Recommended Body Shops in Vancouver, WA

What to Expect After the Accident - Rental Cars: If your car was damaged as result of another driver's negligence, the other driver's insurance company should pay your rental car costs for a reasonable length of repair time. If your car is totaled, many companies will pay for your rental as a courtesy, but they are not required to do so. If you are filing a claim with your own insurance company, the cost of a rental car will only be covered if you paid a premium to include rental reimbursement coverage in your policy. Most polices have a dollar limit for rental payments, so check your policy if you have questions. How can I get a rental car? If you need a rental car, we would be happy to assist you to make the necessary arrangements. Insurance companies will only pay for a rental car if you have that option on your policy or if you are the claimant. Check your policy and/or call your insurance company to find out if you have rental coverage and what your specific limitations are. How do I get a rental car? Vancouver Toyota Rent a Car can help you make the necessary arrangements. Insurance companies will only pay for a rental car if you have that option on your policy. Check your policy and/or call your insurance company to find out if you have rental coverage and what your specific limitations are. We have agreements/arrangements with most all insurance companies & auto body shops.> What's my first step in getting a replacement vehicle from Vancouver Toyota Rent a Car? It's easy to reserve your replacement vehicle online! Provide your claim number and name of insurance company to book your reservation immediately. As always, if you're already on the road, simply contact Vancouver Toyota Rent a Car and we'll prepare your replacement rental request on the spot. Or if you're already at the repair shop, just give us a call. Vancouver Toyota Rent a Car makes it easy! | > Since my car will be at the body shop being repaired, how can I pick up my rental car? No need to worry about how you'll get your rental vehicle. Vancouver Toyota Rent a Car will send an employee to drive you here. We'll even take you home or to the repair shop after you return your rental vehicle. | > Will I be able to rent a car that's similar in size and style to my own car? Absolutely. Choose your Vancouver Toyota Rent a Car replacement vehicle from our line of current models that includes roomy Cars, Hybrids, Pickup trucks, SUVs, minivans, vans, etc. Please review your specific coverage information with your insurance company so you understand how and to what extent you're covered for a replacement vehicle. | > Will my insurance company cover the rental? Contact your insurance company directly to find out if your policy provides for a rental car allowance in case of accident or upset. If someone else's insurance company is making the arrangements, you should ask their claims handler/adjuster if they'll provide you with a rental car. | > How can Vancouver Toyota Rent a Car save me time and take the hassle out of replacement rentals? As soon as you realize that your personal car has to go into the shop, reserve your replacement vehicle on VancouverToyota.com. We'll need your name and contact information, insurance company name, claim number, number of days authorized, adjuster's name and phone number, agent name and phone number, and body shop/repair facility and phone number. Next, at Vancouver Toyota Rent a Car, we'll arrange for you to be picked up and driven here. For pick up, just call 360.253.0688. Then we'll call your adjuster for rental authorization and to verify all the information you gave us. Vancouver Toyota Rent a Car will then contact the body shop a day before the rental authorization expires to check the status of your repair. If a rental extension is necessary. Vancouver Toyota Rent a Car will call the adjuster to request authorization - and we'll also contact the body shop a day before the extension rental authorization expires to check the status of your repair. Once you tell us that your personal car is ready for pickup, we'll arrange for your rental car to be returned. What could be easier? | > How does the billing work? Vancouver Toyota Rent a Car will directly bill the insurance company for all or the portion of the rental they have agreed to pay. Since there are many types of policies and coverage, be sure to ask your claims handler/adjuster to confirm the maximum daily amount and the maximum total amount they will pay for car rental. The renter is responsible for any charges incurred above and beyond the maximum allowance approved by the insurance company. | > How long can I keep the rental car? Once you're in a Vancouver Toyota Rent a Car car, we'll stay in contact with your repair facility until your vehicle repairs are completed. We'll automatically contact the insurance company with updates and ask them to extend the rental until the repairs are done. You'll be contacted by Vancouver Toyota Rent a Car once we're notified by the insurance company that they'll no longer pay for the rental. | > How can I get back to my car when I return my rental vehicle? When you're ready to return your rental car to the Vancouver Toyota Rent a Car location, we'll give you a lift home, or drive you to the local repair shop to pick up your personal vehicle. | Q: Are You Covered When You Rent a Car? While some personal auto insurance policies will cover you up to your policy limits for bodily injury and property damage you cause while driving a rental vehicle, others will not. Also, even if your liability coverage extends to a rental vehicle, you may be held personally liable for any damage you cause to the rental vehicle if you don't carry comprehensive and collision coverage. | Q: Isn't my insurance company required to cover a rental car no matter what? No. While some states require insurance companies to cover rentals regardless of the circumstances, coverage in Washington is purely a matter of contract between the insurance company and its customer, and insurance policy terms will vary. If you have questions about