After an accident...
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,144
Likes: 10
From: Mass
...OK..Adjuster here...in Mass where I work, it works like this. Bike crashes, owner calls ins. co, they then SEND someone like me to go do a Damage Appraisal on the bike wherever it is(your garage, tow yard, repair shop, police impound lot,etc), then we send you a copy, you then decide what shop YOU want to use,(by law in Mass YOU decide where it gets fixed), then the shop does a "tear-down" and writes up a supplemental appraisal, they then call for a "supplement" from the ins. co, and I go to the shop and NEGOTIATE the repair. I don't pay for bull**** either...some shops see GOLD and want to replace every nut and bolt they touch...$100 dollars for Zip-Ties...that kind of crap..and no one has the right to have their bike returned in "better than new" condition either...the phrase we use is "pre-accident condition-value-and safety". Shops get tired of spending their time and money writing free estimates for ins. co's and I don't blame them, but any shop that doesn't waive the fee if you give them the work is stupid. They can bury that cost in any repair job....good luck man
Banned
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,723
Likes: 0
From: New York
That does not sound right find some other dealers in the area and see what they say. Also the insurance company by law can not say were you get your bike fixed. AS many of you know I had an accident about three weeks ago by bike was at the shop the next day and with in a day had a full hesitate done, insurance adjuster was there the following week, went over the bike with the dealer and adjusted the labor a little bit and told the dealer to try to buff a little scratch out of the tour pack other then replace it other then that went with the dealer with full replacement on any damaged part include the frame due to stress marks on one engine mount. Dealer had a full check less my $500.00 deductible within three days of the adjuster being on site parts order same day.
As I said I would call a few dealers I think yours is making their own polices as it is not a harley policy that if they do an esitmate they ahve to do the work, isn't that why they call it an esitmate, what if insureance was not paying would you shop it and go with the deal you feel is the best before you had anyone do the work.
As I said I would call a few dealers I think yours is making their own polices as it is not a harley policy that if they do an esitmate they ahve to do the work, isn't that why they call it an esitmate, what if insureance was not paying would you shop it and go with the deal you feel is the best before you had anyone do the work.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,034
Likes: 45
From: Michigan
With mine I didnt mind the fact that they were gonna change for the estimate but more the fact that I needed an appointment that was 3 weeks away.. I took it to my local indy with the blessing of my insurance co and it got fixed. Im sure if id have taken it to the dealer it would have been totaled but we got it fixed and I didnt loose any money cept for the deductible and i think that was only 250.00 . It took about 11k to fix but it could have lost a lot more if it was totaled. In fact the adjuster handling the deal said if he wasnt out of town on vacation he would have totaled it when he saw the pics and the estimate 
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Road Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,200
Likes: 24
From: Greenfield, WI
With mine I didnt mind the fact that they were gonna change for the estimate but more the fact that I needed an appointment that was 3 weeks away.. I took it to my local indy with the blessing of my insurance co and it got fixed. Im sure if id have taken it to the dealer it would have been totaled but we got it fixed and I didnt loose any money cept for the deductible and i think that was only 250.00 . It took about 11k to fix but it could have lost a lot more if it was totaled. In fact the adjuster handling the deal said if he wasnt out of town on vacation he would have totaled it when he saw the pics and the estimate ..
..They also charged $150 for an estimate but that is applied towards the repair when they do the repair - I wouldn't get 2 estimates in that case unless your Ins. Co. agrees to pay for 2.
My Ins. Co. also sent an adjuster to view the damage and take photos.
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 557
Likes: 0
From: California Central Coast
...OK..Adjuster here...in Mass where I work, it works like this. Bike crashes, owner calls ins. co, they then SEND someone like me to go do a Damage Appraisal on the bike wherever it is(your garage, tow yard, repair shop, police impound lot,etc), then we send you a copy, you then decide what shop YOU want to use,(by law in Mass YOU decide where it gets fixed), then the shop does a "tear-down" and writes up a supplemental appraisal, they then call for a "supplement" from the ins. co, and I go to the shop and NEGOTIATE the repair. I don't pay for bull**** either...some shops see GOLD and want to replace every nut and bolt they touch...$100 dollars for Zip-Ties...that kind of crap..and no one has the right to have their bike returned in "better than new" condition either...the phrase we use is "pre-accident condition-value-and safety". Shops get tired of spending their time and money writing free estimates for ins. co's and I don't blame them, but any shop that doesn't waive the fee if you give them the work is stupid. They can bury that cost in any repair job....good luck man
Thread Starter
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Advanced
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
From: Texas
Thanks to all for your responses.
After reading the responses, it makes sense that a HD shop would charge for the estimate. However, we were getting the feeling that the dealership we were talking to pretty much does the estimate, and then locks the bike up - not letting you take it anywhere else. I was like "EFF" that!
I copy/pasted your responses and gave to my buddy...good luck to him
After reading the responses, it makes sense that a HD shop would charge for the estimate. However, we were getting the feeling that the dealership we were talking to pretty much does the estimate, and then locks the bike up - not letting you take it anywhere else. I was like "EFF" that!
I copy/pasted your responses and gave to my buddy...good luck to him
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