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The Insurance Already Paid Me... Now What?

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 20:56:21 GMT

You May Have Been Short Changed By The Insurance Company

We have seen a dramatic increase in claims that have been paid out without completing repairs.

Insurance companies are quick to settle a claim for far less than what it should be and then get a check to the vehicle owner, hoping that it never gets fixed.

With the financial uncertainty of the past few years, many drivers have received checks for vehicle damage but have hesitated to initiate repairs. (Which of course plays right into the hands of the insurance companies).

Even before COVID, insurance companies were tampering with generating estimates from only pictures as opposed to physically inspecting damaged vehicles. COVID fully opened those doors. Claimants were advised that they MUST send in pictures in order for them to generate an estimate.

That seemed reasonable enough, and it saved the insurance companies money.

However, it didn’t long before those companies realized that they could save a whole lot more money by “missing” damage that they claim they couldn’t see in a photo.

Seemingly overnight, Insurance companies’ initial estimates dropped significantly, skirting California regulations against such unfairness*.

Therefore, practically every insurance [initial] estimate is likely to be woefully short. Once a damaged vehicle is in a repair shop, the insurance company willingly writes a better supplemental estimate and pays the repair shop. But for those that never get their car fixed, the insurance company has saved (sometimes) thousands of dollars at the vehicle owner’s expense.

Consequently, a vehicle owner with an insurance claim that may be thinking about holding off on repairs, would be well advised to stop by Auernig Auto Body with the vehicle and a copy of the insurance estimate to find out how much the insurance company has short paid their claim.

If you, or someone that you know falls into that category, we can help! We can get a claim re-opened and hold the insurance company accountable for the full amount due under the law.

Simply give us a call and we can discuss your options. We’re always happy to help!

*Cal. Code Regs. tit. 10, §2695.7(g)

“No insurer shall attempt to settle a claim by making a settlement offer that is unreasonably low.”

Things To Do to Make the Holidays Even Happier

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 17:56:39 GMT

Things to Do to Make the Holidays Even Happier!

IIt’s that time of the year again! Fortunately, there is an abundance of activities in our area to help us to thoroughly enjoy the season. Here are a few activities (and links) that you may or may not have known about but are certainly worth looking into.

Holiday Lights in our area:

Possibly the best way to see amazing displays of Holiday lights is to tour the Fab 40’s via horse drawn carriage with Top Hand Ranch. They have various sized carriages and wagons that accommodate from 4 to 20 adults. They welcome music, snacks, beverages, etc. Fair warning though… You have to plan WAY ahead. They book out nearly a year in advance, so you may have to put this on your 2026 wish list.

You can also drive through and if you’re lucky enough to find a place to park, stroll through the fabulous 40’s. Or, if your more adventurous, you can try Sac Brew Bike’s Annual Fab 40’s Light Tours . The Fab 40’s is 40th through 49th streets, between J Street and Folsom Boulevard in East Sacramento.

Dovewood Court Parade of Lights in Orangevale is a longtime favorite. There is typically parking available nearby at the Orangevale Grange or Christ the King Lutheran Church. There may be a small fee to park as a fundraiser for worthy causes but being able to take your time and walk through is well worth it. Often there are goodies available for purchase as well. Like many of the neighborhood-wide decorations locations, The Dovewood Neighborhood often utilizes the season for a food drive for local charities, so feel free to show your appreciation by bringing a few non-perishable items.

Folsom has a couple of neighborhoods worth checking out. Darvel Court and Ledgemont Court both get rave reviews every year.

In Rocklin, Pebble Creek Drive is a must see. You can park in the Bel Air parking lot and take a leisurely stroll through the neighborhood.

The Natomas area boasts over a hundred homes and millions of lights on Rockmont Circle . They too, put out a food collection barrel at Java Court for donations of non-perishables.

Perhaps a more physical activity is up your alley. There are at least a couple of great outdoor Ice-Skating Rinks in our area that are open just for the season. Downtown Sacramento Ice Rink right outside the Golden One Center and Folsom Ice Rink in historic Old Folsom both have great venues for the kiddos and those of us brave enough to re-live our youth. The Folsom Farmer’s Market takes place every Saturday Morning and is right next to the rink, so you could let the kids burn off some energy while you get your fruits, veggies and crafts shopping done.

Maybe a train ride is more your style… There are at least two great area options for that. The Polar Express and Magical Christmas Train are certainly worth a look.

How about shopping in the German outdoor Christmas Markets tradition?

The 25th Annual Christkindlmarkt is offered December 6th and 7th by the Sacramento Turn Verein is an awesome and unique opportunity.