your policy's coverage, consult with your insurance company or an attorney before assuming you will be covered. | Q: If my insurance company doesn't cover me when I drive a rental car, might I still be covered for a loaner car to drive while my own car is being repaired? Maybe. Some individual policies that don't cover rental vehicles still will give you limited coverage for a "temporary replacement vehicle" to be used while your own car is being serviced. Not all policies offer such coverage, and there may be restrictions that may include a time limit on the use of the loaner vehicle. Verify that your own policy has liability coverage for claims of third parties as well as comprehensive and collision coverage for damage to the loaner vehicle. The dealership or body shop providing the loaner car may have a policy that provides customers with liability coverage and even comprehensive and collision coverage for damage to the loaner vehicle. The insurance carrier for such a policy may, however, "subrogate" or seek payment from you or your insurance carrier if you should need to make a claim. | Q: Won't the rental company's insurance cover me? Rental companies in all states, including Washington, must show proof of "financial responsibility" (usually insurance or a bond) on the vehicles they rent to consumers. When you rent a car, however, most companies require you to agree to shift coverage to your personal carrier, and they often take the position that your personal insurance company is primary. Your own policy may pay before the rental company's insurance or it may state that your policy is excess to the rental company's policy. Even if the rental company's insurance does apply, it might provide only minimum financial responsibility limits. If neither your personal auto policy nor the rental company's insurance will pay, you can be held personally liable for any damage you cause to people and property. If your personal policy will not cover you in a rental vehicle, then consider buying supplemental coverage from the rental company for the time you have the rental vehicle. | Do I have the right to a rental car? If you have not purchased rental car coverage AND you were responsible for the accident, you would not be entitled to reimbursement under your policy. The other driver is determined to be liable for the accident, you would have the right to seek reimbursement from the other driver's insurance company. If you have purchased rental car coverage: you can file a claim with your own company for reimbursement -or- if you do not want to file a claim with your own insurance company and the other driver was liable for the accident, you have the right to seek reimbursement from the other driver's insurance company. Generally, you are entitled to a vehicle comparable to your own. However, in the case of certain high-value, high-cost vehicles, you may have to demonstrate your need for a specific replacement vehicle. | > Rental Cars: While your car is being repaired or you are waiting on payment for a car that is a total loss, you may want to rent a car from Vancouver Toyota Rent a Car. Provided the rental is comparable to your car, rented at a reasonable price, for a reasonable amount of time, the insurance company will reimburse you. Under the law in Washington, the insurance company must only reimburse your expenses; therefore, you are often responsible for renting and paying for a rental car in advance. Insurance companies often argue the amount of time a rental car is used, so it is important that you follow up with the body shop to make sure your car is repaired in a timely manner. | > HOW CAN I GET A RENTAL CAR? If you need a rental car, we can help you make the necessary arrangements. Insurance companies will only pay for a rental car if you have that option on your policy or if you are the claimant. Check your policy and/or call your insurance company to find out if you have rental coverage and what your specific limitations are. | > I need a rental car, will my insurance pay for it? This has many possible answers... - If it's YOUR vehicle and YOUR insurance is covering the repairs AND you have rental car coverage, then the answer is Yes. - If you do NOT have rental coverage, you will be pleased to know that most body shops have discounted rates with Vancouver Toyota Rent a Car. Ask us how to get this special rate on your rental. - If you are a Claimant (another party's insurance is paying for the repairs), rental coverage is covered by THEIR insurance. | > Who pays for the rental car while my car is in the body shop? Liability Claim: When the claim is against the other driver's company, the other driver's company should pay your rental car cost for a reasonable length of repair time. If the car is totaled, many companies pay for your rental as a courtesy, but they are not required to do so - your right to a rental ends once a settlement has been offered. Comprehensive/Collision Claim: When it's a claim against your own policy, your company will pay if you paid a premium to include rental reimbursement coverage in your policy. Most policies have a dollar limit for rental payments; your rental car rights are spelled out in your policy. | > RESERVATIONS: It is more convenient if you make rental car arrangements prior to your scheduled repair date to insure that you have a vehicle reserved. Please give us a call to assist you. Vancouver Toyota Rent a Car will be happy to make a rental car reservation for you that will coordinate with your scheduled repair. | > PICK UP AND DROP OFF: "For one stop convenience" rental vehicles can be picked up and dropped off at Vancouver Toyota Rent a Car or the body shop. | > CHOICE OF VEHICLES: Rental vehicle models are categorized according to size and corresponding prices. Vancouver Toyota Rent a Car offers vehicles in these categories: Compact, Mid-Size, Intermediate, Full Size, Premium, and Specialty vehicles such as hybrids, Minivans, SUV's both large and small, and Pickup Trucks. We advise that you consider the insurance rental car payment coverage's when choosing your vehicle. Please see