The simple answer is no. You do not need an estimate before you decide to get your vehicle repaired. The initial estimate that is written is a visual only estimate and does not account for hidden damage. The damaged area on the vehicle needs to be disassembled to gather the true cost to repair a vehicle. Therefore there is no need to get any visual estimate because it will not be accurate.

A deductible is a specified amount on an auto insurance policy that is deducted from the claim payout and is the contractual responsibility of the vehicle owner when involved in a collision or comprehensive loss. Some insurance companies have vanishing deductibles that reduce the amount of your deductible each year you are accident free. Most deductibles range from $100 to $500.

DRP stands for Direct Repair Program. Auto insurance companies often partner with Collision repair shops as an option to provide repairs for their insured. You as the vehicle owner have the right of choice.

OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer.OEM parts are replacement parts made by the original manufacturer of the vehicle.

Aftermarket parts are manufactured by another company other than the original manufacturer. These parts are made to resemble OEM standards and are often less expensive than OEM parts.

LKQ stands for Like Kind in Quality. These are undamaged parts that were salvaged from a car that was deemed un-repairable.

Additional costs associated with additional damage found beyond the initial estimate.

A Betterment is a charge or reduction in claim payment based on repairs that have put a vehicle in a better condition than before the accident. The difference in payment is an additional expense for the vehicle owner.

A car is deemed a Total Loss when the cost to repair the vehicle exceeds the pre accident value of the vehicle. The insurance company determines if the car is a total loss.

An appearance allowance is given by insurance companies when cosmetic damage is left not repaired and accepted by the customer in exchange for a reduction of their deductable costs.