Got an Insurance Check for Your Car But Never Fixed It? Here's What You Should Know
Got an Insurance Check for Your Car But Never Fixed It?
It happens more often than you'd think.
An accident happens, insurance sends a check, and life gets busy. The car still has the dent. The check got deposited — or maybe it's still sitting in a drawer. Either way, the damage was never actually repaired.
Now, months or even a year or two later, you're wondering: is it too late?
The Short Answer: It Depends on What You Signed
In Texas, if you accepted an insurance payout but never signed a formal release of claims, your situation may still be negotiable. A release permanently closes a claim — but simply receiving and cashing a check doesn't always mean you've signed one.
If you're unsure whether you signed a release, that's the first thing to find out.
Signing a release typically closes a claim permanently. But if you have not yet signed one, the claim may still be negotiable even if you accepted a partial payment.
What About the Two-Year Window?
Under Texas law, you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a property damage claim. If you're approaching that window — or think you may have already passed it — it's worth acting quickly and getting a professional opinion before assuming it's too late.
How Excellence Auto Collision Can Help
This is exactly the kind of situation where having a shop in your corner makes a difference. Excellence Auto Collision works directly with insurance companies and can help you:
Review what your original claim covered
Determine whether repairs can still be scheduled under that payout
Communicate with your insurer if the claim needs to be revisited
Get your car properly repaired — finally
If you've been sitting on an unrepaired claim, don't assume the window has closed without checking first. A free estimate costs nothing, and we can help you figure out where things stand.
📍 13181 Harmon Rd, Fort Worth, TX 76177
📞 (682) 250-3045
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