Six things Texas drivers believe about wrecks, insurers and body shops that are not true

Why so many people get this wrong

The biggest myths about accident repairs are that you must use the shop your insurer suggests, that the first estimate is the final price, that a car that drives fine has no serious damage, that aftermarket parts are always bad, that a car is never right after a wreck, and that every kind of damage is the same kind of claim. None of these hold up. In Texas you choose the shop, estimates often grow once hidden damage is found, structural damage can be invisible, part quality depends on the part, and a properly measured repair can return a vehicle to how it was built.

Most people go years between collisions, so it makes sense that the details fade and stories from friends fill the gap. We at ACE Body & Frame have been repairing collision damage under the same ownership since 1987, and these are the misunderstandings we hear most often at the counter. This is general information from a repair shop's point of view, not legal or insurance advice; for questions about your own policy or claim, talk to your agent or a licensed professional.

Myth one: the insurance company decides where your car is fixed

This is the most common one, and it is not true in Texas. The Texas Department of Insurance's auto insurance guide says some companies may give you a list of preferred repair shops but cannot require you to use a shop on that list. The department's consumer bill of rights for insured drivers goes further, saying you can choose the repair shop and the parts for your vehicle.

Insurers suggest shops for understandable reasons, and some network shops do good work. But the suggestion is a suggestion. If you have a shop you trust, you can tell the adjuster that is where the car is going, and the shop works with the insurer from there. Our guide on how to choose an auto body shop has the questions worth asking before you decide.

Myth two: the first estimate is what the repair will cost

A first estimate, especially one written from photos, covers the damage that can be seen. Once the damaged area is taken apart, more is often found: a cracked bracket, a bent support, a broken clip, a sensor mount pushed out of place. That does not mean anyone made a mistake. It means the first look could not see behind the panel.

The Texas Department of Insurance notes that if damage turns out to be worse than the adjuster first thought, you or the repair shop can ask the adjuster to increase the estimate. That additional request is a routine part of collision repair, and we handle it with the insurer on your behalf. If you are paying yourself, you should be asked before any additional work is done, never surprised at pickup.

A related belief is that the lowest estimate is the best deal. Sometimes it is. Often, a low estimate is low because it leaves something out: blending the paint into the panels next to the repair, a structural measurement, or new clips and hardware that cannot be reused. Those steps tend to come back later, either as an additional charge or as a repair that does not look or feel right. Compare estimates line by line, and ask why they differ, before deciding which is cheaper.

Myth three: if it drives fine, the damage is only cosmetic

Cars and trucks are designed to absorb crash energy by deforming in planned areas, and much of that structure sits behind the bumper and fenders. A hit that leaves only a cracked bumper cover can push a reinforcement bar, a rail or a mounting point out of position. The vehicle may drive normally for now while tires wear unevenly, doors start to leak wind or the structure is weaker for the next collision.

Fleet managers fall into this one too. A work van with a pushed-in corner keeps running, so it stays on the road while someone finds time to schedule an estimate. Weeks later, the tires are worn on one side, a door will not seal and the repair is larger than it would have been. A vehicle that carries employees every day deserves the same structural check as one that carries a family.

Signs worth noticing include panel gaps that look different side to side, doors or a trunk that close differently, a steering wheel that is no longer centered, and a car that pulls. Any of them after a collision means the structure should be measured, not judged by eye. And if anyone was hurt, the car comes second; a personal injury attorney's guide on what to do when the adjuster calls before you see a doctor explains that side of an accident in Dallas.

Myth four: aftermarket parts are always junk, and OEM is always required

Both halves of this are too simple. New parts from the vehicle maker, aftermarket parts from other companies and recycled original parts from another vehicle each have a place. For structural parts, sensor mounts and newer vehicles, original parts usually make the most sense. For a cosmetic part on an older vehicle, a quality aftermarket or recycled part can be a sensible way to control cost. What matters is that the part fits and works, and a good shop test-fits parts and sends back the ones that do not.

On the insurance side, the Texas Department of Insurance says an insurer cannot tell you or the body shop what brand, age, vendor or condition of parts you can use, but it also says insurers are not required to pay more than a reasonable amount. Our guide to OEM, aftermarket and recycled parts explains how to make the choice and what to ask about cost.

Myth five: a car is never the same after a serious wreck

A vehicle that was repaired quickly and cheaply may well never feel right. Panels that were pulled into place by eye, a frame that was never measured and paint that was never blended leave a car that rattles, leaks, wears tires and looks repaired. That experience is where this myth comes from.

A repair done properly is different. The structure is measured against the manufacturer's dimensions and pulled back into specification, sections beyond repair are replaced, panels are fitted to even gaps, and paint is matched and blended so the repair disappears. One customer described on Google how his pickup was rear-ended hard enough to bow the frame, and after two other shops proposed a frame swap or declined the job, our shop repaired the frame and returned the truck in what he called pristine condition. Not every vehicle can or should be saved, and sometimes an insurer will decide a car is a total loss. But a wreck alone does not mean a vehicle is ruined.

Myth six: hail damage and a fender bender are the same kind of claim

They usually fall under different parts of an auto policy. The Texas Department of Insurance explains that collision coverage pays to repair or replace your car after an accident, while comprehensive coverage pays for damage from things other than a collision, and its guide lists hail, fire, theft, flood, flying gravel and hitting an animal among the things comprehensive typically covers. You pay a deductible under each, and the two deductibles may not be the same amount.

That difference matters to people who carry only liability coverage on an older vehicle, because liability pays for damage you cause to others, not damage to your own car. If you are not sure which coverages you have, look at your declarations page or ask your agent before you need to file. Our guide to hail damage on cars after a storm covers that type of claim and how the repair is done.

Two habits that matter more than any myth

The first is reporting promptly. The Texas Department of Insurance advises telling your company about an accident as soon as possible and notes that most companies have deadlines for filing claims. Waiting rarely helps, and it can make a straightforward claim harder.

The second is documenting everything. Photograph the damage, the scene and the other vehicle while it is fresh, keep the police report number and both insurance details together, and write down anything the car is doing differently. Keep copies of every estimate, authorization and invoice. When questions come up later, the person with the clearest records usually gets the clearest answers.

• Report the accident to your insurer promptly
• Photograph all damage, the scene and the other vehicle
• Keep the police report number and both insurance details together
• Note new noises, pulling, warning lights or leaks
• Keep every estimate, authorization and invoice

What is actually true, and where to start

You choose the shop. Estimates often grow once hidden damage is found, and that is handled with the insurer. A car that drives fine can still have structural damage. Part quality depends on the part. A properly measured and refinished repair can return a vehicle to how it was built. And the kind of damage decides which coverage applies.

If you have damage now, bring the vehicle to our shop in Balch Springs, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., for a free computerized estimate. We accept all insurance claims, work with your insurer or the other driver's insurer on your behalf, offer towing and rental car service, and guarantee every repair. We serve drivers and businesses across southeast Dallas County.

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