I recieved a check for damages to my vehicle can I fix the damages myself and save money, or do I have to...?

Question

I want to try and fix the minor damages myself like a cracked tail light and a dent on my bumper I think I can fix it myself with a few friends that own a body shop will I get in trouble If I keep some of the money I dont know how these things work. My insurance wrote the check to me do they doublecheck on these things.

Answer 1

the check is yours. do anything you want with it

Answer 2

Regardless of the amount of the check, since it's made out to you, it's yours and you are under no obligation to repair or have the damage repaired, and no, they do not check.

Answer 3

If you've got the check and it's made out to you have fun!!!

Answer 4

If they wrote the check to you, you can do whatever you want.

Answer 5

Once they cut the check, you don't even have to fix the vehicle.  Some companies will say 'in order to have fixes performed (with the amount we're paying) you must take it to one of our certified shops' but this would have been well documented and brought to your attention before they handed anything out.  

My vehicle was broken into a few months ago and the only 'restrictions' I had in terms of getting the window fixed was that it couldn't exceed a certain amount.

If they're cutting a check, do everything you can to NOT have to use the whole check on the repair. The amount was based on their findings and in reality doesn't reflect all geographical areas.

Ebay and junk yards are probably your best best for finding parts on the cheap. May even be cheaper than your friend's at the body shop's part cost.

Answer 6

No i was told if it was under a 1000.00 no questions were ever asked..They sent you the check it's yours..But you can't file a claim on it again whether you fix it or not.