Honestly, I think the “like kind and quality” thing is just vague enough that it leaves us stuck with subpar fixes way too often.
That’s a fair point—“like kind and quality” can be a gray area. Have you ever had a shop actually refuse to blend, or was it always the insurance side pushing back? I’ve seen situations where shops claim they can match perfectly, but in reality, it’s rarely seamless. Does anyone know if South Dakota law spells out anything more specific about paint blending, or is it really just left up to interpretation?
I’ve seen situations where shops claim they can match perfectly, but in reality, it’s rarely seamless.
That’s exactly it—shops love to promise “perfect” color matches, but I’ve yet to see one that holds up under sunlight. In my experience, insurance is almost always the one balking at paying for blending, not the shop. South Dakota law is annoyingly vague on this stuff... it feels like they intentionally left it open so insurance companies could wiggle out of paying for proper repairs. If you want a finish that actually looks right, you end up eating the extra cost yourself. Kind of defeats the whole point of having coverage, doesn’t it?
It’s wild how “perfect match” seems to mean “close enough if you squint” once you get the car out in the sun. I had a silver sedan that looked like two different cars depending on the angle—hood was one shade, fender was... something else entirely. The shop blamed the insurance, insurance blamed the shop, and there I was, stuck in the middle, wallet a little lighter.
I’ve always wondered—has anyone actually managed to get an insurance adjuster to approve full blending, or is that just a pipe dream in South Dakota? I’ve heard stories about folks in other states having better luck, but maybe that’s just wishful thinking. Do you think it’s worth fighting over, or is it just easier to accept the mismatch and move on? Sometimes I wonder if I’m the only one who notices these things...
Title: Confused about insurance rules in South Dakota—help me figure this out
Yeah, matching paint is a whole saga, especially with silver. I’ve read that even with the right paint code, there’s a bunch of variables—age, sun exposure, even how the original paint was sprayed. It’s honestly kind of amazing any two panels ever match at all.
About getting an adjuster to approve full blending: it’s tough, but not impossible. Here’s what I’ve learned after dealing with this a couple times (and talking to way too many body shops):
1. Start with documentation. If you can get the shop to write up why blending is necessary for a proper match (some shops are more willing than others), that helps when you talk to your adjuster.
2. Reference OEM procedures. Some car manufacturers actually specify blending adjacent panels as part of their repair process. If you can find that info for your make/model, it gives you some leverage.
3. Push for an in-person inspection. Sometimes adjusters just go off photos and don’t see the mismatch in real light. If you can get them to look at it outside, they might be more likely to approve extra work.
4. Escalate if needed. If the first adjuster won’t budge, ask for a supervisor or file a complaint with your state’s insurance commissioner. It’s a hassle, but sometimes it gets results.
That said... sometimes it really does feel like an uphill battle, especially in places where insurance companies know most people won’t push back hard. I’ve had luck once getting blending covered (on a red car, not silver), but honestly? It took weeks of calls and emails and wasn’t really worth the stress for me.
Curious if anyone here has tried going through the state insurance department or small claims court over paint match issues? I’ve heard mixed things about how much they’ll actually intervene versus just siding with whatever the insurer says is “industry standard.”
Yeah, silver’s a nightmare for matching—my last car was silver and the door looked like it came from a different decade after a repair. I’ve heard mixed stuff about getting the state involved too. My cousin tried in Minnesota and just got bounced around. I wish insurance would just cover it right the first time, but I guess that’s wishful thinking...
