How to Avoid Tow Truck Scams

Cars never want to break down when it is convenient and when yours decides to do so on the side of the road, it can be frightening. Even worse, you may then be at risk for tow truck scams. These tips can help you avoid being the victim of a deceitful tow truck driver the next time you suffer a breakdown.

 

Tow Truck Shows Up Within Minutes

There are tow truck drivers who patrol certain sections of highway looking for stranded motorists. If a tow truck miraculously appears just minutes after you have pulled over, they may attempt to scam you. They will be very friendly, offering as much assistance as they can and offer to tow you to a nearby service station. They hook up your car, take your keys and hand you paperwork. However, when you arrive at the station where your car has been taken, they charge you a significant amount of money to get it back, even if they don’t repair your vehicle. In some areas, tow trucks are not permitted to drive around looking for customers, so they hire others to do it for them. Be suspicious of anyone who stops and immediately offers to call a tow for you.

 

They Insist They Must Take Your Car to a Particular Shop

A tow truck driver who tells you that they must take your car to one particular shop due to a contractual obligation or policy is more than likely attempting to scam you. Legitimate tow truck drivers are willing to take your vehicle wherever you want to go. If it is outside a certain mileage range, the tow may cost more but other than that, they should be willing to take your car to any shop or even to your home if you plan to work on it yourself.

 

Hooking the Car Without Your Permission

If a tow truck driver arrives and immediately begins to hook up your car without talking to you first, they may be trying to scam you. There are unscrupulous tow truck drivers who will hook up a car and then demand an extremely high payment to tow the car. When you tell them you aren’t paying that fee, they will hold your car hostage, refusing to release it unless you pay them. They are legally required to release your car if you tell them you don’t want them to tow it. If they pull away with your car when you have told them to release it, they can be charged with a crime.

 

Ask to See the Bill First

Before the tow truck drivers hooks up your car, ask them for an estimate of costs. Although there will be a fee for the tow, there may also be storage fees and many other charges involved. A reputable tow company will provide you information on what the tow will cost as well as any additional fees that may be incurred. Any paperwork handed to you should have pricing information and if it does not, ask for it before they hook up your car.

 

Contact Your Insurance Company

Many car insurance policies have towing coverage included. If you have towing coverage, the insurance company may suggest a preferred company and, even if you must pay more than the coverage allowed, it will save you overall. You also know that the insurance company has vetted the towing company and the one they recommend will not attempt to scam you. One thing to be wary of is a tow truck driver who is asking for too much personal information, especially insurance information. They may use what you give them to perpetuate other frauds. The same is true with credit card or driver’s license information.

 

Check the Documentation

Tow trucks should have identifying information on their vehicles. There should be a licensing number and a company name clearly displayed. Be sure that any paperwork you receive matches the information on the truck.

 

Be Patient

When your car breaks down on the side of the road, you may be tempted to jump at the first offer of assistance that arrives. However, to make sure you are not being scammed, simply thank the individual for stopping by and send them on their way.

 

What to Do If You Have Been Scammed

In instances where a tow truck driver refuses to leave or release your vehicle, call the police. You can also contact the police if you arrive at the location where your car was taken, and they are demanding an excessive payment for you to get your car back. If you believe you have been scammed, there are also other steps you can take. Contact the Better Business Bureau and the consumer fraud department for your state. You may even be able to get assistance from your insurance company. You may be able to contest any charges if you can prove the tow truck company misrepresented their services, committed flagrant acts of deception or claimed to be with your insurance company or law enforcement. The charges can be contested in civil or small claims court, but you will need to review the law in your state. In some states, once you give signed permission for the tow truck driver to take your car, you may be held liable. Always read anything handed to you before you sign it.

The majority of tow truck drivers are honest, hard-working people with only a handful of them known as tow truck bandits. If your vehicle breaks down on the side of the road, call Elmer’s Auto Body for an honest, reliable tow to or shop. For over 70 years, we have provided auto services with no gimmicks or surprises. When we tow your vehicle, we provide you with details on pricing and will work with your insurance company to handle as much paperwork as we can so you don’t have to. We also offer a wide range of auto body services, from paintless dent repair, bumper repair and windshield replacement. Contact us today by phone or fill out the easy form online to schedule an appointment.

