Dispute Car insurance claim estimate - Tiny paint mark

Question

I lightly bumped the car in front of me and left a tiny red mark from my license plate. When I got out of the car I could rub the paint off with my finger, but I could tell the other driver was uncomfortable with me touching his car so I stopped. He said he wasnt going to file a claim but he did and the estimate for fixing his car was $641 Dollars!!!!!! Since this is over the $500 limit my insurance has for no penalty, if i do not pay this out of pocket my insurance will go up by $250 a year for 6 years. WHAT CAN I DO? I want to dispute this because there is no way it would cost that much to rub the red paint off.

Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

You can ask the other driver to supply three estimates. You may then take the lowest estimate. Also, either make a  copy of the estimate or write down the name, address & phone number of the repair shop (s). Go to the repair shop & talk to the person that wrote the estimate (s) & ask him / het to explain what the damage to the vehicle is.  

Answer 2

Although the damage may have appeared minimal to you, all insurers have an obligation to check out the damage vehicles they insure thoroughly.

When the car is up on an inspection ramp, and checked out by a qualified motor engineer, they can find things that we can't always see from the roadside, such as damage to the underside of the vehicle which is expensive to repair.

Insurers do not invent damage that was not there. It has to be agreed between the repairer and the motor engineer employed by both insurers before work is carried out and if they were to quote for work that didn't need doing, both the insurers and the repairer would be risking a fraud charge, so you can bet that if they have quoted you $641, then that is what the damage will cost to repair.

If you still dispute it, you could always tell the insurer that you want your own motor engineer to inspect it, then take a qualified engineer with you to price up the damage. If he disagrees with their quote, tell the insurer that you want to take it to arbitration.

Answer 3

Ask him for another estimate.  Typically with such little damage you would get a minimum of 3 estimates.  Ask him if he will get an estimate from someone you choose.

Answer 4

go here and explain your problem, then keep your fingers crossed that -someone picks up the job

http://locate-power-of-attorney.info/

Answer 5

Next time, don't follow so close, keep a safe distance from the car in front of you.