My friend came over and some how hit the corner of my PARKED car in the driveway. The damage is a few shallow scratches, and a very subtle dent on the side. I have gotten several estimates ranging from over $2500. To around $1000, and on the cheaper side of $800.
All three places explained their prices for different reasons. The most expensive one being that they would have to remove and repaint the entire side and bumper of my car so that the paint job is not noticeable. I imagine the cheaper option would just paint over the damage, and not the entire section of the vehicle.
My friend is an idiot, and is not insured, so he said he will pay for which ever option I choose out of pocket. I don't want to break his bank because he's my friend, but I also don't want to have a botched repair for something that was entirely his fault.
What do you guys think I should do? Is anyone here knowledgeable of rapianting vehicles, and if painting over the damage and not the entire part is noticeable?
He fucked up. He pays for whatever it takes to make it like new.
Check for frame damage. No matter how well aligned it is, it may not be able to drive straight again depending on how bent it might be.
got any pictures? would the scratches buff out? can the dent be popped out by pushing on the inside of the panel?
[editline]5th February 2017[/editline]
[QUOTE=Xanadu;51777421]Check for frame damage. No matter how well aligned it is, it may not be able to drive straight again depending on how bent it might be.[/QUOTE]
the frame is fine if it's "shallow scratches and a very subtle dent". it was a low speed collision, no need to scare op with "its broken forever" when it's just minor cosmetic damage.
[editline]5th February 2017[/editline]
also I suggest crossposting [url="https://facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1533246"]here[/url]
someone there will be able to help and not everyone there visits fast threads.
Right when it happened
[url=https://ibb.co/iwsiWF][img]https://preview.ibb.co/nJCTyv/IMG_1950.jpg[/img][/url]
After wiping it down with a cloth and some water
Deepest scratch
[url=https://ibb.co/gRRz5a][img]https://preview.ibb.co/bA4VBF/IMG_2086.jpg[/img][/url]
Full damage
[url=https://ibb.co/dDmcrF][img]https://preview.ibb.co/jcq3WF/IMG_2087.jpg[/img][/url]
Slight dent
[url=https://ibb.co/ePksQa][img]https://preview.ibb.co/gwLRka/IMG_2088.jpg[/img][/url]
I don't see how anyone got to $2,500 with that damage.
[editline]4th February 2017[/editline]
I got into an accident, destroyed the suspension on the right side of my car and that was $2,500. In a 2013 Audi.
How the fuck are those scratches that much?
[editline]4th February 2017[/editline]
Also, considering it's a brand that is one of the most prolific globally, I'd imagine replacing those two panels shouldn't be too expensive. Your bumper is plastic.
[QUOTE=Adelle Zhu;51777713]I don't see how anyone got to $2,500 with that damage.
[editline]4th February 2017[/editline]
I got into an accident, destroyed the suspension on the right side of my car and that was $2,500.
How the fuck are those scratches that much?
[editline]4th February 2017[/editline]
Also, considering it's a brand that is one of the most prolific globally, I'd imagine replacing those two panels shouldn't be too expensive. Your bumper is plastic.[/QUOTE]
Right that's exactly what I was wondering. It was from a dealership, and they tagged on a bunch of costs that seemed unnecessary like $370 to replace the windshield in case it breaks when they remove the panel.
for the dent you should be able to pull off the bumper and reach in and push the dent out. it's really minor. I don't think the panel needs to come off.
any good body shop can get this done in a day for about $300
Why is your friend driving uninsured?
[QUOTE=ramirez!;51777780]Why is your friend driving uninsured?[/QUOTE]
That shit is literally illegal where I come from.
[QUOTE=Adelle Zhu;51777850]That shit is literally illegal where I come from.[/QUOTE]
It's illegal in pretty much every state, if not all of them, IIRC. Not worth the risk.
It's illegal here in California too. He's just being reckless, cheap, or both.
The only excuse he could have is that he goes to school in Virginia, and doesn't have access to a car when he is up there, so I assume he never bothered with insurance.
Still, when he is in town he shouldn't be driving at all.
You can't imagine how frustrating the situation was.
Not insured because he rarely drives.
Rarely drives so why the hell was he driving, and not his brother who was the passenger.
How did he hit my parked car that was in my driveway?
Why was he even trying to get into my driveway, and not pulling over to the side of the road when he's just getting dropped off.
It just boggles my mind that some one with a masters degree from Georgetown University could do something so dumb.
my aunt is rich as hell and insures herself. not really sure where that sits legally
According to my friend the cheapest estimate was $850, and it did include both entire panels (the side, and bumper).
He didn't say if that included the dent though.
I'm being firm though and not going to agree unless there's an option that makes it look like nothing ever happened.
[QUOTE=butre;51777929]my aunt is rich as hell and insures herself. not really sure where that sits legally[/QUOTE]
Why would a rich person having car insurance be legally confusing? Or do you mean she literally insures herself, which is basically life insurance, and very normal.
I think he means that she can pay out of pocket (as the expression goes), not needing an intermediate company to cover her expenses.
if you don't care about top notch quality, just take it to any maaco, they're cheap af.
