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Shop around. There is a ton of money to be saved on your parts if you are willing to shop around. If you are buying from a dealer then it is a good idea to tell them if you have found the part cheaper, they will usually be more than willing to give you a better price.

The easiest way to find the best insurance company is to ask the staff at your local car repair shop. Think about it: who works with car insurance companies more than the guys that have to deal with as part of their day-to-day jobs? Many of these auto shops go through the same frustrating ordeals that us regular guys go through when dealing with the insurance companies, and they won’t be shy about telling you what they think if you ask. The shop I’ve gone too even has a rating system of the best auto insurance companies right in their lobby.

Another thing shops should be honest about is the amount of time it will take for auto repair. Of course, the time you are told will only be an estimate, but it should be somewhat accurate. Some businesses are way off, telling customers it will only take a few hours, and then it ends up taking days. You deserve to know when you will have your car back, so make sure you choose a business that is known for giving accurate estimates on how much time it will take for auto repair.

Let us start with ease of obtaining. Obviously newer car parts will be easier to get than older ones. A friend of mine still has a 1975 Pontiac Lemans. To obtain parts for this car he has to literally go to junk yards and even online. No new car dealers keep parts beyond 10 years or so and even arizona wrecking yards stores limit their inventory to cars under 20 years. A 30 year old vehicle is almost impossible to find parts for. Plus, if you can find the part, depending on where you get it, the cost could be anywhere from 20 to 100% over the original part cost. To say that late model car owners are taken advantage of would be a gross understatement.

Know which car parts are re-usable and which aren’t. Example of parts that can be reused if in good condition are air box, bumpers, door lock, interior trim, jack, stereo system, fuel tank gad cap, exhaust heat shield, steering wheel, seats, lug nuts, vacuum reservoir, wiper arm, glass windows, wheels, tie rods, oil pan, exhaust pipes, etc.

First of all you need to find out if you insurance is going to pay for any or all of the damage. If that is the case, there really is no need to fret. You just need to find out how much they will be paying, any kind of deductible you will be paying, and where they approve to get the work done. They may give you a list so you will want to find an auto body shop that also meets your standards. Once you find that you are on your way to getting your vehicle back to great condition!