How to get my car out of the garage?

[abc]

The repair garage, that is.

My car is in the shop for a massive pothole demage. Insurance covers a good chunk of it, to the tune of over $1000.

The trouble is, the car is almost good to go, but I haven't received the insurance check yet.

(it's a 2 party check. In the past, when in that kind of situation, I would take the check to the shop, sign it over and they let me take the car. I think technically, they can also sign it over to me and I cash it in the bank)

With the storm, I'm highly doubtful we'll get mail delivered Wednesday. If I don't see the check on Thursday, I won't have any chance to get the mail on Friday and get to the shop in good time to pick up the car!

As we all know, this is an epic weekend to go to snow country... and my car is stuck due to slow mail service!!!

I'm tempted to ask the shop to put it on my credit card and then sign the check over to me when it eventually comes through.

Has any of you done that? What do you see as the potential of something going wrong? (apart from the check not showing up, which I'm pretty sure I can get the insurance company to issue a new one).

I would hate to miss all that snow. But it's a lot of money to be risking here. Unless, of course, it's commonly done that way and I'm just ... uninformed and worry about nothing!

 

[wa-loaf]

Rental?

 

[frapcap]

Rental?

This.

An in-town rental car can be had pretty cheap for a weekend through priceline 'name you price' or through hotwire. A tad bit of cash, but A LOT less headache to fight through if you charge the balance and have to wade through the muck with the shop and their busy schedule.

 

[skifree]

check made out to lienholder?

 

[WWF-VT]

Payment with a credit card. When the check comes have the garage issue a credit for the credit card payment.

 

[abc]

check made out to lienholder?

No lein.

 

[skifree]

insurance company should of just made check out to you. they put body shops name on check?

 

[abc]

Payment with a credit card. When the check comes have the garage issue a credit for the credit card payment.

That's also an option, similar to the shop endorsing the 2-party check over to me. I confess I prefer to have them sign the check to me. That way I don't have to guess if they indeed credited the charge.

I suppose I do have some protection given it's a credit card charge and have the standard provision...

(I have no reason to think the shop nor the insurance company will give me trouble. But it's a large sum so I'm being cautious yet still wants to get my car back)

 

[Abubob]

Hitchhike