We’re Here For You.
If you have any additional questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to use the contact form or chatbot to reach out and we’ll be happy to assist you!
DO YOU TAKE MY INSURANCE?
Full Tilt accepts all insurance and all forms of payment. Repairs are a contract between you and our shop.
MY INSURANCE TOLD ME I HAVE TO TAKE MY CAR TO ONE OF THEIR “PREFERRED SHOPS”. IS THAT TRUE?
No! You pay the insurance, you have the right to bring your car to the shop of your choice, EVEN IF repairs have already been started elsewhere.
HOW LONG WILL REPAIRS TAKE?
Repairs can take anywhere from a day to several weeks depending on the severity of the accident. When we receive your vehicle we go through a thorough disassembly and blueprint process to determine the full extent of repairs necessary. We do our best to keep you updated throughout the process.
WILL I HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING OUT OF POCKET?
If your insurance company determines you are responsible for paying your deductible, you will owe that amount when repairs are completed (typically $500-$1,000). There are other fees that your insurance company may state that you are responsible for, such as “betterments”, although this does not occur on all claims. The deductible and any additional fees are paid directly to Full Tilt.
WHAT IS A BETTERMENT?
A “betterment” is a percentage of the cost of parts that your insurance company has determined that you, as the vehicle owner, are responsible for. They do this in order to save money on replacing parts that are considered wearable items. For example, tires or brake pads that are 50% worn at the time of a crash are replaced with brand new items and you will be responsible to pay for them.
IT LOOKS LIKE REPAIRS WILL COST MORE THAN THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE. WHAT DO I DO?
No need to worry, this is the case for 100% of original estimates written by your insurance company. The original estimate is a very basic, visual estimate of damages. Insurance companies leave out many procedures and cannot assess hidden damages until your vehicle is brought to our shop and thoroughly blueprinted so we can determine the full extent of damages that occurred.
At that point, we will notify your insurance company and a supplement will be provided to cover any additional damage and repair procedures.
WILL MY INSURANCE RATE GO UP BECAUSE OF MY ACCIDENT?
This is determined by your insurance company based on a few factors. If you are found at fault for an accident or are less than 50% at fault, you will not be surcharged. You should also not be surcharged for a “hit and run” accident. In some cases the insurance company may try to surcharge you, but you are able to dispute this. The amount of the surcharge depends on the total cost to repair your vehicle.
WHAT IF I NEED A RENTAL DURING REPAIRS?
First, check with your insurance company to see if you have rental coverage on your policy. If you do, Full Tilt will be able to set you up with a rental vehicle for the duration of your repairs. If you do not have rental coverage on your policy and you are found not at fault for an accident, we can start the process of getting rental covered by the at-fault person’s insurance company. If the insurance company finds you at fault for an accident, or you are involved in a single car accident or a hit and run and do not have rental on your policy, Full Tilt offers rental cars at the very low rate of $25/day.
HOW DO I KNOW MY CAR WILL BE RESTORED TO FACTORY SPECS AFTER REPAIRS?
We strive to stay on top of all OEM procedures to ensure that your vehicle is returned perfectly to pre-accident conditions, whether it be the alignment of the body panels, or the functionality of the blind spot sensors and backup cameras.
WILL MY PAINT MATCH THE ORIGINAL COLOR AFTER REPAIRS ARE DONE?
Absolutely! Full Tilt uses state-of-the-art paint technology that allows us to color match any make and model exactly to factory specs. Our system uses low-VOC, water-borne pigments, which helps to mitigate the environmental effects of the painting process.
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OEM AND AFTERMARKET PARTS?
OEM is an abbreviation for Original Equipment Manufacturer. It means the parts are made directly by the car manufacturer. OEM parts are made specifically to fit a particular make and model vehicle. OEM parts not only fit perfectly but tend to be safer and of higher quality.
Aftermarket parts are made by companies other than your vehicle’s original manufacturer. These parts sometimes do not fit as well as OEM parts and at times can be of lesser quality. Insurance companies would rather use these parts because they are typically much cheaper.
We always ask our customers if they prefer OEM or if aftermarket is acceptable, as most insurance companies will not pay extra for OEM over aftermarket and they will charge the vehicle owner the difference. We have long-standing relationships with our vendors and encourage them to price match OEM to aftermarket parts whenever possible, allowing us to use the best for your vehicle without adding any additional costs.
WHAT HAPPENS IF INSURANCE SAYS MY VEHICLE IS TOTALED?
A vehicle is a “total loss” if the repair costs + salvage value exceeds the actual cash value of the vehicle. If you were hit by somebody who has their own insurance, or you have collision on your policy (which is good enough in most cases), your insurance company is responsible for purchasing your vehicle from you, as well as paying for the storage and other fees that have accrued after your accident.
Your insurance company is allowed to lowball you on their initial offer, but remember…YOU CAN NEGOTIATE! The first offer will almost always be the lowest. At Full Tilt, whenever your vehicle is totaled, we provide you with as much info as possible so that you’re fully prepared to negotiate for a fair offer. We know that a totaled vehicle is a huge inconvenience and we want you to get as much money as possible!
BUT I DON’T WANT MY CAR TOTALED! IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO TO SAVE IT?
There are lots of reasons why you may not want to part with your ride. Maybe your car is your baby or you owe more on your loan than your vehicle is worth. Unfortunately, there is not much we can do to adjust the cost of our repairs. We adhere to stringent safety standards and must restore all vehicles to pre-accident conditions with very few exceptions.
