Select Service Program - In some market areas, repairers have been selected to
participate in State Farm's Select Service Program. The program is
... [Show More] designed to
enhance claim service,
increase efficiency, and afford
customers an opportunity to select qualified repairers to inspect and estimate vehicle
damage
Paintless Dent repair - Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) is an industry recognized repair
process that involves the removal of hail dents or other types of damage from metal
exterior surface panels without disturbing the
vehicle's finish. In most cases, this procedure involves the use of specialized tools to
apply
pressure to the backside of the panel to remove surface imperfections. Other
techniques may be
used to repair damage from the topside of the panel, depending on the size and location
of the
damage.
By using either of these techniques, the technician is able to restore panel appearance
which eliminates the need for refinishing the panel's surface area.
The PDR process is often used to repair hail damage or other similar dents that occur
when an
outer panel strikes (or is struck by) an object that has not compromised the finish of the
panel.
Since the outer finish of the panel has not been disturbed, it eliminates the refinishing
process
and may allow for repairs to be completed in a more timely and cost effective manner.
Determining Repair Costs - The prices we pay for most repair operations will be
determined from printed or electronic
collision estimating guides and repair facility survey results. However, it is not possible
to
determine the cost of every repair operation from these sources. For example, when
estimating a
sheet metal
or other repair operation, the labor estimate is based on judgment time. When
estimating judgment time, it should follow what is competitive in the local market to
repair the
vehicle in a quality manner.
Estimats are based on - Estimates written or approved by
State Farm are based on labor rates and repair costs not to exceed what is charged by
a majority of the repair market in a given area.
Contracts with repairers - We do not enter into contracts with repairers on individual
repair jobs on a fixed or "contract"
repair job basis. We pay for the estimated cost of repair based on physical damage
caused as a
result of the loss.
Freight Charges - Similarly, if freight charges are submitted to State Farm for payment,
payment should normally
be resisted. Freight charges are not
considered as part of actual repair costs and are generally aligned with an expense a
repairer or dealership may incur as a result of operating the repair facility business. If a
circumstance arises that may warrant additional consideration, local
management should contact their assigned Estimatics consultant.
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