How to Review Your Car Insurance Policy

Have you ever glanced through an entire car insurance policy? If you have, you know reading and reviewing one can sometimes be a long, boring and arduous process. You want to know the basics rather than plowing through page after page of insurance legalese, but you don’t want to be in the dark either concerning your policy and what it says.

Knowing and understanding the ins and outs of your policy is, however, important, and since a car insurance policy is a legal contract, and spells out the details of a policy, it’s definitely critical to know your coverage and the details of your policy.

 

Reviewing your Car Insurance Policy

So, how should you review your car insurance policy to gain the most knowledge? Whatever you do, don’t dismiss the details of your policy and other important content. You don’t want to come up short when an accident occurs. You’ll be out in the cold because of neglecting to examine your policy. If any adjustments or changes require clarification, consulting with your insurance agent is a must, but if you want to examine it yourself, there are several important things you’ll want to look for, including the declarations page.

 

Declaration Page

The first thing you want to do is read and review the declaration page(s) as it’s probably one of the most vital pages of your policy. There may be multiple pages so be sure and look through them all. The page (or pages) declare levels of coverage, driver names, deductions and prices for coverage. If you don’t have your declaration page in front of you, access it online by logging on to your car insurance company’s site and going to your policy.

Other information on the declaration page includes the following:

  • Your policy number as well as your home address
  • Policy time-frame – dates policy is in effect
  • Drivers on the policy who are under the insurance plan
  • Your vehicles on the plan along with their VIN numbers (Vehicle Identification number)
  • Coverage Schedule – with limits, deductibles and premium cost for each coverage
  • With more than one vehicle on a policy, any coverage for it will be listed separately
  • Policy discounts – this includes any discounts that you may have received on your policy
  • Surcharges – surcharges on your premium will be applied if claims have been made or tickets incurred

 

Policy Terms- Definitions

Since the legalese of your declaration page or the entire policy may create confusion, there will be a section in your policy entitled Definitions which will define terms or specific words in the policy. It’s an important section as it will define:

  • The individuals insured
  • The specifics of what is insured
  • When those specific entities are insured

Refer to the definitions page whenever there is doubt about the who, what and when of your policy. Any keywords pertaining to those areas will usually be in bold print within the policy. If you don’t understand the words or wording, be sure to consult the definitions page or speak with your insurance agent about difficult wording.

 

Changes and Renewals to your Policy

When you make changes to your policy, which could mean adding another car or new driver, or removing a car or driver, a new declaration page will be sent to you showing that those changes have been made to your policy. Any time that you make changes to your policy, it’s important that you request the page and that you review it to ensure that everything is as it should be with the changes in place.

 

Review your Coverage

Along with your declaration page, you’ll want to review the coverage that you are carrying now and whether you want to make any changes. It is necessary to understand your coverage options to determine what is best for your current car insurance needs. The following coverages and levels of coverage are usually part of most any car insurance plan. They include:

 

Liability

Liability insurance is one coverage that is a requirement in most every state, but its limits vary among states. This insurance coverage pays medical bills, legal judgments, vehicle/property damage or injuries that you or a designated driver cause to another vehicle or person. It is also protects you if you are using another person’s vehicle with their permission. Determination of limits is through bodily injury and property damage.  Recommended amounts  for coverage are $100,000, $300,000 and $100,000 (100/300/100).  Consult with your insurance agent whether you need to increase these amounts.

 

Collision

Regardless of whether and accident is your fault, collision insurance covers and pays for any damage to your vehicle that occurs with another vehicle and with an object. Deductibles with this kind of coverage run from $250-$1,000. If you go with a higher deductible, your insurance premium will be lower.

 

Comprehensive

Comprehensive coverage pays for damage to your vehicle through an occurrence other than a car accident. Comprehensive coverage includes:

  • Vandalism
  • Theft
  • Shattered windshields/ other glass damage
  • Fire
  • Earthquake
  • Explosions
  • Riots
  • Hail
  • Windstorms
  • Floods
  • Falling items (tree branches)
  • Animal contact (deer)

As with collision coverage, there is a choice with deductible amounts that range from $100-$1,000.

 

PIP or Personal Injury Protection

Regardless of who’s at fault in an accident, this protection pays for any medical treatment for a policyholder and passengers who suffer injuries through a car accident. This coverage may also cover work and wages lost and funeral costs. The requirements for this coverage vary by state.

 

Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage

This coverage pays for damages if you, another family member or a designated driver are involved in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver. Requirements for this coverage depend on the state where you live. You can reject it in states where it is available. Should you waive coverage, the declarations page will show the wording “insured rejects.

