Auto body insurance estimate online from my description of vehicle damage. (Not binding just informative)?
Question:
There is, truely, no way to get within $1,000 to 2,000 for the following reason. You do not have the knowledge to be able to give the repairer the necessary information to assess damage and, therefore, cost. Furthermore, only an idiot, I'm being serious here, would try to give you that estimate. It would be extremely unfair to you. One bent part, that you miss or don't think is bent, or a damaged part that is not visible, but can be determined by symptoms(driving etc.) could cost thousands to repair.
Then, if he/she overstates the repair cost the insurance company can give him/her grief(you should not have given an estimate if you didn't look at the vehicle) and blacklist him. Or he underestimates the cost and you sue him/her because(well, you should have known you couldn't do it without looking at it) and maybe even win in court.
Bottom line, unless it's a REALLLLY minor damage(and you're not qualified to know that or you wouldn't be wanting an estimate) then anyone who would give you one you shouldn't trust anyway.
There really isn't any way to do it without someone actually looking at the vehicle. Just because you get an estimate, it doesn't mean you have to file a claim. The shop doing the estimate will not contact the insurance company to file the claim, that is your responsibility. You are much better off getting an estimate and then deciding if it is worth it to file the claim or not.
More Questions & Answers...