Insurance pays $ ..?/hr car repair rates

[Muncher]

I got my airbags stolen out my Toyota Corolla last week. Of course I took it back to a Toyota dealer as the car is new and under warranty. I understand that it's not part of warranty for the repair, but for safety didn't want to take it to any old bodyshop (who will probably install a stolen old one!)

Now I find out that RBC Insurance only pays out max $65-80/hr for labour, but Toyota charges anything from $90-110 an hour, so I have to pay in. It doesn't say anywhere on my policy that there's a limit to labour rates.

Does anyone know whether other insurance companies are the same? It's a bummer that I pay almost $2000 a year premium, $300 deductible and still have to pay for my car to be fixed.

Any advice please for a disgruntled RFDer?

[bunga]

well, you're kind of screwed

insurance companies not only like to pay a lower labor rate than the norm, but they also try to skim as much as possible off the labor times. Whoever is in contact with the insurance adjuster from the dealership will normally try to work it out with them to come to an agreeable medium, so that you don't have to pay outside of your deductible. If however the insurance company is really lowballing the dealership and is unwilling to budge, the dealership can ask you to pay the difference or refuse to do the work period.

Best advice I can offer is try to go back to the dealership where you bought the car/service the car, they want to keep you as a customer so they might be more willing to play around with the labour amount. You can also try contacting a manager at your insurance company and see if they are willing to budge on their rates

good luck