The finer points of collision repair are typically understood only by those in the insurance and automotive industries. And now, thanks to the information below, by you. Below are some explanations that can help make an unpleasant situation a little less so.

Your Friendly representative will be happy to go over the estimate with you, explaining every line item to your satisfaction.

Repairing a car that has been in an accident can take anywhere from several days to several weeks. Because of that, it isn't feasible for Friendly to provide loan cars to all our Collision Center customers. However, there is an on-site rental car company at our repair facility, and we'll work closely with you to arrange a rental while your car is in the shop.
It is important that you know in advance your policy's coverage regarding rental cars. Many people are unaware that they don't have coverage at all or the coverage they do have is insufficient to meet their needs (e.g., your full-size SUV will be temporarily replaced by a compact car). In some worst-case repair scenarios, potential out-of-pocket expenses can be as much as $50 a day, easily exceeding $1,000 if your repair takes several weeks. So you need to understand what your daily coverage amount is and your total rental coverage limit. If you do not currently have rental car coverage, we urge you to contact your insurance agent immediately. There is a simple policy addendum that usually costs less than $10 a month for enhanced rental coverage.

OEM is short for Original Equipment Manufacturer. These are new parts made by the manufacturer of your car for your car, and Friendly endorses their use. Does your policy allow for use of OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) parts or does it require less expensive LKQ, aftermarket or reconditioned parts?

Reconditioned parts are original equipment factory parts that are used or refurbished. Most insurance policies have provisions for the use of these parts.

Insurance companies will sometimes stipulate the use of used parts (of Like Kind and Quality as compared to your original parts) in repairing your vehicle. The key word to focus on here is quality. If your insurance will not cover OEM parts, we will strive to use LKQ instead.

Aftermarket parts are made with different manufacturing methods, materials and standards and because they're not made by the original equipment manufacturer, they generally do not meet manufacturer specifications. To become a "certified" aftermarket part, the industry has mandated that it meet 90% of the original specifications. If a customer requests it, we will locate and use these parts as available.

The best time to consider what you'd do in the event of an accident or fender bender is before you have one. Take a few minutes right now to review your insurance policy so there will be no surprises regarding your coverage.
Then, if you do need body work:

• Verify what your insurance policy will cover
• Bring your vehicle to our collision repair center
• Leave the rest to us 

• Does your policy cover aftermarket audio/video systems or wheels/tires?
• Does your policy provide for alternative transportation (Rental car)
• How much per day?
• Do you have coverage if you are in an accident with an uninsured or under-insured motorist?
• What is your deductible amount?