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Even though Oregon is bragging about low unemployment rates at the time of writing this, businesses, such as body shops, are having difficulty finding qualified labor. Once ordered, OEM parts take months to arrive, especially if from a foreign manufacturer. Even after-market parts are tough to find. No one is calling it price-gouging yet, but the cost of parts is skyrocketing.
Sometimes the insurance company claims department causes the delay at the body shop. Insurers also struggle to find qualified staff to work claims processing positions remotely from home. Setting up the new infrastructure with secure internet connections while monitoring staff activity has proved challenging. The cost to repair an automobile varies each day, so authorizing repairs presents another problem—how much to pay for the job.
If your car is drivable, you might use it until the body shop says the parts are ready. Save yourself the cost of a rental car. If your policy provides rental reimbursement, the 30-day limit might run out before they fix your automobile.
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This debate has raged for years. It depends on the part. If it’s critical to your safety, like an airbag, I’d say factory (OEM) parts only. If it’s a fender you are after, the biggest concern would be, does it fit? If an after-market fender attaches to your car the same way an original one does, and it holds a paint job, why not save a few bucks. An after-market fender will not provide any more or less protection than the original. But, if the insurance company will pay for the OEM, then why not. You won’t have the potential hassle of it not fitting your car. If you are paying for parts out of your pocket, money might be the deciding factor. This discussion deals with the stock from the factory items.
What about after-market parts that enhance the performance or look of the car? Of course, optional equipment added to an automobile after it rolls off the assembly line is not usually going to come from the factory and will only be after-market. Here’s where the insurance consumer must be careful. Insurance companies only pay for what came attached to your car from the factory. You must purchase additional coverage for upgrades you have made if you want them covered. Extra insurance for accessories, custom paint or striping, and special wheels and tires sells in increments of $1,000. Keep your receipts and take pictures of your car after every upgrade, even inside the motor. You’ll need to prove the changes if you ever have a crash or a theft claim.
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If you crash your car and don’t have backup transportation, you need rental reimbursement coverage. Not every company offers it; you’ll need to ask your agent. If someone else hits your car, the other insurance company will allow the cost to rent a car while yours is being fixed or replaced if totaled.
Suppose the other party has no insurance. If you have purchased the optional Uninsured Motorist Property Damage coverage, your company will pay for a rental car the same as though the other driver had insurance. To be sure you have enough to cover a rental, you should still buy the Rental Reimbursement option if available.
If your car is drivable and the body shop will take longer than 30 days to fix it, consider waiting until the parts are in and they have time. Rental Reimbursement usually has a 30-day limit.
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Have your driver’s license handy when you call 503-299-9999 for the Oregon DMV. They can answer questions about the status of your license. If they suspend your license, they can tell you why and what you can do to reinstate it. You might have unpaid fines or an unreported accident. Paying the fines or negotiating a payment plan with the court can release the suspension hold. If you failed to report an accident promptly, complete one the best you can and turn it in. You still might have to pay the reinstatement fee.
You can also enquire about specific tickets or accidents. Be prepared with the date, and they can tell you where you got the ticket and which court holds jurisdiction over the incident. They won’t be able to give you a complete list of your accidents and tickets. You must request an official transcript of your record. They’ll guide you in how to do that.
The DMV can answer specific questions about your automobile, such as the status of your tags’ expiration and how to go about getting a replacement title. You can find answers to many of your questions by searching the Oregon DMV website.
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Breaking News! You no longer need to hand-deliver an original SR22 certificate to an Oregon DMV branch. We can fax the original to them, and they will usually post it to your record within a business day. You have options to pay a reinstatement fee if your license got suspended.
As long as I’ve been selling auto insurance, an original SR22 form had to be mailed by the company, or the driver had to deliver an agent-issued certificate to a DMV branch. The Oregon DMV intended to avoid fraudulent forms. With the 2020 shutdown of the DMV branches, many functions changed to fax and online interaction. We couldn’t be happier.
Call us 503-693-2852 for an auto insurance or non-owner policy quote if you need an SR22, or complete this Quote Request Form. We’ll immediately fax the SR22 certificate to the Oregon DMV upon payment and upload of your policy.