Got rear-ended -- fix damage or keep the $$?

[mapleseed]

So I got hit from behind today, looked kind of minor at first, but I took it into the local body shop and they gave me a $2500+ quote! Car is a paid-off 2005 Honda CR-V with 128K on it, in decent but-by-no-means-close-to-perfect condition. It's our only car. The back bumper cover is knocked askew, no big deal, but the bigger (read: expensive) deal is the back door is bent, so it closes a little wonky, the rear wiper is no longer in contact w/the glass, the spare tire rack seems to be a bit oddly angled, etc.

I am wondering if it's worth fixing any or all of these problems as we were planning to drive the car into the ground and it already has plenty of minor cosmetic issues. I am pretty bad at dealing with this type of bureaucratic stuff -- can I ask the insurance co. for a check so I can "shop around," and then either get a replacement door from the salvage yard, or just live with it? WWMMMD?

Thanks any and all for any advice!

[Future Lazy]

You should be able to ask them to cut you a check. Get a few different quotes, and pick the highest?

I'd fix the functional problems: rear door closure and wiper... You start to miss a rear wiper quicker than you think.

Keep the rest.

[TerriM]

That's a decent amount of money to put towards another car.   

Also, the insurance company will have a body shop that they want it taken to to be appraised.  Did you use theirs or one of your own choosing? 

You have the right to have it fixed (or not) anywhere you want regardless of where the insurance company has yo appraise it.

[Frankies Girl]

If you are keeping the car, get the things fixed that impact safety or basic operations (bumper, wiper, any gaps that might cause water damage over time or let cool/hot air in) and let anything minorly cosmetic go unless it will really bug you.

[Gone Fishing]

I think you will to come out ahead by keeping the cash, especially if you plan on driving your car 200k miles or more.  Think of it as selling part of your car now, but still getting to use it.  I took $1,700 on a collision in my Civic, drove the car for 3 more years and 50k more miles, then sold it for salvage when it had a major mechanical problem.  Between the $1,700 and $800 in salvage, I basically got $2,500 for a non-running car.

[Rural]

If the door leaks in the rain I'd fix that, but nothing else if the alignment isn't off. It may be; have the insurance company pay to get it checked, because tires will wear much more quickly if the car is out of alignment.

[DeltaBond]

If you are keeping the car, get the things fixed that impact safety or basic operations (bumper, wiper, any gaps that might cause water damage over time or let cool/hot air in) and let anything minorly cosmetic go unless it will really bug you.

I second this, since you are planning on keeping the vehicle long term, which I applaud you for!  They're giving you money to fix it, so its not like its out of your pocket or anything.

[FreeWheel]

If the rear door isn't sealing properly it could allow exhaust gasses inside the cabin. Something I'm sure you wouldn't want to subject you and your family to.

[iluvzbeach]

Your own (non-professional) assessment of the damage may only be based on what you can see. It's entirely possible there is damage to the bumper (inside the plastic cover) that you can't see. For the safety of yourself and family, I'd recommend getting it repaired. You don't want to risk a more serious accident down the line where the car doesn't protect you like you'd expect and you're SOL because you didn't repair previous non-visible damage. You could also be giving up your right to damages from another party, in the event of a future accident that impacts the rear of the vehicle, if you don't address it properly now. I don't think the safety of you and your family is worth pocketing the money. Besides a 2005 Honda could easily run another 10 or more years. Why would you neglect getting the repair done now and have it look like a rattle-trap for the foreseeable future?

[Numbers Man]

I just went thru this. I reluctantly had to total loss my car because the damages were more than the car was worth. Plus there were mechanical issues that weren't even factored on top of the body work. Get a settlement with the insurance company and go car shopping.

[Dan_at_Home]

Instead of a body shop, take it to a mechanic to see if there are any major fundamental issues with the underlying structure of the car itself.  If not, take the money, if are you concerned with the door hinge, try to at least make it better yourself one week, i.e. see if you can bend it back it shape with a hammer and chisel and some patience.  At worst, try to find a replacement hinge on ebay or at a junk yard.  If you have dents in the body of the car, push it with your foot from the other side to pop it back in place.

Who really cares what the vehicle looks like, it is just a machine designed to get you from point A to point B when you are not riding your bike.  Unless it is important that you impress someone, aesthetics really don't matter that much in the long run.  The check is just a holiday bonus.  I have had my car hit a couple times and took the the check.

[NumberJohnny5]

Pics?

If it's structural, get it fixed or have it totaled. Take it to multiple places for a free quote. Submit the highest. If they want at least X quotes, then submit the X highest quotes.

If it's not structural (i.e. nothing that affects safety...for example dent in the door, scratches on the quarter panel, etc.), take the money.

Of course, you could do both. Submit a quote to repair it to like-new for $XXXX, then have it repaired to safe-and-driveable condition for $XXX.

[rusty]

As long as you don't have comprehensive and collision on the vehicle with your own insurance company, you can keep the money.  If you have comp and collision on it, your insurance company will want it fixed if they learn you were in an accident.  Reason being is they don't want to pay out on a claim that someone fakes for a second time.  Example, you get hit and pocket the money, then you get hit again and another company pays out.  People do try to do this.  Spent 9 years as a home/auto insurance agent and saw all kinds of people trying to game the system (not that you are).  Companies put these requirements in place to protect from fraud, which we should applaud, because it keeps our rates down.

Again, if you are only carrying liability, you should be okay as long as it's not structural damage that keeps it from being safe.  The $2500 is not worth having a family/friend injured because of a second crash that was made worse by you not repairing the car. 

Stuff like this may seem far fetched until you see it happen to some one.  Then it's real life stuff to that person.  Good luck to you.
R

[guitar_stitch]

The CRV is a unibody construction.  It sounds like it took a pretty wicked hit and the body bent and contorted to absorb the energy of the impact.  This protected you at the vehicle's expense.  Because of this, the structural integrity of the vehicle is in question.  The unibody can be straightened, but only with a proper set of tools and a well experienced technician.  I would not drive this vehicle until it is fixed because the next collision may not be so nice.

[Vilgan]

I paid 2200 for a vehicle, then took a hit that was the other driver's fault that resulted in a 2000 payout a year or so later. It damaged the suspension and caused some other annoying issues, but I pocketed the money and drove the car for another 3 years without any major problems. I think sinking money back into a paid off car with a lot of miles does not make a lot of sense. Do whatever is necessary to understand the risk you are taking and then just drive the car until it dies.

[TerriM]

Can you call the other guy's insurance company to see where they want the damage appraised?  Don't fix it until they look at it.

[Exflyboy]

Once a had friend with a Ford Escort where the rear end got caved in to the rear supsension.. I used my tractor to straighten it out so the trunk would close... It did knock out the tire alignment which was able to be adjusted so she kept the car for another 4 years or so.

So while a lot of things are possible, and Escort is a 3 box sedan, the CRV is more of a single box and I suspect easier to damage the car beyond repair.

If you do get it straightened make sure a 4 wheel tire alignment is performed and the rear hatch closes.

To be honest if the car is crumpled to the rear wheel wells I suspect it will be too risky. i,e by the time you spent $$ to get it straightened you may only then find it really is not economically fixable.. Then your into it for $$ AND you then have to total it.

If its cosmetic then by all means get your buddy with a tractor (come-alongs, chain hoists etc) to straighten it.. if it looks like the rear suspension is involved.. I'd call it quits at that point...

You could posts some pics and i'll give you my best opinion.

Frank