Car Insurance Check More Than Estimate?

Question

The insurance company is sending a check for an estimate that their adjuster gave them after he came out and inspected the car.

A few days later the body shop (Authorized Chrysler Dealer 's body shop) did their own intensive inspection and the damages to the engine were not as intense as the adjuster claimed. He did a visual walk around estimate.

The insurance company has sent me a check for the amount he quoted. I have to send the check to CapOne and get them to endorse it. Then, it's their policy to send it directly to the body shop. They told me I should get reimbursed by the bodyshop.

My question: This is a reputable dealer body shop and they're extremely nice, however, how does a situation like this usually play out? Since Capital one is sending the check to them then everything is in their control and I must trust them to reimburse me the difference.

Will the shop pay by cash or write a check?

I haven't asked them yet because I'm still getting a final estimate.

Answer 1

If you are saying that the final costs of the repair are less than the check sent for the repairs, and you are considering pocketing the money, you are considering committing insurance fraud. (A felony) While it is tempting to keep the money, the shop will most likely send a final repair invoice to the insurer. If the adjuster is doing his job (many would let this slip through), he will catch that the repair cost was less, and you will owe the money back to the company.

Answer 2

Morally it should go back to the insurance company but you will have to check with the body shop on their policy-they may not really care who in fact gets the difference.

Answer 3

They'll likely write you a check.  

You should check with the adjuster, see if that amount included rental car costs.