Finally, if animals are more your thing…

The Folsom Zoo hosts their "Wild Nights & Holiday Lights" event from December 5th through the 22nd, from 5pm to 8pm. Tickets available through EventHub . It’s a lot of fun and gives a rare chance to see some of the nocturnal critters in action.

Wishing you all the Happiest Holiday Season

Drive safely,

Rob

Add Incident Instructions to Your Phone

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 18:57:18 GMT

Follow the Steps Below to Add Post-Accident Reminders to Your Phone

1. Open Auernig.com in your browser.

2. Click the 3 dots (or 3 lines) on the menu bar and select "Share".

3. Scroll down the list of options, then tap "Add to Home Screen".

I’ll Just Pay Out of Pocket…

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 18:08:54 GMT

“It's too difficult to make a claim. I'll just pay out of pocket...” has been a statement that has been heard far too often in my shop lately.

So, what has changed? Why is it increasingly difficult to make a claim?

The California Department of Insurance (DOI) has promulgated regulations that the insurance companies MUST follow regarding claims handling practices. However, the DOI has almost no real authority to require the insurance companies to do anything. Therefore, insurance companies claim departments have learned that they can run roughshod over consumers, and there will be virtually no accountability thrust upon them. Furthermore, the regulations generally relate to the selling of insurance, and what is required of them after a claim is made. Very few regulations address the claims-making process other than timeframes that must be met by insurers. (Those often get trampled as well).

Therefore, the claims-making process varies greatly from company to company. Add to that, cutbacks to personnel make even getting ahold of a claims representative sometimes challenging. And, when you do, you’re likely to find that the knowledge and professionalism of the personnel is greatly reduced from years past.

Many insurance companies are now requesting that you send them photos so that they can “efficiently” initiate an estimate. That process in itself, can seem cumbersome (possibly by design…). Often, the result is an estimate for far lower than you could possibly get your vehicle repaired, which is yet another violation of regulations, but they do it anyway. Of course, they’ll explain that there may be “other damage” and that they’ll revisit it then. Often, their initial estimate is so low and below your deductible that it absolves them of any commitment at this time, or for a claimant, they hope that that miniscule amount is spent, and actual repairs are never pursued. Either way, the insurance company has set themselves up in manner that may greatly benefit them at the expense of the already financially injured party.

DON’T LET THAT HAPPEN!

If you’re the insured, you’ve already paid for your repairs (other than your chosen deductible amount). That’s what your premiums are.

Don’t let them finagle you into paying twice!

If you’re a claimant, then you deserve to be made whole. Don’t let them off the hook because they’ve made it intentionally difficult!

In either case, we are here to help you through the process.

At Auernig Auto Body, we realize that you are already in an undesirable position. Let’s face it, nobody wants to have to take their car into a body shop. We will do everything that we can to minimize your frustration and help you through this process while attempting to hold the insurance company accountable. (an ever-increasingly difficult task…) ��

The old days of trusting your insurance company are over!

Likely, best-case scenario is that you have two advocates in your corner… Hopefully, you are fortunate to have a good insurance agent. A good agent will get involved in the claims process, if need be, or at least help you to navigate its pitfalls.

Your other advocate is Auernig Auto Body. We are one of the few shops left that choose to work for you, rather than the insurance companies. We will always put your interests ahead of those of the insurance company.

I hope you find this helpful!

Drive safely,

Rob

Buying a Used Car? Here’s What We Recommend

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 16:14:24 GMT

Car Buying Tips to Help You Avoid Costly Mistakes

Our Customers are always welcome to bring a potential new-to-them used car by Auernig Auto Body for a courtesy pre-purchase inspection.

However, what if that’s not feasible? A Vehicle History Report could be helpful, but we often find incomplete or inaccurate information on those. Just because a dealer shows you a “clean” report, doesn’t mean the car has never been repaired. And even if it has been repaired, a properly and professionally repaired vehicle can still be a very good vehicle to buy.

Here are a few things to look for that may help you from making a costly mistake.

First thing is a cursory review of the overall condition. Does it look like a car that’s been well cared for?

Or… is it one that’s been recently detailed to look like it was well cared for??? Looking into the nooks and crannies for years-old dirt and debris could be very telling.

Next, take a look at the exterior of the car from a distance and from various angles.

Does the paint match to the adjacent panels? Or is it like the picture where one panel is just slightly different from the next? Is the color consistent throughout? (It’s important to know that often times, the bumpers are a poor match to their mating panels, even right from the factory. A mismatch there may not be indicative of anything, but worth noting). Is the texture of the paint consistent throughout? Paint will often have a texture to it, similar to an orange peel in some cases. Higher end cars usually exhibit less texture than others. Either way, the finish should be consistent. If not, there may have been previous repairs. One option is to purchase a fairly inexpensive mil gauge. Excessive paint thickness may also indicate previous repairs.

