FAQs

Do I have to take my vehicle to the dealership for collision repairs?

No. You are welcome to take your vehicle where you’d like to have the repairs completed as long as they are an accredited MPI Repair Facility.

When can I get my car / truck in for repairs?

Our answer is always “as soon as possible”, but first we need to find out a little more about your situation. Things such as the extent of the damages, whether you’re feeling safe driving the vehicle in its current condition and locating the right parts can all come into play prior to setting an appointment date for repairs.

How long is my repair going to take?

Each repair is different. We promise to give you an accurate estimate of your repair before we begin, and keep you well informed of our progress. Our goal is to get you back on the road as quickly as possible. However, we never compromise on the quality of any repairs for a quicker repair.

Is my paint going to match?

Yes. Eastside Collision uses state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly paints that match the products used at the factory level. Our qualified technicians are even able to match the factory paint on your older vehicle.

How does my vehicle become a write-off?

We get asked this quite often. A simple mathematical formula decides MPIC’s spending limit on your vehicle.

Example: Normally MPI will spend between 75 – 80% of the current retail value of your vehicle for repairs. They will not consider the full value for repairs as a vehicle that is deemed a total loss will still have what MPI deems a salvage value. This is what they assume they will receive for the vehicle at their salvage auctions.

Is Eastside Collision the right shop for me?

You tell us! Eastside Collision is your “One Stop Shop” for anything automotive related. Check out our customer reviews on Facebook & Google & decide for yourself if we’re the right fit for you.

After my estimator examined my vehicle I noticed some damage was missed. What should I do?

If you find additional damage related to this loss, discuss these damages with the representative at your repair shop. We would be happy to discuss any of these instances with you & report them back to MPI.

Why does Manitoba Public Insurance want to use recycled parts instead of new ones to repair my vehicle?

MPI is obliged to return your vehicle to its condition before the damage occurred. That means we want to give you the same or similar value for what you lost. For example, let’s say your five-year-old vehicle has a fender needing replacement. MPI will try to find a recycled part of the same year for the same vehicle, in the same or better condition. Using a new fender in this case isn’t equal value to the five-year-old fender you had before it was damaged. Besides providing equal replacement, there’s a cost factor too. Using recycled parts, which are about half the cost of new parts, allows us to repair vehicles more economically. Keeping claims costs lower helping keep Autopac premiums lower. Using good-quality recycled parts is also environmentally responsible.

Can I be sure the recycled parts will be good quality?

Yes. We check the parts to make sure they’re in good condition. The parts supplier gives a 90-day parts and labour warranty. If the manufacturer’s warranty on the same new part happens to be more than 90 days, MPI will match the manufacturer’s warranty for the recycled part.

Why does Manitoba Public Insurance want to use aftermarket parts instead of new ones to repair my vehicle?

When recycled parts aren’t available, we may substitute aftermarket parts. These are new or rebuilt parts not usually sold by the vehicle manufacturer. The suppliers ensure the quality of these parts is the same as original parts. The warranty they provide is as good as or better than warranties on new, factory parts. Aftermarket parts include radiators, hoses, belts, steering parts, brake parts, engine parts, etc. They also include sheet metal parts, such as fenders and doors, for vehicles older than five model years. Aftermarket parts generally cost one-third less than new factory parts. That helps control the cost of repairs and in turn, the cost of your insurance. Aftermarket parts are not used to repair current model year vehicles or vehicles with less than 20,000 kms. In short, you’ll get parts equal to original parts.

I prefer new parts. Can I have them put on my vehicle instead?

Yes, but you’ll have to pay the difference between the cost of the aftermarket part and the new part.

What is depreciation and why do I have to pay it?

Depreciation is the decline in value of a part due to wear and tear over time. Automobile insurers try to match their replacement cost to the value of what you actually lost. For example, equal replacement for a worn tire would be a tire with similar wear – not a brand new tire. If it isn’t practical or safe to give you a worn tire as a replacement, you’d get a new tire but would have to pay part of the cost.

How much depreciation might I have to pay?

How much you pay depends on how much the part has aged or worn from when it was new. For example:

• For a tire with half its tread worn, you pay half the cost of a brand new tire and MPI pays the other half.
• For a two-year-old battery expected to last six years, you pay one-third the cost of a brand new battery and MPI pays the other two-thirds.

Why won’t you pay for a complete paint job on my older car?

Today’s Base Coat Clear Coat paints do not fade like they did years ago even on an older vehicle. With this type of paint the actual color is buried underneath 2 or 3 coats of Clear Coat and are not subject to the fading of color pigments as previously. Typically panels are blended into the adjacent panels so as to eliminate any color variances from refinishing repaired or replacement panels. Your insurance covers physical damage sustained to your vehicle that would not include paint on another part of the vehicle that might have wear & tear over time.

I’d prefer to get money instead of having my car fixed. Can you just pay me for the vehicle damage?

MPI doesn’t pay money for damage for a couple of reasons. The first is safety, they want vehicles returned to the road in safe operating condition. Also, they want to prevent a future owner of the vehicle from claiming the same damage.

Will I have to pay anything in addition to my deductible to have my vehicle repaired?

You’re responsible for the cost of any betterment of the pre-damage condition of your vehicle. If the calculated betterment amount is $50 or less, there’s no cost to you. If the calculated betterment amount exceeds $50, the full betterment amount must be paid to the repair facility after the work is done. GST registrants also have to pay the GST on all repairs but can claim that back from Revenue Canada as an input tax credit when the vehicle is used for business purposes.

Where can I go for more information?

For more information on repairing your vehicle, please speak with your adjusting team, or visit mpi.mb.ca.