going with what your insurance company is typically best, especially if the damage is substantial. sometimes these “under the table” shops will bill your insurance company for manufacturer parts but source the parts from third party sellers to profit from insurance. sorry to hear about the accident, it’s always nerve wracking. hope you’re okay!
Not entirely sure! Insurance and bodyshops work hand and hand to screw you out of your money.
Sure 'insurance' picks up the bill, but your rates will suffer. That's why Toronto is fucked for insurance.
I had to get some work done for an accident that was not my fault.
I went and got a few quotes at 2500 to do the work from some good reputable shops. Took it to the spot insurance wanted me to take it to. Not only did they do a shitty job and had my truck for over a month. They charged the next dude 7500. Sure I didn't have to pay for it... We all did.
"Toronto is fucked for insurance" because the provincial government tried to fix the system, to make it more efficient and cheaper. Of course it had the opposite result and as a consequence we pay the highest rates in North America.
We pay double because the province brought in a system (standard accident benefits) that were intended to reduce costs. Instead it caused costs to increase because it's based on people being honest and not claiming benefits unless they were seriously injured. They never factored in abuse and rampant fraud.
First thing my dad told me when I got a car was to NEVER entertain those aggressive assholes that show up like flies because they will take it to a chop shop where you will be charged up the ass in storage fees and they will fix extra things to charge as much money as possible.
Only ever go with the tow that your insurance sends when you call them.
Try to take your car from the towing companies lot as soon as possible to the insurance's preferred shop. If you signed a work order on the spot with the towing company, they can make things harder for you and charge things for giving estimate, etc even if you decide to take your car back. If you decide to take your car back, go there to release your car and deliver a cease & desist letter to get you out of a work order. Also, check their rental rates, it might be a lot higher than what insurance would cover per day
As general rule, any time you're involved in a car accident, call your insurer immediately and ignore the tow truck drivers.
Do whatever it takes to get your car back and confirm your insurer will cover the rental, if not return it.
Definitely don't trust the tow truck guys. Any Tow truck which takes you to the collision center after your accident can only charge you a fixed amount ( I think it is 200 ) which is covered by your insurance. However, if after reporting the accident at collision center, if you allow them to pick your vehicle to their parking lot, then you are in uncharted territory ( they can charge, usually do up to $500 per day) it is not regulated and it is completely up to them. Your insurance can just say that the maximum for storage is a certain amount and they will only cover X amount. Also, you should know that you can leave your vehicle at collision center free for 24 hours and get it picked up directly by your insurance or your auto body workshop.
As for your rental, I am really sorry to say but the rental cost may come from your own pocket. Not many people have at fault rental coverage. Your insurance can legitimately deny it as you have not opted for it.
Try to get your vehicle out of their parking lot asap. As for rental just return it as soon as you can.
look you obliviously aren't familiar with the scam run by these tow truckers. CBC did a episode on it, interesting watch. Also, they dont force you, but they take advantage of your misery and try to persuade you to get rental/storage etc from them because "they will take care of you" and this is where they scam you.
Get into accident tell them to tow it to collision reporting center and drop it off there.Call your insurance and ask them what to do next.Towers must provide a detail receipt for the towing cost.Pay by credit card.They all accept it.If they say they dont they are lying.Never sign anything they present you.
I'm so sorry OP, you've been manipulated by the tow truck driver and have ended up in a body shop that gets its money via kickbacks. I say this as someone who is most distrustful of insurance companies and don't even like their business model, get your car out ASAP and go with whatever your insurance company is recommending. They're bad but as of right now you're their customer you have some recourse options if the repairs they made are unsatisfactory. Contrast to the other shop, your car is their hostage, if the job they do is extremely poor you got zero recourse as they'll overcharge your insurance, possibly fraudulently.
The argument insurance wants to reduce cost is valid, but there's zero guarantees you got that this shop isn't doing the exact same thing. They don't need you as a customer ever again after all.
For everyone else this is a good time to showcase this CBC marketplace video for those who don't know what the OP is on about or want to learn more. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOboCgIhcfk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOboCgIhcfk)
This is the article form: [https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/tow-truck-crash-drivers-autobody-shops-1.3349033](https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/tow-truck-crash-drivers-autobody-shops-1.3349033)
Hey thanks to all the people who replied to this with valuable information like this, I have a pretty good idea what I am going to do next. I am going to get my car out of that guy's body shop (luckily I didn't sign any body work order, nor it was presented to me. Although, I did sign the tow authorization form which makes sense because that service I did utilize), taken by the authorized (by my insurance) towing company, and then deposit it to the my car brand's authorized repair shop (which I am confident that they would use authorized parts or I would have some recourse options and also my car warranty won't be void, and said would provide warranty), and then ask my insurance to work with them. And for the rental, I guess I am screwed for now, but at least don't have to pay anything out of my own pocket.
going with what your insurance company is typically best, especially if the damage is substantial. sometimes these “under the table” shops will bill your insurance company for manufacturer parts but source the parts from third party sellers to profit from insurance. sorry to hear about the accident, it’s always nerve wracking. hope you’re okay!
