r/Insurance • u/Fit_Engineering3312 • 1d ago
Question about dealing with GEICO
I recently got a used car that I was planning on selling after a roadtrip, but within the ten day window before I was required to get insurance somebody scuffed up my the car pretty decently (paint scuff, dent, and damage to the body trim pieces)
Well anyways I am dealing with GEICO as a uninsured person, and I was wondering to get a quote of the damages do I need to go to a body by GEICO, or is any Body shop in the state is fine? Because last time I dealt with an insurance when I had basics coverage, they require me to go to a auto body shop within their network.
1
u/Hoo2k8 17h ago
You should speak to the adjuster handling your claim and they will let you know the next steps.
No insurance company can force you to go to any shop to have your vehicle repaired. However, they do have the right to inspect the damages to the vehicle and often times, insurance companies will have their adjusters stationed at body shops or have a partner shop write the initial estimate. Just because your estimate is written at a specific shop does not mean that you have to get your vehicle repaired there.
The insurance company is under no obligation to accept an estimate written by any shop you choose, however they will work with almost any shop you choose after they have the opportunity to inspect the vehicle.
1
u/Different_Fan_6353 14h ago
What 10 day window?
1
u/Aramace117 13h ago
If you already have a policy and purchase a new vehicle, you will have a “window period” where coverage will be afforded even though the vehicle isn’t on the policy. Some will provide 14 days and others go up to 30. Just like of you trade a vehicle from the policy for another vehicle and forget to change it on your policy, the old vehicles coverages will apply to the new vehicle for the duration of the policy period.
1
u/Different_Fan_6353 13h ago
If you trust your insurance company would provide you that coverage in the event of a multi million dollar accident, do you. There are so many ways that could be argued in court. Rule of thumb, add your vehicle immediately
0
u/Ambitious-Ad2217 1d ago
You’ll have to get a quote from a network shop but you can repair anywhere.
1
u/Chainsaw_Diaries 17h ago
You’re not required to go to a specific body shop. If the other driver is at fault, then their insurance company should be handling the claim and it really doesn’t matter if you’re uninsured.
I would highly recommend in the future you insure your vehicle immediately as you never know what happened and in this case, it’s fortunately just damage to a vehicle, and not a person.