My car got hit in the parking lot today...
 

Went to Fry's Electronics today to pick up a laptop cooling pad (which didn't turn out to be big enough for my laptop - making the trip a waste) and my car got clipped by some guy in the parking lot.

Plus side, the guy waited for me and owned up to it. We exchanged info and I took pictures of both cars.

Bad side, obviously it's a hassle and my car is messed up.

He asked me to not go to the insurance at first because he wants to try to pay me cash to avoid insurance. I think it's ok, considering he waited for me when he could have just took off. Any thoughts?

It's like bad luck car month or something, having just got my rim back from being fixed. I had new tires mounted on the back and they scratched one of my rims up pretty bad. They got it refinished but it was a hassle going back and forth to the car place. I just got the rim back Friday and now this...

http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/47/photo2jy.th.jpg

Not sure on US insurance law however...

If somebody is offering a cash settlement I'd take it BUT it's working in the crashers favour so I'd be getting some fat quotes to make sure it's also to your advantage. If the crasher doesn't like your cash price let him run it through his insurance

I was gonna say the same thing pretty much- its not unusal for someone to want to settle in cash to avoid their premium increasing ( and yours possibly ). Just get a few quotes so that you dont end up out of pocket overall.

I was going to go to 3-4 places for quotes, and choose the highest one, and then go with one of the middle routes to make sure i don't come out behind. Preferably, I'd like to come out a little ahead as compensation for the hassle, which I think is fair.

Because of this, I have to drive all the way down from school and back up, spending time/gas. And worse too is that all this is during my midterms week.

Plus, if I were to go through insurance, I would get some money each day for a rental car as well while mine was in the shop.

I've ben in the automotive repair field for over 25yrs, My suggestion to you is ASAP get 4-5 estimates from reputable shops and give him 3 of the most expensive ones and take the money and get it repaired at a shop that is willing to do it a little cheaper and still give the qaulity. That way you can put the few extra bucks in your pocket for your aggrevation,inconveinence and wasted time.
If you insist on going through the insurance Co's your insurance rates will increase also even though it wasn't your fault let alone sitting in the car when it happened. They get ya back for the extra paperwork you made !
If you get with a good shop they should be able to order the bumper cover ahead of time and provide a 1 day service if lucky ?

Pictures never do things like this any justice but it looks like a very easy repair, maybe you can get them to write for a replacemnt and have it repaired. With the bumper material being semi rigid plastic the indentation will pop right back out and only need a samll amount of filler to accomplish a smooth ready to painte surface and all will be well. SOmthing to consider ?

I definitely want a new rear bumper. On the lower valance there's a few stress cracks.

But that is definitely my plan, I will get the quotes tomorrow right after school and try to get paid in cash/cashiers check immediately.

Thanks for the insight, it's nice to know I'm on the right track.

From experience, at least in NY, even if you called it in to the insurance company your rates will not go up because there was no one in your vehicle, it was parked legally in a parking spot. His will go up though. I have settled for with cash once, got three quotes and then had to wait several weeks to get payed, I never had a repair done as it was only a light scratch through the paint only on my front fender, I took the $400 and had remote start put on, bought a bottle of touch up paint and spent the other $200+ on something else! I would recomend going to the dealer to get high quotes and ask around and find out the best shops in your area, then get it done at one of those better shops thats offering to do it a bit cheaper. Since it looks like your mainly in need of a new bumper cover make sure the quotes are for a new one and get it replaced with a used cover, since it's plastic corrosion won't be an issue on a used one.

A little off topic...

What car is that?
And which Fry's did you go to?
I was just at the one in Woodland Hills (on Canoga), today...

Some advice from a body shop owner, me...

Make sure your estimates are all about the same. Go to the dealer and at least 1 of the main body shops that mainly do ins work. They should provide you with the highest estimates. Then go to a few smaller shops, and find one you like. Explain the situation to the boss and ask for an estimate that matches the higher ones. That guy should be able to work you a deal. Make sure if you get the part replaced to get a new part. Used or reman covers can have paint issues later on.

I could fix that cover, and I am sure a new one is at least 500-600 bucks. I would charge about half the bumper cost to fix it and let you pocket the rest. Paint costs will be about the same for a new cover or the repair, and the cover has to come off either way. You should be able to make at least 200 bucks on this. Also tell the guy you need a few days of rental money, 100-150 should do.

Been there, done that, and it sucks majors balls.

Linc, if only you were in CA...but thanks for the advice, I'd definitely look into it.

I don't want to totally rip the guy off, I mean he was honest enough to stick around - he could have just disappeared and I wouldn't have even noticed the dent until I got home.

I plan to get a few quotes, choose the highest few, and ask for that amount plus $50-100 for the rental car.

rawfuls, it was the Fountain Valley store and the car is a 2004 Infiniti G35 6MT.

Ah, okay.

Yeah, I thought it was a G35, but I didn't want to sound retarded if I was wrong.

Hahahaha. Yeah. It's a stock (looking) G35. From the outside, the only thing you can tell is that I have tint and slotted rotors. Though once I start it up and take off, you can tell my car sounds different if you are accustomed to a truly stock G35's exhaust note.

I do have a stock exhaust, but between an intake a lighter pulleys/flywheel, the car doesn't sound as deep (though does have a nice hum to it still).

Here's a picture of it from about a year ago. Looks the same as it does now (minus the dent...)

http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/60/39288183.th.gif

Wish I had that much to spend on a car when I was a student, sounds like my first car was worth about what your repair will cost.

I fell into a very lucky situation with the car. To start, I have awesome parents.

The car is a manual, and my mom, despite having a manual car up until a few years ago, doesn't want to deal with shifting anymore, and despises the stiff clutch that comes with these cars.

My dad rides motorcycles most of the time as well, and is also lazy when it comes to stick. Originally, this car was supposed to be his "executive car" to take to business meetings and what not, but we ended up getting a BMW that he uses instead.

Also, when I first got my license I had to drive this or the truck (I started driving this due to my inability to park the truck at first and because this car got better mileage). So between my parents' laziness for manual transmissions and the previous statement, it just kind of became mine.

So I basically got really, really lucky. You don't see me complaining though.