 

Other Factors to Consider

Besides understanding your declarations page, you’ll want to know the details, limitations and intricacies in reviewing your car insurance policy. Your  policy is a legal contract after all that requires you to read and review your coverage and the insuring agreement, which is the actual contract over each type of coverage. It governs whether coverage allocation will occur with an accident or related event. Another thing to pay attention to will be the sections of a policy that contain exclusions. Exclusions can have a major effect on claims.

There is much to learn in reviewing your car insurance policy, and you’ll want to avail yourself of help if the review process becomes difficult. Relieve the stress of examining your policy by completing the online contact form. An expert representative will get back to you as quickly as possible with the answers you need to review your policy effectively.

Can I Keep a Car Deemed a Total Loss?

When you are involved in an accident, your insurance company will send an adjuster to inspect your vehicle. Your car may be towed to an autobody shop for repair estimates to determine whether it is worth fixing. In some cases, insurance companies determine that cars are total losses. If you are attached to your vehicle or will be unable to replace it with the money that you will receive, you might wonder whether you can keep it after it has been declared a total loss. While you can keep your vehicle instead of giving it up to the insurance company, there are several things that the professionals at Elmer’s Auto Body believe that you should know before you make your decision.

 

How insurance companies determine that cars are totaled

In most cases, an insurance company will determine that a car is totaled when the costs to repair the damage will be more than 65% to 70% of the vehicle’s fair market value. This standard varies from company to company. You can talk to your insurance agent to learn the threshold percentage for your insurance company.

The insurance company will start by calculating the actual cash vehicle of your car, which is the amount that your car is worth after depreciation. Cars depreciate an average of 20% during the first year and 10% during each additional year during the first five years.

If your vehicle is more than five years old, the company bases its estimate on your vehicle’s make, mileage, model, year, and condition. The area demand for your vehicle will also be factored in along with the resale value of your car’s metal and parts. If the cost to repair your vehicle added to its scrap value is equal to or greater than its actual cash value, your vehicle will be totaled.

 

Insurance companies and older cars

In many cases, auto insurance companies determine that older cars are not worth fixing.
The Insurance Information Institute reports that the average claim for collision coverage was $3,574 in 2018. If you believe that your car’s repairs are justified by its value, you can appeal your insurance company’s determination that it is a total loss. However, you will need to have evidence to present. Your vehicle’s age, mileage, and maintenance records will be important factors to the success of an appeal.

 

Can you keep your vehicle after it has been declared a total loss?

If you agree that the insurance company’s decision to total your vehicle is correct, you can still keep it. In that case, your insurance company will pay the cash value of your car to you after subtracting your deductible and the salvage value. You will then be responsible for arranging for the repairs on your own. Your primary concern when you decide to keep a totaled vehicle is safety.

If the damage is primarily cosmetic, you might be able to get it back on the road for an affordable cost. However, if you will need to spend a lot of money repairing it, it might be better to let it go. Remember, however, that some damage is not visible. In many cases, more damage will be found once the vehicle is dismantled for repairs.

 

Getting car insurance for a vehicle that has been totaled

If you keep your car after it has been totaled, you may have trouble finding insurance for it. Most insurance companies generally will not underwrite collision and comprehensive policies for vehicles with salvage titles. You should talk to your insurance company to find out if you will be able to get insurance for your vehicle if you decide to keep it. You can look up vehicles to see if they have been salvaged by searching on the National Motor Vehicles Title Information System. This means that if you later decide to sell your vehicle, prospective buyers will be able to see that it was previously totaled and might be wary about purchasing your car.
Is it worth it to repair a totaled car?

You are the only person who can decide whether it is worth it to repair a totaled car. Before you decide to keep your vehicle, you should conduct research and speak to your mechanic. You will want to make sure that you know what might be involved. If you do decide to keep your vehicle, Elmer’s Auto Body can help with any auto body repairs that you might need. Contact us today to schedule an appointment by filling out our online contact form.

COVID-19 Message | No Contact Auto Body Repair Available!

COVID-19, commonly known as coronavirus, is having a major effect on business around the world. Elmer Auto Body’s leadership is closely following developments and we want you to know that we continue to operate our business as usual. In addition, we have business continuity plans in place and we are taking steps to ensure the safety of our employees, as well as the uninterrupted operation of our business, systems, and support for them.

