Video Explains Why Consumers Shouldn’t Let Insurers Dictate Where Car Is Repaired

Video Explains Why Consumers Shouldn’t Let Insurers Dictate Where Car Is Repaired

In a new video, Kevin Moreland, co-owner of Sugar Hill Auto Collision in Sugar Hill, Ga., offers a real-world example of why consumers should think twice about letting insurers dictate where they take their collision-damaged vehicles.

In a new Facebook video, Kevin Moreland, co-owner of Sugar Hill Auto Collision in Sugar Hill, Ga., offers a real-world example of why consumers should think twice about letting insurers dictate where they take their collision-damaged vehicles.

Walking around a 2016 Dodge Hellcat that was rear-ended, Moreland notes that the insurance company wanted the shop to repair the vehicle. But the Hellcat sustained far more damage than meets the eye.

“If you take a closer look on the inside, you’ll see this has some pretty extensive damage to it,” Moreland explains.

Looking inside the trunk, Moreland points out that the vehicle’s inner structure is ultra-high-strength steel. Per the OEM guidelines – in this case, Mopar – collision-damaged high-strength steel should be replaced, not repaired.

“So to repair this car properly, we would be replacing all this inner structure, including the floor pan,” Moreland explains. “To do that you’d have to cut your quarter panels off, you’d have to cut your roof off. [You’d have to] really destroy this car to repair it properly.”

Moreland also points to huge buckles in the left side of the Hellcat’s body, which is the type of damage that “insurance companies and direct repair programs might overlook.”

Based on his assessment, Moreland convinced the insurer to declare the vehicle a structural total.

“So it’s very important to take your car to a body shop that looks at these [OEM] guidelines and repairs them according to how they say they should be repaired,” Moreland says.

You May Also Like

Auto Body Consolidation Update: There’s a New Buyer in Town

The good news for shops that want to sell but do not fit a consolidator’s
profile is that there is a fresh pool of new buyers.

At the November 2023 Collision Industry Conference in Las Vegas, I was speaking on a panel with other mergers and acquisitions professionals. During open Q&A, Mike Anderson of Collision Advice made some great points that were the catalyst for this article and a new area of focus for me and my team.  

Is Your Auto Body Shop a Hobby … or a Business?

So you want to provide safe and properly repair vehicles to your customers … even at a financial loss?

BodyShop Business 2023 Executives of the Year

Greg Solesbee was named the Single-Shop Executive of the Year, and Charlie Drake was named the Multi-Shop Executive of the Year.

This Could Be Your Last Text

A sign I saw on the highway that said “This Could Be Your Last Text” reminded me of my son’s recent car wreck.

SUNY Morrisville Auto Body Program Makes Students, Cars Shine 

A 1997 Mustang Cobra is getting the chance to shine again, thanks to students in Alexander Graf’s auto body technology classes.

Other Posts

3 Strategies to Improve Your Insurance Protection

If you’re looking to improve your shop operations and set yourself up for success in 2024, remember these three insurance strategies.

A Scary Moment Reminds Us of the Importance of Proper Collision Repairs

My son’s car wreck reminded me that we literally hold people’s lives in our hands in the collision repair business.

The Auto Body Business: Common Sense Isn’t So Common

At this point in time, collision repairers need to reevaluate their businesses and do whatever is necessary to not just survive but thrive.

How to Determine the Value of Your Auto Body Shop

Whether you’re looking to sell, expand or transition your shop, understanding the value of your business is essential.