section below. | > IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS WHEN CHOOSING A RENTAL VEHICLE: If an insurance company is paying for the rental car be sure to check with them for your specific rental car coverage's and limitations before you choose your rental car. Most insurance companies offer several rental car coverage plans or levels of payment in their policies. They may pay $25 or $30 per day or $50 per day with a maximum total payment or cap of $500 or $600 or $1000. Some companies will pay a total of $1000 or $50 per day , whichever comes first. Some insurance companies offer rental coverage of 80% up to a total of $1000 or $1500 with no daily limit on the amount. There are a variety of coverage's and caps. You want to be sure your rental car coverage lasts as long as it will take to repair your vehicle so you do not run out of coverage during the repair process and have to pay for the remainder of the rental car cost out of pocket. For example if your vehicle has sustained a significant amount of damage and it will be in the body shop a month which is twenty-two working days or thirty days total including weekends and you have rental car coverage of $50 per day with a maximum cap of $1000.if you use your maximum daily rental and rent a vehicle that costs $50 per day for 30 days your total rental car costs minus taxes will be $1500 or $500 over your $1000 maximum and you will owe $500 out of pocket plus tax and waivers if you contracted for them. If you had rented a $25 per day vehicle instead of the $50 per day vehicle and used it for 30 days your total cost would be $750.This is $250 under your $1000 maximum cap and you don't have to pay out of pocket. Another consideration is the fact that many initial estimates are written for visible damage only per the insurance company criteria. Most customers ask for an estimated delivery date when they drop their vehicle off. This delivery date is computed from the initial estimate. After a vehicle is completely torn down additional damage may be found that requires more repair time or additional parts to be ordered thus causing your vehicle to be in the shop longer than initially estimated. | > PAYMENT OF THE RENTAL BILL: Each insurance company has a specific procedure for paying rental car bills. Many companies will accept a direct billing from the car rental company. However, some insurance companies will require that you pay for the rental vehicle and send them the bill. They will then reimburse you. Check with the insurance company paying for your rental to determine how the payment will be handled. | > DEPOSITS: Even if an insurance company is paying for your car rental, Vancouver Toyota Rent a Car may require you to provide them with a credit card. They will put a certain dollar amount on your card as a deposit in case you damage their vehicle while it is in your possession. | > AGE RESTRICTIONS: Vancouver Toyota Rent a Car will not rent to drivers under age of 21. However, some insurance companies have agreements with Vancouver Toyota Rent a Cars to waive this restriction and will rent to a driver under 21. When you call Vancouver Toyota Rent a Car to make your reservation please disclose the age of the driver and ask if there is a restriction. | > DAMAGE WAIVERS: Vancouver Toyota Rent a Car offers supplemental insurance policies. They are often collectively referred to as Damage Waivers or they may be named individually: Loss Damage Waiver, Liability Insurance Supplement, Personal Accident Insurance & Personal Effects coverage. They provide various coverage's at various costs. An insurance company may be paying for the cost of the car rental but most do not pay the cost for the Damage Waivers or other Supplemental Coverages. | > DO YOU OFFER CAR RENTAL SERVICE THRU BODY SHOPS? Yes. We can make arrangements with all body shops to meet you at their facility. When the repairs to your vehicle are complete you may pick up your vehicle and leave the rental with them or us. If you have rental car coverage Vancouver Toyota Rent a Car will be able to set up a direct billing with your insurance company unless your policy states otherwise. If you are a claimant once the other person's insurance company has accepted liability you should be entitled to a rental vehicle (equivalent transportation) at their expense while the body shop is repairing your vehicle. We can also make these arrangements for you. | > "If you use that shop you will have to pay for your rental out of pocket": This is not true. Most insurance companies have direct billing agreements with Vancouver Toyota Rent a Car. They do not like to tell their customers this and will try to force you into a reimbursement plan or offer to send you a check in the mail for "X" amount of rental days. Always remember as a claimant against a company, that you also have specific rights that a policy holder may not have. In addition to this, Vancouver Toyota Rent a Car has many vehicles on hand so you can take care of everything in the first place. A tip we tell our body shop customers is that if your vehicle is completed on a certain date, try to pick it up on that same date. Some insurance companies only cover rental charges for the time your vehicle is being repaired. Once it is fixed they wash their hands of the transaction. | > "If you use that shop you will have to pay for your rental out of pocket" This is not true, but some insurance companies will try to force you into a rental reimbursement, which means they will either try to get you to pay with a credit card and then reimburse you, or offer to send check for "X" amount of rental days (which you should promptly refuse to do). Vancouver Toyota Rent a Car has direct bill agreements with insurance companies. | > How can I get a rental car? If you need a rental car, we can pick you up when you drop your vehicle off for repairs and they can drop you back off here when your vehicle is ready. When renting a car from Vancouver Toyota Rent a Car you need to provide your drivers license, proof of insurance, and a deposit whether insurance or you are paying for your rental.