Although I am in CA and other states laws may be different, you are entitled to have the car repaired anyplace you want - you don't even need more than 1 estimate - you can even get the estimate in Beverly Hills if you like.

 

all body shops will give you low quotes, once they start the work itll be way more. This will be same situation for you btw once you begin working on it. I wouldn't recommend trying to pocket money on it. Just get it done by the most expensive body shop you can find and have Hertz pay for it...sorry to hear bout the car btw, that majorly sucks

 

wanting money in your pocket... haha! I guess thats the american way. Be happy its getting fixed. Just go to the best body shop you know of and get them to do it.

 

Dude, just take your car to a shop, have them get a full estimate and when they see all the things u said hertz didnt see, they will contact hertz(or whichever insurance company hertz uses) and say they need to come out again and show them what htey missed. At that point hertz will say ok, and agree on the new estimate.

Now, having said all that. Hertz will process a check and send it to you. But somewhere between you the estimate being final and the shop starting work on your car, you need to tell the shop your gonna figure out another way to fix it, keep the check for yourself and fix it. Or even call a shop ahead of time and ask, "can you just write up a proper estimate for me? I do work on my own car and wanna minimize costs. I just need an estimate." Most shops dont even care.

This is common. Gentlemen hit my car, i took it to shop and got an estimate, and kept the money and didnt even fix the car, cuz it didnt bother me too much.

Done.

 

If there's a lien on the car, it may not be that simple.