 

Here are some of the things we’re doing to continue to provide outstanding service to our employees and clients:

  • Allowing customers to have their car repaired without human contact. (Please call or chat with us online)
  • Keeping our offices clean and safe
  • Increasing the frequency of cleaning surfaces like door handles, countertops, etc.
  • Increasing the availability of hand sanitizer throughout offices.
  • Encouraging employees to stay home if they don’t feel well and to work from home when possible if they are taking care of someone who is ill or if they have been exposed to someone who has the virus.

 

As we continue to monitor the evolving situation, we ask you to consider taking precautions when you go about your daily lives.

Here are some suggestions:

 

  • We are fortunate to live in an age when technology allows us many options for interacting with our clients. Whenever possible, we suggest you take advantage of those options and expand your use of phone and email correspondence as well as online technologies such as Zoom, GoToMeeting, Skype, FaceTime, etc. in favor of in-person meetings.
  • When face-to-face interactions are necessary, use hand sanitizer and offer it to clients and prospects before and after your visit.
  • Refrain from shaking hands.
  • Try to use social distancing techniques to minimize the risk of transmitting the virus.
  • Use sanitizing wipes to clean any shared items, such as pens, tablets, keyboards, etc.
  • Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Refer to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website (www.cdc.gov) for more information about the virus and how to deal with it.

 

Elmer’s Auto Body is proactively taking steps to keep our employees and customers safe while remaining committed to our mission to serve our clients and prospects in providing solutions to protect the things that matter to them.

 

Your health is very important to us and we will continue to provide you with updates.

Will a Collision Repair Shop Fix Your Totaled Car?

After an automobile accident, an insurance adjuster will review the damage to your car and make a determination what they will pay to have it repaired. If the cost of repairs will be more than the value of the car, the insurance company will “total” your car. This means that the adjuster has determined the car to be a total loss and they will offer you what they determine is the value of the car rather than pay to have it fixed. But what happens when you believe the car can be repaired? It may be possible to have the vehicle repaired but there are steps you need to take for that to happen.

 

Know the Value of Your Car

It may help if you can learn the value of your car before the insurance company makes its determination. You can usually find an estimated value for your car online through Kelley Blue Book or other sites that valuate cars. Knowing what your car might be worth before the insurance company determines whether it can be repaired may be helpful. Most insurance companies us a 60 percent repair to value ratio. In other words, if they determine your car is worth $2,000 and the repairs will be more than $1,200, they will total your vehicle. If you can prove that your car is actually worth $4,000, that means the repairs can be as much as $2,400 before the car will be totaled.

 

What Happens After Your Car is Totaled?

Once the insurance company determines that your car is a total loss, they normally send a check for the value of the car to you and the car heads to the junkyard. One thing to remember is that refuting a totaled claim is possible. It is your responsibility to prove that the vehicle is worth more than the insurance company’s value which means it could be repaired. If you have records showing extras like air conditioning, leather seats, performance packages or vehicle enhancements you added to the car that were not the factory standard, you may boost the value of the vehicle. You can also reach out to body shops and ask them to take a look at the vehicle for written estimates on what it would actually cost to repair the vehicle rather than the estimate created by the insurance company.

 

Can You Keep Your Vehicle Even if it is Totaled?

If you cannot negotiate with your insurance company and they insist on totaling your car, you still may have options. In many states, you can tell the insurance company you want to keep the car rather than have it sent to a junkyard as long as you own your car outright and do not have a lien on your title. If you do this, the insurance company pays the actual cash value of the car minus the deductible and any payment they would have received from the junkyard. You are free to use that money to repair your car on your own. If the damage is simply cosmetic and you can drive it, this may be the best option. If you can make the repairs yourself, you can do so, or you can take it to a trusted auto body shop.

 

Keep Hidden Damage in Mind

One thing to keep in mind when a car is totaled is that there may be hidden damage that you cannot see. This may include a cracked or broken frame which could make your vehicle unsafe to drive. There may also be damage to engine parts that could be expensive to replace. Insurance companies rarely declare a car totaled without valid reasons, but if you are experienced in car repairs or have a trusted mechanic who can confirm there are no hidden damages, keeping your car may be a better option for you. You also must keep in mind that there will be a notation on the title that it has a prior condition, such as salvage or reconstructed. This could impact your insurance rates and resale value in the future.