An Inexpensive Thickness Gauge may be less than $20 and can save you thousands of dollars. Standard paint thickness should be in the 3-7 mils range. Typically, a bit thicker paint on the horizontal surfaces as compared to the vertical, but the measurements should be fairly consistent throughout the vehicle (note that the gauge will only work on the metal panels). It’s not unusual for (especially front) bumpers to be repainted right before being sold. Take a close look at the grill area and fog lights for indications of repaint, such as overspray, painted-over-chips and inconsistent texture.

If that all looks good, then open all of the doors, hood and deck lid. Are the door jambs the same color as the exterior? If not… Run! (A complete exterior repaint is not something that should be purchased without clear support of what that paint is hiding and some indication of likely longevity of the refinish work.) Look in the jambs to see if there is any overspray, or masked paint edges like int the picture.

If the car looks good so far, take a look at the hardware that attaches the opening panels, fenders and bumpers if visible. Do the bolts look untouched or are there wrench marks on them? Disturbed bolts could be as innocent as a minor adjustment made before the dealer sold it as a new car or may be an indication to look more closely at that area of the car. For example, if the fender bolts show evidence of having a wrench applied, look for areas in the engine compartment that indicate a previous collision. Look for things like cracked paint, rust, overspray, missing hardware, bent structure or anything out of the ordinary.

If after the inspection, you still feel like it’s a worthy vehicle, then a test drive is in order. Excessive squeaks and rattles may be an indication of concern. Does the car travel straight without pulling to one side or the other? Does it stop in a straight line when heavily applying the brakes? Is the steering responsive?

Anything that you find out of the ordinary that doesn’t scare you away from the car could be an opportunity to negotiate the price in your favor.

Auernig Auto Body is always happy to provide a pre-purchase inspection free of charge. Just give us a call!

If after all of this, you still feel like it’s a car that you want to buy, a pre-purchase inspection of the drivetrain by a trusted mechanic is ALWAYS a good idea.

I hope you find this helpful!

Drive safely,

Rob

Deductibles and Replacement Car Coverage

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 16:48:11 GMT

September 2025 Blog

Deductibles and Replacement Car Coverage

Deductibles and Replacement Car (rental car) Coverage are two variables in your insurance policy that may warrant further review.

Typically, a higher deductible lowers your monthly payment, while a lower one raises the monthly cost. Likewise, adding rental coverage will also add to the monthly expense of your insurance.

However, we find that most of our insured customers think they have rental coverage, only to find out after an incident that they do not. That can be a rude awakening during an already-stressful situation.

There are also a variety of levels of rental coverage. Some insurance companies may limit the dollar amount or only pay a percentage of rental expense (and ONLY if a rental is utilized), while others may give a daily allowance whether or not a vehicle is actually utilized. Generally, in each case there are limits to the number of days that will be allowed. However, for a claimant (a person making a claim against another’s insurance policy), there are typically no such limitations other than policy limits.

Nevertheless, policy limits have become an issue over recent years. This year, California raised minimum property damage coverage from $5,000 to $15,000. That means that if you are hit by a minimally covered driver, your claim against their insurance would cap out at $15K, including rental expense. If there was another car involved, your share is pro-rated and may be significantly less. Oftentimes, this issue doesn’t become apparent for days or weeks, which means that the rental expense could end up coming out of your pocket if your own coverage lacks replacement vehicle allowance.

Ideally, we are fully aware of our insurance costs and exposure. Although the reality is that most of us are only aware of the costs, and we assume that our exposure is minimal.

Therefore, in the short term, it would be best to review your policy and remind yourself of those coverages that you selected back when you purchased your policy. The best option is to review your policy with your agent. Many of you know that I am a big fan of agents. Agents are likely the only ones within the company that truly care about you as a client, and a healthy relationship with an insurance agent can save you money and relieve stress.

Agents are the experts that are looking out for your interests and adjusting your exposure to that of your choosing. But what if you have one of those agentless insurance companies? One option would be to have your current policy reviewed by an agent of another company to get a price quote. Most agents will review your policy free of charge and may offer advice to reduce exposure or save money.

In the chaos of customers dealing with insurance claims departments, we often get asked, “What’s the best insurance company?”. The answer is always, “the ones with the best agents.”

A good agent will help hold their company accountable to the provisions of the policy and state laws and regulations in the event of a claims department trying to get away with something at your expense. They can also provide you with the price of changing your deductibles or rental coverages to give peace of mind in the event of an unfortunate incident.

Feel free to give us a call if you need a referral to a good agent!

I hope you find this helpful!

Drive Safely,

~Rob