Insurance company gave me an estimate & check to get my car fixed, do i have to pay back if it costs less?

Question

I got in a car accident and it was the other guys fault. His insurance company sent a rep to work up an estimate of what it would cost to repair my car, then his insurance company sent me a check for the amount of their estimate. I deposited the check into my account. I then went out and got my own estimate and it was approx. $1,000 less. I took my car to get it repaired at the place that gave me the cheaper estimate and the car is ready now but they said that I have to give back the difference between their estimate and the insurance company's estimate back to the insurance company. Is that correct?

Answer 1

Take a vacation or buy gasoline with the $1000. It's yours to do what you want with it.

If it were mine, I'd give at least 10% of it to my church. I'm a tither.

Answer 2

Don't listen to that repair shop. You keep the difference.  You don't have to send the difference to the company.  The company rep is the one that worked up the estimate not you.  You just picked the repair shop after the check was sent to you.  Seriously keep the difference. most everyone always shop around for repair shops to see who will do the same work for a different price.

Answer 3

The insurance company would never require or ask them to send in their estimate, your body shop guy must have not been thinking straight.  Once the check is sent, the claim is closed, and you're in the clear.

Answer 4

You keep the savings. They considered that they have settled the claim with you when they gave you the check. You didn't even have to get repairs done.

Answer 5

If You signed a release to the company then the $ is yours/ regardless of the lower estimate.