Hurricane Sandy Means Cheaper Car Parts
By: Sophie Nielsen-Kolding WMBD/WYZZ TV
Updated: January 3, 2013
PEORIA- The snow and ice is sending cars into ditches and even more serious accidents, but the good news is you might be able to make repairs a little cheaper.
An estimator at D's paint and body shop said Hurricane Sandy totaled a lot of cars, but many parts from those cars are still useable. The increase in supply helps decrease the price.
There are some parts that people should never re-use, like seat belts or airbags, but the wind and salt water weren't enough to damage other parts of these cars.
"The interior is no good, but the exterior panels are still great. They're still clean. They've been cleaned, removed of the salt. We're finding that we can get some better quality parts sometimes with this. It may take an extra day or two, but we are seeing an influx of good useable parts," said estimator, Ed Stanek.
Stanek said ask if you're body shop uses a 'Police Book.'It's how you know the shop is tracking the parts to make sure they're good quality and legal.
He said the savings are greater for insurance companies, but they do trickle down to the customer too, about $5 or $10 per part.
An estimator at D's paint and body shop said Hurricane Sandy totaled a lot of cars, but many parts from those cars are still useable. The increase in supply helps decrease the price.
There are some parts that people should never re-use, like seat belts or airbags, but the wind and salt water weren't enough to damage other parts of these cars.
"The interior is no good, but the exterior panels are still great. They're still clean. They've been cleaned, removed of the salt. We're finding that we can get some better quality parts sometimes with this. It may take an extra day or two, but we are seeing an influx of good useable parts," said estimator, Ed Stanek.
Stanek said ask if you're body shop uses a 'Police Book.'It's how you know the shop is tracking the parts to make sure they're good quality and legal.
He said the savings are greater for insurance companies, but they do trickle down to the customer too, about $5 or $10 per part.