 

Finding a Body Shop

In most cases, a good collision shop will repair a car that the insurance company has totaled. The key is to find a shop that will offer detailed estimates after a thorough review of the vehicle. You want a shop that will review hidden areas of the car and look at all locations where damage exists to give you an accurate price on repairing the car. Once they have provided you with an estimate, you want to ask if they are using original equipment from the manufacturer (OEM), aftermarket or used parts on the vehicle. Often, after market parts may be of the same quality as OEM parts and insurance companies often prefer them to OEM parts. However, if you prefer OEM parts, you can request that the shop use those other than aftermarket parts when possible. If your car is an older model, it may be difficult to find OEM or aftermarket parts which means the shop may have to install used parts. Because the insurance company will not be paying for the repair when your vehicle is totaled, you can request the type of part you want but understand the age of your car may determine the type of part that will be used.

If your insurance company has determined your car is a total loss after an accident, contact Elmer’s Auto Body. We can provide you with a detailed estimate after a thorough review of your car to determine if it may be beneficial for you to keep your car and repair it rather than send it to a junkyard. With over 70 years of collision repair experience, you can trust Elmer’s Auto Body to make your repairs and send you out in a vehicle that is safe for you and your family. You can set up a no obligation appointment by calling 856-218-0202 in Washington Township, 856-456-7018 in W. Collingswood Heights or 609-714-4050 in Medford Township. You can also visit our website at www.elmersautobody.com and fill out the easy online form to schedule your appointment.

When Should A Bumper Be Repaired Versus Replaced

A bumper is more than just something that makes your vehicle look good, it’s a vital component for driver and passenger safety. If your bumper is damaged, you should consider having it repaired or replaced before something more serious happens. The good news, not all bumpers need to be replaced because many of them are repairable. Bumpers can become damaged in a number of ways, whether it’s a traffic accident, being rear-ended in a parking lot or you accidentally drive into an object yourself.

When it comes to filing an insurance claim for minor bumper repairs, depending on the extent of the damage, it isn’t always feasible and your rates can also be increased as a result. Therefore, it’s important to know when it makes more sense to repair a bumper or whether you should just replace it.

Below are three examples that explain when bumpers can be repaired and when they should be replaced.

 

Bumper Hooks are Broken or Damaged

If the bumper hooks are broken or damaged on your vehicle, you will need to replace your bumper. Bumpers are designed with hooks that adhere to the splash guard, grill, and valance panel. If your bumper hooks are broken or damaged, the integrity of your bumper will be compromised and could fall off without warning.

Simply repairing or replacing the broken or damaged hooks will not work because once hooks break, there’s no way to attach them. You will need a new bumper with the hooks already attached to ensure that your bumper stays on your vehicle.

 

Minor Paint Damage

Depending on the extent of the damage to the paint job, there are some options available for repair. If your bumper is full of deep scratches or is missing large sections of paint, you may want to consider replacing your bumper. Bodywork and repainting your bumper back to its factory condition can cost almost as much as a new bumper; therefore, it’s more feasible to buy a new one.

On the other hand, if your bumper has minor paint damage, you can easily have it repaired for a few hundred bucks by a professional auto body repair specialist. The best way to know which option is the best is to get an estimate for the damages.

 

Cracked Bumpers

Cracked bumpers are in the same category as paint damage. Depending on the size of the crack and length can determine whether or not you should repair or replace it. Since cracks in bumpers need to be filled with a body filler, sanded, primed, and painted, the size of the crack does matter.

Small cracks can generally be repaired without too many issues; however, large cracks can cause your bumper to lose its structural integrity and should be replaced as opposed to being repaired. For maximum vehicle and passenger safety, bumpers with large cracks should be replaced.

 

Finding a Trustworthy Auto Body Shop

Depending on where you live, there are several options for finding a trustworthy and professional body shop. Performing an online search with the key phrase “auto body shops near me” will result in the top auto body specialists in your immediate area being displayed on your web browser. You can also ask your friends and relatives if they know of one. Additionally, you may even know where some are located, simply stop in and have them access the damage to your bumper.

 

Getting a Professional Opinion

Taking your vehicle to a professional auto body and collision repair shop can help you to determine whether you need a new bumper or not. Most auto body repair shops are experienced with handling insurance claims, and they can get your vehicle back on the road in the fastest time, saving you both time and money. For more information about bumper repair or replacement, please fill out the contact form.