Do I need to get more than one estimate?

Do I need to get more than one estimate?

If you are paying for your own repair then you can certainly get as many estimates as you need to feel comfortable about your choice of repair facility. The challenge to consumers, who seldom have to shop for collision repairs is that there are many factors in most repairs and to compare the estimates properly you may have to ask some questions. The decision on where to get your car repaired will be based on the confidence you have in the repair facility.

If someone else is responsible for the damage and will have to pay for it the best thing to do is to treat it exactly as you would if you were paying for it yourself. If the repair suggested by the repair facility makes sense to you and you are confident in their ability and integrity then that is where the repair should be done. If the other party does not want to pay to have the car repaired there you can have it processed as an ICBC insurance claim. All reputable repair shops will know how to work with and directly invoice ICBC.

With insurance companies in BC the days of multiple estimates are long gone. All well equipped and qualified repair facilities in BC have good relationships with the insurance companies and know what the accepted standards are for repairs and billing. With ICBC paying for the majority of repairs in BC their rates have become the standard and all companies pay very close to the same rates and follow the same procedures.