When you make a claim for damage to your vehicle, you'll receive an appointment to have the damage assessed by an SGI appraiser.
You'll need this estimate in order to have your vehicle repaired.
Report cost before repair
When the cost to repair your vehicle appears to be more extensive than is apparent without taking apart your vehicle, or the cost of repairs appears to approach the value of your vehicle, the appraiser will stamp report cost before repair on the appraisal sheet.
This alerts the repairer to carefully review the estimate and your vehicle, and prepare a final price before any repairs are started. This final price will be reported to your adjuster, who will then determine if your vehicle is economical to repair. Review information on assessing your vehicle.
Disagreement with appraisal
A difference of opinion as to the nature or extent of repairs should be brought to the attention of your adjuster and the following steps should be taken:
- If the disagreement can't be resolved with your adjuster, ask to have the manager of the SGI Claims Centre or the manager of appraisals review the appraisal.
- If you still have concerns, take the vehicle to a repair shop of your choice for their opinion. They will discuss the repair procedures with you, and if this does not resolve the problem, the repairer will contact the manager of appraisals.
- If your concern is still unresolved, you have the option to try and resolve it through binding arbitration. Two appraisers - one appointed by you and the other by SGI - will choose a mutually acceptable umpire and the 3 individuals will render a decision. You can represent yourself in the arbitration process.
Each party is responsible for their own costs, as well as half of the cost of the umpire. The decision reached is binding on both you and SGI.
Unrelated damage
SGI and the person who caused the damage to your vehicle are only responsible for the damage caused by the recent collision. You will be responsible to pay the repair shop for any previous damage unrelated to the collision that is repaired.
Replacement parts
SGI always indicates on the appraisal sheet the type of replacement parts that will be used in repairing your vehicle.
For example:
- if recycled parts are used, quality recycled will appear next to the replacement part
- if after-market parts are used, quality replacement will appear next to the replacement part
