 

As much as I would love to see you stick it to them, don't stoop to their level. Pay for it yourself cause its the right thing to do.

Wouldn't the above question/statement be able to be used against you in an insurance fraud case if you where to do such a thing?

 

I wouldn't expect my insurance would cover it anyway --

Getting it fixed through insurance would be insurance fraud, a crime.

$500-1000 whatever your deductible is plus rate increase for at the least 3 years. Possibility of being caught committing insurance fraud paying fines,possible jail time. Are those scratches worth the risk and cost?

You are posting a question on a public forum asking if it is ok for you to commit insurance fraud which is a crime in the State of New Jersey.

Didn't mean how I asked to be portrayed as me going to do that, I really wanted to confirm in my own mind that I was right but yet if I was wrong what are details of it. I do nothing through insurance, the accidents I have been in I never mentioned through auto insurance or anything because I knew from hearing in pass that in the long run that screws you. So I pay out of pocket because it's easier and two discounts.

 

The mikka1 yea it's about $1300 and some change for paint job that's needed.

 

Thank everyone for response, I knew my thought was correct, I also think the body shop who was haggling me to go through insurance was looking at me wrong thinking "kid is young, and most likely has no cash for this" but whatever my cash will go to someone else!

 

Side note anyone ever hear reviews on Rocco's collision? They were the shop I liked the most and surprisingly cheapest (by $100)

>>The mikka1 yea it's about $1300 and some change for paint job that's needed.

 

Well, I am obviously not a car repair expert, but when I bought my car off the public auction I kind of looked into an option of full repaint job (because I didn't know at that point what color the car will be and there was a great chance of color being too wrong to drive )) ) and everyone was talking about roughly $700 max for FULL repaint of the whole car. I don't really know the details and I'm sure you did your homework, so most likely my comment is totally irrelevant.

 

I guess oneshot summarized it all nicely above, LOL.

>>The mikka1 yea it's about $1300 and some change for paint job that's needed.

 

Well, I am obviously not a car repair expert, but when I bought my car off the public auction I kind of looked into an option of full repaint job (because I didn't know at that point what color the car will be and there was a great chance of color being too wrong to drive )) ) and everyone was talking about roughly $700 max for FULL repaint of the whole car. I don't really know the details and I'm sure you did your homework, so most likely my comment is totally irrelevant.

 

I guess oneshot summarized it all nicely above, LOL.

Not sure on this one, $700 for a full repaint?  Maybe if there was color added to the car wash and you drove through.  The last car I painted cost me twice that for just the paint.  It was a full repaint, no color change.  All I can say is Red is expensive...

Well Rocco's collision quoted me $1300 for just my bed being painted (both sides) I think filler might be needed in one spot but that's it. I wish I could get a full paint job for that price that would be good because I would do that in a heart beat and just get it the same color (silver)

for just the quarters? that include inside the bed and tail gate? That seems a little high. Although i dont know what the condition of the quarters is. Body work and painting are actually a pain in the ass.. its hard work takes a good amount of time to do it properly. I have a buddy who owns a body shop and i have done some work on my own truck. I would rather stick to banging nails then do body work.

All it covers is both sides of bed (outside portion), will not be painting inside of bed or anything. I will probably start another thread showing pictures of the panels to see what type quote you guys think I should be getting.