Harsh weather can do a number on your vehicle, but you don’t have to stare at the painful reminder of it every time you glance out of your window. If your insurance policy covers hail damage repairs, you’ll have the ability to take your vehicle to a repair shop and get a quote to complete the necessary work. When this occurs, the shop will help you by providing the information that your insurance company requires in order to process the claim payment. In many cases, your insurance company will deal directly with the repair shop and send them payment for all of the work completed.
However, in some cases, your insurance company may offer you a cash payment in lieu of paying the repair shop directly. They’ll assess the damage and assign a monetary value that covers the expense of repairing the hail damage on your vehicle and then send payment to you directly via check or direct deposit. This leads to a lot of drivers wondering, “can I keep the check and not fix my car?”, and rightfully so.
So, Can I Keep My Insurance Claim Check?
The correct answer is...maybe. If you own your car and don’t owe anything to a bank or other credit lender, you can keep your insurance claim check and spend it on whatever you’d like. This can be extremely handy if you’ve found yourself in a tight financial spot and aren’t concerned about the appearance of your vehicle or whether you may experience further issues as a result of the damage. You should only skip hail damage repair if your situation is dire, however, because problems such as rust and paint chipping can occur and over time, severely degrade the paint and body panels of your car.
There are instances where you cannot keep your insurance check, and it’s important to understand which scenario applies to you so that you don’t end up in trouble.
● If you owe money on your vehicle and make regular payments to pay off a loan, your lender is not likely to allow you to leave the vehicle unrepaired. Your car is collateral for the loan they’ve given you, and they need to ensure that their asset is protected until you fully own it. Most lenders require to be notified as part of the insurance process anyway, so asking them directly, “can I keep my insurance claim check?” is probably not a good idea.
● If your insurance company sends the claim payment directly to an auto body shop or hail repair specialist, you absolutely cannot keep the cash. It may be tempting to tell the shop that you’ve changed your mind and wish to pocket the money, but that will most definitely constitute insurance fraud. A reputable shop wouldn’t enable you to do this, but it’s worth noting in the event that it comes up.
Why Choose American Auto Hail Repair?
The purpose of your insurance policy is to protect your vehicle when accidents or other damage occur, and while it may seem like a good idea to pocket your insurance check at the time (if you are entitled to do so), it isn’t usually recommended. At American Auto Hail Repair, we know that when not resolved, hail damage can create issues that will degrade your vehicle and negatively impact safety and appearance, as well as resale value. When damage occurs, you should always talk to a hail repair specialist to determine the best course of action, as we can advise you on the repairs process and help you with your insurance claim. Our team is ready to provide you with fast, reliable advice and has three convenient locations to serve you in Denver, Fort Collins, and Greeley, CO. Contact us today to discuss your hail damage and we’ll give you up to $1000 off of your deductible!