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Step 1: Check yourself and your passenger(s) for injuries. If anyone is injured, call 911 or ask someone else to do so. If you are seriously injured, try not to move, and wait for emergency personnel.

Step 2: Get to Safety. Turn off your vehicle and if you are able and it’s safe to do so, get out and take pictures of the accident, then pull your vehicle to the side of the road. If vehicle is smoking or you feel it’s unsafe, then get yourself to safety, keeping a safe distance from the damaged vehicle(s).

Step 3: Call 911. Whether it’s a minor fender-bender or a major collision, calling the police is important. In some states, it’s legally required. The responding officers will fill out an accident report and document the scene. If the police cannot come to the scene of the accident, you may go to the nearest police station to complete a report yourself. A police report will often be required by their insurer to begin the claims process.

Step 4: Exchange information. When possible, exchange the following contact and insurance information with the other driver(s):

Full name and contact information (Pictures of their license/ID’s)

Insurance company and policy number (Pictures of their insurance ID cards)

Vehicle information (Pictures of their license plate(s) and vehicle)

Location of the accident

Note: We recommend that you avoid discussing fault when going over the facts with the other driver. During your insurance claims process, the adjuster reviewing your claim will determine who’s at fault based on all pertinent information provided.

Step 5: Start the claims process. You may want to call your insurance company OR Ideal Automotive Services so we can get started on your claim, answer any questions you may have, and handle the rest for you. Our experts will provide complimentary advice to resolve your liability in your favor to the best of our abilities.

Contact usCall 1-800-688-0456

If you are involved in a hit and run accident, first check for any injuries. If there are any injuries, stay calm and call 911 immediately. You may elect to contact your Ideal Claims Specialist for free expert advice and decide whether or not it’s worthwhile to file an insurance claim. Our team can provide you with complimentary plate search in NYS to find the party responsible for the accident who fled the scene.

Note: Plate search results is not a guarantee of us finding the other party.

Ideal Auto is closely monitoring the spread of COVID-19 and its impact on vehicle repairs processes for our clients. We have optimized our locations in compliance with all CDC guidelines with stringent cleaning, disinfecting, and social distancing measures. With your safety being our top priority, we have also implemented the use of temperature scanners, PPE, and acrylic sneeze guards throughout our stores. We recommend that you make advance appointments to limit our in-store occupancy and help us maintain social distancing. Alternatively, we do offer complimentary “VIP Express Service” for your vehicle pick-up and/or drop-off for all service or repair needs.

Schedule Your AppointmentCall 1-800-688-0456

Our shops are open Monday thru Friday from 8:30 AM - 6:00 PM EST. Check out our locations page for any updated hours of operation.

Yes! We provide complimentary VIP Express Service for touchless vehicle pick-up and drop-off. If you would like to drop-off your vehicle to us yourself, we will provide rental, shuttle, or Uber to get you home.

Claim numbers are provided by your insurance carrier when you report your accident. If we reported the accident for you, we will provide you with the claim number and other relevant information. Once a claim is filed, your Ideal Claims Specialist will handle the rest.

Your deductible amount, as indicated on your insurance policy will need to be paid to us upon job completion.

Full payment is due upon completion of your repairs and prior to vehicle delivery, no exceptions.

Ideal Automotive Services offers a full range of payment options for you to pay for your vehicle repairs. We accept the following forms of payments:

Insurance Company Check. Insurance check(s) you may receive are solely purposed for the payment of your claimed repairs and they need to be endorsed over to Ideal Automotive Services. Your insurance check(s) received that shows additional payee noted with a lienholder or third-party name(s) requires their endorsement as well in order to be accepted by us.

Certified Check. Certified or cashier’s checks from your banking institution payable to Ideal Automotive Services.

Cash.

Personal or Company Checks. These checks are accepted but cannot be pre or post-dated and the funds must clear into our bank account prior to vehicle pick-up.

All Major Credit Cards. We accept VISA, Discover, MasterCard, American Express, Apple Card.

Zelle. Simply ask your Ideal Claims Specialist for directions to quick-pay via Zelle.

Because newly repaired vehicle’s paint is soft, it needs time to properly cure and allow the paint’s solvents ample time to evaporate. Therefore, our experts recommend that you wait a minimum of 30 to 90 days before washing it for maximum protection and best results. If you must wash your vehicle within this timeframe, then you should take the following precautions.

Do:

Only wash the vehicle by hand with clean and cool water along with a very mild car wash solution using a soft microfiber cloth or sponge.

Only wash your vehicle in the shade or anywhere away from direct sunlight.

Operate vehicle normally, but take extra precautions.

Do Not:

Use mechanical or high-pressure wash.

Use harsh soap.The chemicals in some car wash detergents could damage the paint and its coatings.

Wax or polish the vehicle. Using wax on your car’s paint before it had a chance to cure properly can trap the solvents, causing the paint to look dull.

Dry wipe dirt or other contaminants off of your vehicle. This can damage the finish.

Park under trees or other areas that are at higher risk of bird droppings or tree sap. Bird droppings are highly acidic and will damage freshly painted surfaces.

Scrape ice or snow from newly painted surfaces.

Drive on gravel roads or construction zones that contain loose gravel. The new paint’s finish is vulnerable to chips from flying rocks because it hasn’t had enough time to harden into a protective barrier.

Yes, our team can help you process loss wages claim with your insurance company to seek maximum compensation for loss of work resulting from your auto accident.

Depending on your insurance coverages, your Ideal Claims Specialist works closely with our in-house Certified Auto Appraiser to help you claim diminished value on your vehicle resulting from your accident.