My friend hit my car the other day. I drive a 2006 CSM Scion tC. We were parked side-by-side in a driveway, and he was partially boxed in. He tried to back out of a spot he was never going to get out of, and he ended up swiping my rear bumper and a tiny bit of my rear fender. He was being a huge idiot, and it stinks because I do so much to keep my car looking shiny and clean, and this is the first thing that's ever happened to it. Now, I've gotten a few estimates. I received one from a friend who works at a Toyota/Scion dealer, and he has hookups with the body repair guy, and he estimated $300 to pop out my bumper and fender, paint, and all that. The hang up is that the guy at the dealer can't do any work until July 21st, two weekends from now, and I want my car back ASAP. So I went to three other shops, and was quoted at $1300, $1500, and $1700 for a new bumper, paint, and labor. If I wait for the guy at the dealer, my friend will pay out of the pocket. If I go to any other body shop, we'll have to file an insurance claim, but I won't have to wait as long. If I go to the dealer, the accident won't go on a Carfax report, but if I go anywhere else, it will be reported. What's the best option for a guy who doesn't want to screw over his friend, but wants his car back soon?

 

If he was being an idiot and it could have been prevented, I'd go for the insurance to teach him a lesson. But that's probably the jerk in me saying that.

That and body work for $300 from some "hookup" sounds a little shady to me. Especially when all the other quotes were well over $1k.

 

I'd file the claim and get it done by one of the "best" shops in your town... NO MATTER that he is a friend.. he was being a idiot and didn't care what he was going to do to his AND your car... with him as afriend who needs enimies... j/k i'm sure he feels bad but for $300 bucks it probably won't look right either.. get it done right the first time and no worries after that.. i also think that carfax really looks at damage over $3,000 or sumthin like that but i could be wrong..

 

Regardless of who hits my car Im going through insurance...in this case you should do the same thing, he was an idiot and idiots need to pay the price for being idiots.

 

it's not about making your friend pay for being an idiot, it's about getting your car fixed properly. There are so many ____ty body shops out there its not even funny. i agree with ack154 that the hookup seems too good to be true. All i'm saying is be careful.

 

You have to think about what recourse you have if the repair is poor............

 

you can use this experience as a reason to pick up a laminari body kit, or one of those wide body kits :D

 

Whatever route you decide to take, be sure to get him to sign something claiming responsibility. Money has a habit of ruining friendships when the due date comes. If they back out of their responsibility, you may just have to take them to court.

Even if they are a “friend” of yours, get their signature on a piece of incriminating evidence. That way you can uphold your end of the “deal”, if they try to back out on their “word”. Some may view this approach as a “lack of trust” between friends. But a “true” friend will sign it without hesitation, knowing that they will follow through on their word without being forced by a court-order.

 

Get the written estamates.........and file a claim.......there is a time limit on filing a claim.............fact is he will end up paying your deductable and the insurance will fix it.........if my mom hit my car even I would make her pay for it.........serious........

Never goto the $300 I can fix that for you guy.........it never is fixed correctly.

 

If he/she is a good friend of yours, I'd wait to have him/her fix it for $300 plus 2 cases of beer every week until your car is fixed to your standard.

 

^^ agreed.

And no poopy pseudo beers like miller or coors :p

 

My old car was rear ended twice, the second time with frame damage, and neither were reported on carfax. I reported it to the insurance, a police report was filed, and a body shop fixed it.

I'd go the insurance route. He has no say in it.

 

Even if you have to pay the $300 out of your own pocket it will be cheaper. If you file a claim your insurance will go up. And don't think they wont raise your rates, they will find a way even if they don't say it was because of your claim. Insurance is a business not a charity.

 

Sorry to take this off-topic, but it seems like all of your posts are typed in ellipses. This form of grammar died out a long time ago. Is there a reason you use them?

 

Go through insurance. Your friend wont have to pay for anything that way. Unless he's gonna get his car fixed too...

 

give him a chance to pay for fixing it proper from a reputable repair place. no shady shops from friends. and don't do any pay me later or small payment plans. he needs to pay up front. if he doesn't want to pay, go through with insurance.
becareful with it.. it's easy to lose a friend over money.