Inexpensive Auto Insurance
Can I keep a check for auto-body repairs from my auto Insurance Company?
This situation is a bit complex, but should be easy to understand. I dented my leased vehicle right before the end of the lease. I called my Insurance Company (Allstate) to report it. They had an adjuster inspect it and write up an estimate for me to take to my shop of choice for repair. I chose a shop, and the Insurance Company sent me a check in advance made out to my wife and I AND the auto body shop. Today the end-of-lease inspection was done, and the inspector quoted the repair to be so inexpensive that my lease agreement covers the full cost. So I can just turn it in to the dealership as-is and don’t have to get it repaired. Can I deposit the check?
Unless you can convince to repair shop to join you (and keep their mouth shut) in this act of fraud, you can’t legally cash the check. It’s called fraud, because you have no loss to be paid for. The Insurance companies always include the business that is to do the repairs in the check to help combat fraud of no repairs, or for less repairs than agreed to.
You would be better off returning the check and be off a list for premium increase because of the claim.