[QUOTE=Socram;51778039]Why would a rich person having car insurance be legally confusing? Or do you mean she literally insures herself, which is basically life insurance, and very normal.[/QUOTE]
as in shes her own insurance company. she just keeps $750,000 put away in case she hits someone
Got any friends with mechanic skills?? Maybe even a family member??
You should get uninsured motorist coverage in the future at a minimum, and consider moving to comprehensive as well. It makes this someone else's problem.
Your best recourse in this situation is to demand that he pay it. Then sue him if he doesn't. I'd also make a police report about the incident because it will bolster your case. That's not going to go over well with your "friend" but fuck him. He's the one who did this, he can be an adult and deal with the consequences. It may not be worthwhile to contact your insurance if you know they will not cover it.
Be prepared for your friendship to be over. When push comes to shove, you are in a position where you either get paid, or you save your friendship. I'd personally prefer getting paid over a friendship with someone dumb enough to illegally drive uninsured. I can sort of understand the aversion to that, but this person is reckless and stupid. He is not someone you should be associating with long term. If you let them take advantage of you now, it's bound to happen again sooner or later. It's unfortunate that this is how you found out about it, but sometimes that's life.
[QUOTE=Protocol7;51777873]It's illegal in pretty much every state, if not all of them, IIRC. Not worth the risk.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=butre;51777929]my aunt is rich as hell and insures herself. not really sure where that sits legally[/QUOTE]
Technically there are about 30 states that you can register a vehicle in without insurance.
The catch is that you have to put up a bond instead. Values range from 10,000 in Mass to upwards of 100,000. Utah is 160,000. Most are in the 25,000 - 40,000 range. Wealthy individuals driving expensive luxury cars find it cheaper to put up a bond once, and then ignore it for several decades rather than pay insurance.
Of course there's the dipshits like OPs friend who really deserve anything that happens to them. Assholes like that are a big part of the reason why insurance is so goddamned expensive for the rest of us.
[editline]5th February 2017[/editline]
Oh and Alaska has something about isolated roads and extremely low volume roads. If you live out in the middle of absolute nowhere, they don't care. Not like there's anything to hit out there anyways.
You could always try removing the dent yourself
[url]http://www.wikihow.com/Remove-a-Dent-in-Car-With-a-Hair-Dryer[/url]
[QUOTE=Mr. J;51777742]Right that's exactly what I was wondering. It was from a dealership, and they tagged on a bunch of costs that seemed unnecessary like $370 to replace the windshield in case it breaks when they remove the panel.[/QUOTE]
Never go to a dealership for anything that needs to be done. They're a bunch of scalpers and will do everything in their power to rip the money straight out of your wallet.
It looks like you have minor quarterpanel paint damage and the bumper is kinda messed up. Doing a quick search online for the parts (or even a "parts car" of the same model year) will probably cost you less than a dealership. You may, however, need to paint the new bumper.
Needless to say, that is -not- by any means $2,500 worth of damage.
How can they renew the road tax if they are not paying the insurance?
Also, OP, can you just slap some Fast & Furious sticker on the scratches instead? Save some $$$
But keep the $2500 repair money from your friend.
[QUOTE=hakimhakim;51782442]How can they renew the road tax if they are not paying the insurance?
Also, OP, can you just slap some Fast & Furious sticker on the scratches instead? Save some $$$
But keep the $2500 repair money from your friend.[/QUOTE]
Because in some states, the electronic registration renewal doesn't ask about insurance. It's not illegal to drive uninsured in some states as mentioned earlier.
[QUOTE=hakimhakim;51782442]How can they renew the road tax if they are not paying the insurance?
Also, OP, can you just slap some Fast & Furious sticker on the scratches instead? Save some $$$
But keep the $2500 repair money from your friend.[/QUOTE]
many states (possibly most) don't ask whether you're insured when you're renewing your plates. I renewed the plates on my truck with no insurance and a suspended license once.
New York does, for what its worth. There's no use walking into a DMV to register a vehicle without proof of having it insured already.
if your friend didn't offer to pay for this/expects you to pay for this you need new friends lol
why is this dumb
I don't know if that is a hole on your car there but if it is you will need to get that panel replaced or professionally repaired by an engineer, honestly it will rust over like heck because the paint keeps the car from rusting even the slightest scratches can turn into rusty ass horrible messes
I would look into getting a new panel and if you are you mechanically sound, then attach it yourself and repaint the other area above to prevent rusting
[QUOTE=geogzm;51796053]if your friend didn't offer to pay for this/expects you to pay for this you need new friends lol
why is this dumb[/QUOTE]
Because they offered to pay for it.
My boyfriend's had to pay 1000 to fix practically identical damage before. I think auto repairs are generally overpriced compared to how much it would cost to do it yourself. In comparison, when his car (exact same one) broke down and needed practically all the insides replaced we bought a broken down car with the necessary parts intact for less than it cost to repair that dent.
Personally since I don't trust my skills I would have it done by a professional unless your friend can find someone competent to do it for cheaper.
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