You Have the Right to Choose Who Repairs Your Vehicle…
Choose the Best!
It’s important you know your rights as a customer. You have a legal right to have your vehicle repaired at the repair facility of your choice. Insurance companies often seek to take advantage of your situation by funneling you into their repair networks and their “preferred shop.” They may make it seem like this is your only option. It isn’t. They do this for one reason… to save themselves money. Unfortunately this money savings for the insurance company comes at a cost to you and how your vehicle is repaired.
Insurance Steering
is Unethical & Against the Law
In the event of an auto accident, an insurance company may try to direct or “steer” you toward a specific repair facility. These are shops with whom the insurance company has an established contract with. Insurance companies routinely partner with repair shops to save themselves money. In these arrangements, the repair company saves the insurance provider money by cutting corners on their repairs and/or utilizing lesser quality parts. In return, the insurance companies drive their customers needing repairs to the shops under contract.
Common
Insurance Terms
Perferred, Select, or DRP Shop
These are body shops that have a contractual obligation to an insurance company. This contract guarantees the body shop that a select amount of work will be done for the insurance company in exchange for concessions on how the shop repairs your vehicle.
Steering
Parts that were engineered and made by the original manufacturer, with manufacturer specific materials, designs and tolerances.
OEM Parts
Parts that were engineered and made by the original manufacturer, with manufacturer specific materials, designs and tolerances.
Aftermarket Parts
Vehicle parts intended to imitate the original parts, but are not built by the original manufacturer and vary in engineering, material quality, and design.
Deductible
The specified amount of money an insured customer must pay before the insurance company will pay on a claim.
Supplement
Additional goods or services charges that were not on the original estimate due to further damage found, parts, or services needed for repair. These are typically filed with the insurance company and require a submission of photos, invoices, and other documentation.
Claimant
The person making a claim for loss of damage with an insurance company.
Third Party Claimant
A person making a claim for the loss of damage against another responsible party or their insurance.
Diminished Value
The value of the vehicle lost by being in an accident
Frequently
Asked Questions
What is an insurance preferred, select, or repair program?
This means that a collision repair facility has a contractual obligation with an insurance company. This contract guarantees the body shop that a select amount of work will be done for the insurance company in exchange for concessions on how the shop repairs your vehicle.
Does my vehicle have to repaired by my insurance's recommended shop?
No. You have the legal right to have your vehicle repaired at your shop of choice. Often times insurance companies will attempt to steer you to one of their preferred shops. Steering is done to help increase the bottom line for the insurance company, and not necessarily for your benefit.
Do you work for me or the insurance company?
We work for you! As we have no contractual obligations to the insurance company, the insurance company simply reimburses the cost of the repairs that are covered by your policy.
What insurance company do you work with?
As we are not contractually obligated to any insurance companies, We work with any and all insurance companies entirely on your behalf.
Is there a difference between aftermarket and OEM parts?
Absolutely! There is a reason why after-market parts are substantially cheaper than OEM parts. OEM parts are supplied by the original manufacturer and are built to the engineering standards designed by the manufacturer. After-market collision parts are designed by another company and subject to being made from different materials, quality specifications, and multiple recalls.
Do you offer a lifetime warranty on your repairs?
Yes, we do! We offer a lifetime warranty on all of our repairs.
How do I begin the repair process?
Give us a call or stop by the shop to get the repair process started. We would love the opportunity to be able to walk you through the repair process and make it as smooth as possible.
What is paintless dent repair?
Paintless Dent repair is the art of removing dents, dings and hail damage using specialty rods, tools and lights, without body fillers or refinishing. Think of it like old school metal shaping paired with new technologies and precision. This really is an art that should only be done on your vehicle by someone with years of dedicated practice.
What is a hybrid repair?
A hybrid repair is a collision repair technique that combines the art of paintless dent repair with traditional refinishing methods. This method allows us to save panels, keep our repair areas smaller, and save more of your vehicle’s original finish. It is also the least invasive repair method as the repaired areas are not welded on (damaging the backside e-coat and making the metal more brittle), it requires the use of less fillers, and by keeping the repairs smaller, we have more original paint color to blend our new color into, thus allowing for better color matches.
Where are you located?
We are at 2550 US-HWY 2 east in Kalispell (Evergreen) just south of Reserve Street.
What are your hours of operation?
We are open Monday-Friday 8:00am to 5:30pm
Dent Magic Autobody Repairs:
Where Expertise, Integrity, and Customer Satisfaction Converge
It’s easy to assume your insurance has your best interest at heart. It’s not always the case. We can help you ensure you have an excellent experience and that your vehicle is well-maintained and restored to its original condition.