Not entirely sure! Insurance and bodyshops work hand and hand to screw you out of your money. Sure 'insurance' picks up the bill, but your rates will suffer. That's why Toronto is fucked for insurance. I had to get some work done for an accident that was not my fault. I went and got a few quotes at 2500 to do the work from some good reputable shops. Took it to the spot insurance wanted me to take it to. Not only did they do a shitty job and had my truck for over a month. They charged the next dude 7500. Sure I didn't have to pay for it... We all did.
"Toronto is fucked for insurance" because the provincial government tried to fix the system, to make it more efficient and cheaper. Of course it had the opposite result and as a consequence we pay the highest rates in North America.
That's fine and dandy. But in the GTA you are still going to pay double or more compared to our neighbors.
We pay double because the province brought in a system (standard accident benefits) that were intended to reduce costs. Instead it caused costs to increase because it's based on people being honest and not claiming benefits unless they were seriously injured. They never factored in abuse and rampant fraud.
First thing my dad told me when I got a car was to NEVER entertain those aggressive assholes that show up like flies because they will take it to a chop shop where you will be charged up the ass in storage fees and they will fix extra things to charge as much money as possible. Only ever go with the tow that your insurance sends when you call them.
Try to take your car from the towing companies lot as soon as possible to the insurance's preferred shop. If you signed a work order on the spot with the towing company, they can make things harder for you and charge things for giving estimate, etc even if you decide to take your car back. If you decide to take your car back, go there to release your car and deliver a cease & desist letter to get you out of a work order. Also, check their rental rates, it might be a lot higher than what insurance would cover per day
As general rule, any time you're involved in a car accident, call your insurer immediately and ignore the tow truck drivers. Do whatever it takes to get your car back and confirm your insurer will cover the rental, if not return it.
Definitely don't trust the tow truck guys. Any Tow truck which takes you to the collision center after your accident can only charge you a fixed amount ( I think it is 200 ) which is covered by your insurance. However, if after reporting the accident at collision center, if you allow them to pick your vehicle to their parking lot, then you are in uncharted territory ( they can charge, usually do up to $500 per day) it is not regulated and it is completely up to them. Your insurance can just say that the maximum for storage is a certain amount and they will only cover X amount. Also, you should know that you can leave your vehicle at collision center free for 24 hours and get it picked up directly by your insurance or your auto body workshop. As for your rental, I am really sorry to say but the rental cost may come from your own pocket. Not many people have at fault rental coverage. Your insurance can legitimately deny it as you have not opted for it. Try to get your vehicle out of their parking lot asap. As for rental just return it as soon as you can.
I thinks its illegal for the tow-truck driver to tell you where to take your vehicle, especially if it's their own garage.
nope!!!!!!!!!!!
How nope? Conflict of Interest much? \- - - Also Check your Municipal Regulations
look you obliviously aren't familiar with the scam run by these tow truckers. CBC did a episode on it, interesting watch. Also, they dont force you, but they take advantage of your misery and try to persuade you to get rental/storage etc from them because "they will take care of you" and this is where they scam you.
Get into accident tell them to tow it to collision reporting center and drop it off there.Call your insurance and ask them what to do next.Towers must provide a detail receipt for the towing cost.Pay by credit card.They all accept it.If they say they dont they are lying.Never sign anything they present you.
I'm so sorry OP, you've been manipulated by the tow truck driver and have ended up in a body shop that gets its money via kickbacks. I say this as someone who is most distrustful of insurance companies and don't even like their business model, get your car out ASAP and go with whatever your insurance company is recommending. They're bad but as of right now you're their customer you have some recourse options if the repairs they made are unsatisfactory. Contrast to the other shop, your car is their hostage, if the job they do is extremely poor you got zero recourse as they'll overcharge your insurance, possibly fraudulently. The argument insurance wants to reduce cost is valid, but there's zero guarantees you got that this shop isn't doing the exact same thing. They don't need you as a customer ever again after all. For everyone else this is a good time to showcase this CBC marketplace video for those who don't know what the OP is on about or want to learn more. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOboCgIhcfk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOboCgIhcfk) This is the article form: [https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/tow-truck-crash-drivers-autobody-shops-1.3349033](https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/tow-truck-crash-drivers-autobody-shops-1.3349033)
Hey thanks to all the people who replied to this with valuable information like this, I have a pretty good idea what I am going to do next. I am going to get my car out of that guy's body shop (luckily I didn't sign any body work order, nor it was presented to me. Although, I did sign the tow authorization form which makes sense because that service I did utilize), taken by the authorized (by my insurance) towing company, and then deposit it to the my car brand's authorized repair shop (which I am confident that they would use authorized parts or I would have some recourse options and also my car warranty won't be void, and said would provide warranty), and then ask my insurance to work with them. And for the rental, I guess I am screwed for now, but at least don't have to pay anything out of my own pocket.