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Getting into a fender bender can ruin your day. After all, an accident can cost you money out of pocket, and it could impact your yearly costs. Getting taken advantage of by auto body shops and tow truck drivers can worsen the situation. It's also a leading reason car insurance in Ontario is so expensive.
In light of the recent findings, we’ve put together some important information for drivers about how to identify potential deception with automobile repair shops. Here we'll look at the Aviva investigation results and how you can protect yourself from being a victim of these fraudulent incidents.
To investigate the increasing number and cost of claims in Ontario, Aviva Insurance Canada undertook a fraud investigation. Their findings were eye-opening.
Not only is it prevalent in repair shops, the year-long investigation found :
In total, 57% of the total repair costs billed to Aviva as part of the investigation were fraudulent. Aviva estimated the total damage for the 10 vehicles at $30,000. The shops billed them about $61,000.
Learn more about the investigation here.
Automobile repair fraud costs us all. It's estimated to cost insurers and drivers $537 million annually in Ontario. In Canada, it costs more than $2 billion a year, which can contribute to rising car insurance in Canada costs.
About $100 to $150 of your premium goes toward paying for auto insurance fraud.
Avoid these common issues that some mechanics may try to pull while your vehicle is getting fixed :
Suspect a scam or a rip-off scheme at a mechanic shop?
Finding a trustworthy mechanic can be a challenge. If you've never been in an accident, you may not have a preferred repair shop. Here are some tips for finding a reputable body shop:
If you did not get an estimate, they can't prove training or turn a simple repair into something else; these can be red flags of a potential scam.
No matter how unsafe your vehicle may be to drive, a mechanic has no right not to release it.
You can visit Consumer Protection Ontario. Or call toll-free at 1-800-889-9768.
It's important to know your rights when getting claim work done on your vehicle or simply getting car maintenance.
The Motor Vehicle Repair Act and Consumer Protection Act outline your rights. It's important to educate yourself about your rights, maintain good car repair records, and do some research about the vehicle issues you are having before taking your car into the shop. This will help you better understand potential repairs and help reduce the odds of being a victim.
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