Collision Damage Repair

If the vehicle is involved in a collision and is damaged, have the damage repaired by a qualified technician using proper equipment and quality replacement parts. Poorly performed collision repair reduces the vehicle's resale value, and safety performance may be compromised in a subsequent collision.

Collision Parts

GM Collision Original Equipment parts are new parts made from the same materials and construction methods as the parts with which the vehicle was originally built. Genuine GM Collision Parts are the best choice to ensure the vehicle's designed appearance, durability, and safety are maintained. Using genuine GM parts may help maintain coverage under the GM New Vehicle Limited Warranty.

Remanufactured original equipment parts may also be used for repair. These parts are typically removed from vehicles that have sustained total losses in previous collisions. In most cases, parts for remanufacturing are obtained from undamaged areas of the vehicle. Remanufactured GM original equipment parts may be an acceptable choice for maintaining the vehicle's original appearance and safety performance; however, the history of these parts is not known. Such parts are not covered by the GM New Vehicle Limited Warranty, and any related failures are not covered by that warranty.

Aftermarket collision parts are also available. They are made by companies other than GM and may not have been tested on the vehicle. As a result, these parts may not fit properly, may exhibit premature durability or corrosion problems, and may not perform correctly in a subsequent collision. Non-GM parts are not covered by the New Vehicle GM Limited Warranty, and any vehicle failure related to such parts is not covered by this warranty.

Repair Facility

GM also recommends that you select a repair facility that meets your needs before you ever need collision repair. Your dealer may be a collision repair center with GM-trained technicians and state-of-the-art equipment, or may be able to recommend a collision repair center that has GM-trained technicians and comparable equipment.

Vehicle Insurance

Protect your investment in your GM vehicle with comprehensive and collision insurance. There are significant differences in the quality of coverage provided by different insurance policies and conditions. Many insurance policies reduce the protection of your GM vehicle by limiting repair cost reimbursement to the use of non-GM collision parts. Some insurance companies will not specify aftermarket parts. When purchasing insurance, we recommend making sure your vehicle will be repaired with GM original collision parts. If such insurance coverage is not available from your current insurance company, consider changing to another insurer.

If the vehicle is leased, the leasing company may require you to have insurance that provides for repair with Original Equipment (OE) GM parts or Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) replacement parts. Read your lease agreement carefully, as you may be charged at the end of the lease for non-quality repairs.

If a Crash Occurs

If there is an injury, call emergency services for help. Do not leave the scene of the accident until everything has been taken care of. Move the vehicle only if its position puts you in danger, or if a police officer orders you to move it.

Give only the necessary information to the police and other parties involved in the accident.

For emergency towing, see Roadside Assistance Program.

Collect the following information:

• Driver's name, address, and telephone number
• Driver's license number
• Owner's name, address, and telephone number
• Vehicle license plate number
• Vehicle make, model, and model year
• Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
• Insurance company and policy number
• General description of damage to the other vehicle

Select a reputable repair facility that uses quality replacement parts. See "Collision Parts" earlier in this section.

If an airbag has deployed, see What You Will See After an Airbag Inflates.

Managing the Collision Repair Process

If the vehicle requires collision repair, GM recommends that you take an active role in its repair. If you have a predetermined repair facility of choice, take the vehicle there or have it towed there. Inform the facility that any required collision parts must be original equipment parts, either new GM original parts or remanufactured GM original parts. Remember, remanufactured parts will not be covered by the GM vehicle warranty.

Insurance pays the repair bill, but you must live with the repair. Depending on your policy limits, your insurance company may initially estimate the repair using replacement parts. Discuss this with the repair professional and insist on GM original parts. Remember, if the vehicle is leased, you may be required to have the vehicle repaired using GM original parts, even if your insurance does not pay the full cost.

If the other party's insurance company pays for the repair, you are not required to accept the repair estimate based on that insurance policy's collision repair limits, since you have no contractual limitations with that company. In such cases you may control the repair and parts selection as long as the cost remains within reasonable limits.