Can I get an estimate over the phone?

 Our estimators would really rather see your vehicle in person. Without actually having it in front of them the best they could do is give you a ball park figure. Similarly, we can’t stand behind an estimate given based on pictures alone. You never know what you might see from a different angle that the photographer may not have thought to capture.

Do I need to schedule an appointment for an estimate?

No. We have two estimators and it is very rare that there isn’t at least one of them on site at any given time during our working hours. If you’ve got particularly bad luck with that sort of thing you can always give us a quick shout at 613-389-9888 when you’re planning to head over just to make sure someone will be free to help. We do ask that you come at least a half hour before we close to ensure that we have enough time to do a thorough estimate. Also, be aware in the months where it gets dark earlier that it needs to be light enough out for us to be able to see the damage and take pictures (if you’re going through insurance).

How long do estimates take?

Usually between 10 and 20 minutes. When you arrive, we’ll get a few details from you (name, phone number, insurance company if applicable, and the year, make, and model of your vehicle). Next, one of our estimators will go out with you and have a look at your vehicle. If you are going through insurance, they will take a few pictures and you are good to head out as they’ll send the estimate directly to your insurance company. If you aren’t going through insurance you have two options. You can come back into the office and wait for a few minutes while we do up a formal estimate on our computers or if you’re pressed for time you can leave an email address for us to forward it to upon completion. If you have any questions about the estimate it is easier to address them while you’re still here so we can actually show you on your vehicle what we mean but we’ve become pretty adept at painting word pictures on the phone too so we’re happy to help either way.

Do I need to get three estimates?

If you are going through insurance you are not required to get three estimates. One of your rights as an auto insurance consumer is the freedom to choose where your vehicle is repaired. If you know where you want your repair done then there’s no point in wasting your time or that of the employees at other shops. If a third party is paying for the repair, getting three estimates is a courtesy. You are not obligated to do so. However, if you don’t have a specific shop you deal with and trust, a second estimate might help reassure everybody involved that they are being treated fairly.

What forms of payment do you accept?

We accept cash, Interac, Visa, Mastercard and American Express.

You weren’t on my insurance company’s list. Can I still bring my vehicle to your shop for repairs?

Yes you can. The Auto Insurance Consumer’s Bill of Rights states that YOU have the right to choose where your vehicle is repaired. If friends, colleagues or even your local dealership have recommended a shop that you’d like to give a try or if you have a shop you prefer dealing with then your insurance company can’t tell you that you have to go somewhere else. They can ask but in the end it is your call.

How do I go about getting a rental while my vehicle is in the shop?

In some instances, your insurance adjuster will make arrangements in advance and you will hear from a rental company confirming your reservation before you even come to see us. In this case, once you have been in and we’ve scheduled your repairs you just phone that rental company and let them know the day and time of your appointment with us. Otherwise, when we call to schedule your appointment we will make a reservation for you. If you know exactly when you’ll arrive, we can even get them to meet you here. If not, we’ll call them when you arrive and they’ll come shortly thereafter. They will need to take you back to their location for a bit of paperwork and then you’re on your way. We normally advise that when you’re planning your day, you should make sure you allow for about a half hour to drop off your vehicle and get into your rental. When your vehicle is ready to be picked up you return the rental vehicle to their location and they will drive you back to us.

A note about rental coverage: Most insurance companies offer up to either $900 or $1500 in rental coverage. The key part of that sentence is the “up to”. You are actually covered to be in a rental vehicle only for the amount of time your vehicle is occupied with being repaired. Insurance companies will usually give a day’s leeway to allow you time to pick your vehicle up after being notified that it is ready but if you take a few days you may be surprised when you take your rental back and they ask how you’d like to pay for your portion of the bill. If there are extenuating circumstances that prevent you from picking your vehicle up in a timely manner a phone call to your adjuster may be worthwhile as oftentimes they can be convinced to extend your rental.

Another note on rentals: Once you arrive at the rental company’s office they will often ask you if you’d like to pay to have the rental insured. Be aware, whatever coverage you have on your own vehicle switches to your rental vehicle while yours is in our shop. What they are offering is to charge you a daily fee so that in the event of an accident the claim will go through their insurance rather than yours.

 What is betterment? Why am I being charged for it?

This is best explained using an example. Your insurance company is responsible for restoring your vehicle to the condition it was in prior to the accident. If they replace a tire that had been on your vehicle for years and only had half of it’s tread left it isn’t possible to find a tire in similar condition. So, they put on a new one and charge you for the “upgrade”. This is betterment.

When do I pay my deductible and who do I pay it to?

You pay us directly and your insurance company pays us for the remainder of your repair. We accept cash, Interac, Visa, Mastercard and American Express.