Understanding Collision Repair Insurance Coverage

No matter what state you live in, there are minimum liability insurance requirements that every driver needs to carry. Your insurance carrier will be able to provide details on what those requirements are for your specific state. You might not think insurance is that important—but if you’ve been in a crash, you know that coverage is essential and you could owe serious money if your insurance is inadequate.

Read on to find out about insurance and collision repair in Middletown, NJ.

What every collision repair insurance policy should include

Though it’s far from gripping reading, you do want to sit down with your insurance policy and actually read all that small print—and better to do it now than after you’ve been involved in a wreck. If you do have any questions about the policy, ask your insurance representative to find out more.

Standard auto collision policies will cover repairs at market value minus whatever your deductible is. This cost is often significantly lower than the cost of replacing the vehicle. For those who are financing or leasing their cars, you may need to inquire about gap insurance, which covers the difference between whatever is owed on the car and the vehicle’s worth. You should carefully review your options before signing up for any car insurance.

OEM parts and their role in insurance

Many insurance companies have specific requirements for any parts that are not from the original equipment manufacturer (OEM). These include salvage and aftermarket parts that are incorporated into repair estimates. These policies may or may not allow for less expensive, non-OEM parts to be used in repairs. State laws also apply to the use of non-OEM replacements used in collision repairs and may require a disclosure agreement to be signed.

The advanced equipment in today’s cars

The fact is that modern automobiles include highly advanced systems for crash safety and crash avoidance. They also utilize high-strength steels and composite metals for superior protection. It’s essential that all these parts be replaced and repaired according to the manufacturer’s specifications.

The only way you can know for certain that this is the case is if you use OEM replacement parts that are installed the way the manufacturer wants them to be. The bottom line is that non-OEM parts aren’t going to meet this level of testing and standardization. Consequently, you want to make sure that your policy covers OEM part replacement so that your safety is maintained.

Are you looking for collision repair in Middletown, NJ? Then turn to Lentz Auto Body. For more than six decades, we’ve been here serving the community. Our friendly and professional team of mechanics provides a wide range of services, including collision and auto body repair, dent repair, auto restoration, auto painting, custom auto painting and car detailing.

Now with all-new ownership and management, we’re pleased to be your one-stop shop for all things collision repair and body work. Get in touch with us today or stop by to get your estimate started.

Categorised in: Collision Repair

This post was written by Writer