# How much to repair at body shop? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** nissan, altima\ **Created:** [February 21, 2017, 6:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-much-to-repair-at-body-shop/100258 "2017-02-21T18:28:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bryantscharfff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@bryantscharfff](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bryantscharfff)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 6:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-much-to-repair-at-body-shop/100258/1 "2017-02-21T18:28:50Z")
![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/2X/d/d536b331e88c8a8d4cadb379fa3dda510f478c90.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![bryantscharfff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@bryantscharfff](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bryantscharfff)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 6:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-much-to-repair-at-body-shop/100258/2 "2017-02-21T18:29:40Z")
![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/2X/d/dffecae41f5f39448a05f4e79bfafe3d38499c5f.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 6:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-much-to-repair-at-body-shop/100258/3 "2017-02-21T18:32:25Z")
Lots of money!! $$ Don’t ask us, go get a free estimate (or 3) from a body shop. Anything we post here is mostly a guess since we can’t see inside the truck or under the car. ---
**Author:** ![bryantscharfff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@bryantscharfff](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bryantscharfff)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 6:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-much-to-repair-at-body-shop/100258/4 "2017-02-21T18:37:30Z")
All I wanna hear is lots of money lol, I got the vehicle from a buy here pay here so I’m hoping to get out of it! ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 6:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-much-to-repair-at-body-shop/100258/5 "2017-02-21T18:39:15Z")
You bought it like THAT? Why? Or you wrecked it after you signed on the dotted line? Either way, you are likely locked into a bad financial deal for you. ---
**Author:** ![bryantscharfff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@bryantscharfff](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bryantscharfff)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 6:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-much-to-repair-at-body-shop/100258/6 "2017-02-21T18:43:07Z")
Noooo haha… I’ve had it for 2 years, still owe 4k on it and someone just hit me 3 days ago. Cars only worth 2800. I have gap insurance so if they total it I’m out of it! ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 6:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-much-to-repair-at-body-shop/100258/7 "2017-02-21T18:55:50Z")
This sounds like an unusual financial strategy. If there is $3,500 in damage, the insurance company totals the car and you are without a vehicle. If you live with the damage, pay off the loan, you get to keep the car. On the other hand with the $4000 dollars needed to pay off the loan you could buy a different car with the same dent. ---
**Author:** ![bryantscharfff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@bryantscharfff](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bryantscharfff)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 7:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-much-to-repair-at-body-shop/100258/8 "2017-02-21T19:06:36Z")
This persons insurance adjuster said if it is totaled I am responsible for getting rid of it or I can keep the vehicle. So it could be a win/win situation for me. Just hoping for around 2200 in damages ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 7:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-much-to-repair-at-body-shop/100258/9 "2017-02-21T19:16:38Z")
I hope you realize that if you get rid of it you’ll still owe on the loan. You need to factor that into your decision. ---
**Author:** ![bryantscharfff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@bryantscharfff](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bryantscharfff)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 7:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-much-to-repair-at-body-shop/100258/10 "2017-02-21T19:22:39Z")
If they total it then they come to a agreed upon value of the car with the dealership and pay them, maybe the dealership gets that car back to im not sure. The remaining balance i owe on the loan would be covered by the gap insurance i purchased. Clearing me of the loan ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 7:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-much-to-repair-at-body-shop/100258/11 "2017-02-21T19:25:08Z")
Nope. If the insurance totals it and pays out, they own it. The balance between what they pay out and your loan balance will still be yours to pay off. The insurance company is not going to negotiate anything with the dealer. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 7:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-much-to-repair-at-body-shop/100258/12 "2017-02-21T19:31:33Z")
There are two insurance companies, one for the body damage and a second one for the loan, GAP insurance. The pay out for the body damage will go to the loan/dealer. ---
**Author:** ![bryantscharfff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@bryantscharfff](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bryantscharfff)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 7:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-much-to-repair-at-body-shop/100258/13 "2017-02-21T19:39:12Z")
What I’m saying is the GAP insurance covers me on the remaining balance of the car loan if it is totaled. Whatever they value the car at before the accident is paid to the dealer and GAP covers the rest. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 7:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-much-to-repair-at-body-shop/100258/14 "2017-02-21T19:41:12Z")
It ain’t that simple. It depends on the liability clause in the gap insurance. Without one, buyers could decide they didn’t like the car (or the payments), total the car, and walk away. ---
**Author:** ![bryantscharfff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@bryantscharfff](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bryantscharfff)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 7:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-much-to-repair-at-body-shop/100258/15 "2017-02-21T19:48:36Z")
Ok gotcha, well hopefully with someone else hitting me and them being at fault allows me to walk away(if totaled). We’ll see how it goes, otherwise im just paying down the loan with the insurance money ---
**Author:** ![GorehamJ](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/gorehamj/32/24103_2.png) [@GorehamJ](https://community.cartalk.com/u/GorehamJ)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 8:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-much-to-repair-at-body-shop/100258/16 "2017-02-21T20:28:56Z")
$3,300 is my S.W.A.G. if done by a real pro to be perfect. You may get lucky and find a local person who can do that for about $2700. I’m not an expert, just an unfortunate car crasher with some experience. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 10:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-much-to-repair-at-body-shop/100258/17 "2017-02-21T22:25:40Z")
I think even making any guess about the repair cost is foolish. We can’t see hidden damage, don’t know where it is going to be repaired or the insurance companies involved. @gorehamj You should know that. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 9:15am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-much-to-repair-at-body-shop/100258/18 "2017-02-22T09:15:11Z")
> [@bryantscharfff](#): > > Ok gotcha, well hopefully with someone else hitting me and them being at fault allows me to walk away(if totaled). It should unless you live in a “no fault” state. A “no fault” state is one where the insurance lobbies have gotten laws passed that systematically screw accident victims by absolving the callous from responsibility for their actions in order to enhance insurance company profits. ---
**Author:** ![BillRussell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/billrussell/32/3179_2.png) [@BillRussell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BillRussell)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 2:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-much-to-repair-at-body-shop/100258/19 "2017-02-22T14:45:51Z")
you _could_ just have the dent hammered out enough so the taillight assembly fits in, put in a new taillight assembly, possibly fix the gas filler door (or remove it). That assumes there is no other damage than what is in the photo. That has to be checked. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 6:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-much-to-repair-at-body-shop/100258/20 "2017-02-22T18:45:06Z")
The real issue here is buying a car from a loan shark, not the damage. I know everyone has different circumstances from time to time but these folks are crooks in my view, and allowing yourself to do business with them is playing with fire. Banks and credit unions are legitimate businesses for car loans. OK, end of lecture but I just hate to see people taken advantage of this way. [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-much-to-repair-at-body-shop/100258.md?page=2)