They're sending someone to my house, but not until next Monday. I wonder if it would help to have estimates in hand before then.

You do not have to accept the insurance company's body shop recommendation. You have the right to pick your own body shop.

Yes, but I want to DIY this. I'd rather get the check and not have them pay a body shop directly.

Almost a certainty they will cut the check to you.

They don't want to get in the middle of you and the shop. None of their business with no upside for them.

If their is a lien on the car that may make things messy as they will put the lien holder down as a payee and the lien holder may not endorse the check without receipt of repair from a shop.

The adjusters nowadays only determine visual damage. When you take the car to a shop and they take it apart, they negotiate for any concealed damage. by taking the check and DIY, you are essentially waving the concealed damage portion of a settlement.

You could get the 2nd adjuster (the one that goes to body shops) out to your house once you have the bumper cover off and have determined that there is more damage.

I just went through all of this in January. My situation was as convoluted as yours since I had custom fiberglass bumpers on the car when it was hit and I was going to DIY the stock bumpers back on. Since there was concealed damage, I took the car to the body shop to be fixed. They negotiated for the repair, got paid directly, and I kept 100% of the initial check.

In the end, I made a little money.

Things have gotten so out of whack that I only intend to buy throw away cars from here on out.

I can't imagine there's hidden damage here. It was a very light tap and just tore a small hole in the bumper cover.

Didn't say I thought there was. I was only showing you the "system."

You're too argumentative.

I am too!

IME, yes. I went through this when State Farm cut me a check for hail damage. My estimates gave me more negotiating power. I ended up getting cut a check, and then had everything PDR'd instead of done at the body shop the estimate was from. YMMV.

Keep in mind that even if you accept a check, you may be entitled to more if you later decide to have it done at a shop (and their estimate is higher than the amount you got). The insurance co. simply sends an adjuster out to authorized a supplement.

Ok, probaby going to Scott's Coach Works tomorrow or Thurs. for an estimate.

That's a great idea! :D

Just about done here. Scott's Coach Works estimated $2100. Farmers adjuster is still here, sitting in his car, trying to find a price for the clear bra, but is guessing $400 for that alone and $2600 total for the whole repair. I'll be coming out ok on this and the 993 will look better than new.