Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Call one of our three locations and we can arrange a tow for your vehicle.

If you are going through insurance, the tow bill will be billed directly to them. If you decide to pay out of pocket, the tow bill will be added to the final bill and due at the time the repair is complete.

If you need a rental car, we can help you make the necessary arrangements, however, 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 do not offer loaner cars.

Bring your vehicle to one of our locations for a free estimate.  We know your time is valuable so if you like you can call ahead and one of our Estimators will take your information to help the estimate go a little faster once you arrive.

No, it is up to you to decide how many estimates you would like and if you want to compare with more than one shop.   When you choose Tripp’s Collision, we will deal with the insurance company for you so you can be confident that you are getting the best vehicle repair possible and all accident-related repairs are covered by your insurance company.

If your insurance adjuster has already looked at your vehicle, you can bring your vehicle to one of our shops or call and schedule the repairs.  If you do not have a copy of your claim, you can e-mail your claim number or call us with your insurance information and we will contact your insurance company for the estimate.  We must have the original estimate from the insurance company to begin repairs.

Each insurance company has different parts guidelines. Many insurance companies only allow for aftermarket (copied and made by another company), remanufactured (previously damaged) or used (LKQ) parts to be used during the repair. You always have the choice to pay any difference in part price if you would like to use all factory parts in your repair.

Yes, in Michigan you do have the right to choose where you take your vehicle for repairs.

There are many factors to consider when estimating length of time for the repairs such as parts availability, paint and material dry times and availability of specific equipment within our facility. We understand that you depend on your vehicle and we work very hard to navigate these situations and return your repaired vehicle to you as quickly as possible.

Yes, your vehicle will drive the same as it did pre-accident and will be brought back to meet the OEM specifications.  Vehicles with frame or suspension damage will require a two or four-wheel alignment. We have specifications on every vehicle to ensure that the frame or unibody is returned to its pre-accident condition.

With our highly skilled professionals and state of the art paint matching technology, we are able to reproduce the finish on your vehicle. We use the highest quality paint equipment to provide the best possible finish to your vehicle.

You have the right to retain ownership of the vehicle, however the amount of the settlement may be reduced by the salvage value.  This is something you will have to negotiate with your insurance company.  Call us first so we can explain your options for buying back your totaled vehicle.

Yes. We have a limited lifetime warranty on all our work for as long as you own the vehicle. It is important to know that your body shop is the only party responsible for a warranty on your repair, NOT your insurance company.

Our priority is to do everything in our power to ensure your vehicle is back to pre-accident condition when your vehicle leaves our shop.  If you notice anything that doesn’t seem right or experience any problems, please call or come in as soon as possible so we can evaluate and correct the issue.

​Claim numbers are issued by your insurance company at the time you report your accident. Make sure to write it down and bring it with you when you come in to begin the repair process.  We will take it from there and handle all interactions with your insurance company.

​A deductible in car insurance is the dollar amount that you agreed with your auto insurer to pay towards your Michigan No-Fault PIP medical benefits claim, your collision claim or your total loss claim before your insurer would step up and provide the coverage you paid for under your policy.  Think of it like the “co-pay” at a doctors office.  You can find out the amount of your deductible, if any, from your insurance company.

A vehicle is deemed a total loss when the the cost of repairs plus the value of the vehicle in damaged condition (salvage value) – is greater than the Actual Cash Value (ACV) of the vehicle prior to the accident.

Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) is a term for parts made by the manufacturer of your vehicle.

When the repairs are complete and you pick up your vehicle, payment is due.  The check issued by the insurance company will be for the cost of repairs minus your deductible.  You will need to pay your deductible to Tripp’s Collision center.

Payment is due at the time the repair is complete. Please bring any insurance checks with you and your deductible – if you are going through insurance.  If you want, you can simply sign the check over to us and do not need to deposit it into your account.

We accept check and major credit cards.

You are able to wash your vehicle by hand with cool water and a very mild car wash solution using a soft cloth or sponge as soon as you get it back.