Know Your Rights
How Do I Choose A Collision Repair Facility?
As the owner of a motor vehicle involved in an accident or submitting an insurance claim, you have the right to choose the shop where you wish to have your vehicle repaired. No law requires you to get more than one estimate, nor are you obligated to have your vehicle repaired at the “cheapest” shop or one “preferred” by the insurance company. You should select a repair facility based on their skill, service, knowledge, reputation and guarantee of their workmanship.
Remember, the body shop is fixing YOUR vehicle for YOU. If you’re making an insurance claim, the insurer pays the bill, but most states prohibit the insurer from requiring you to use a particular shop — that means, ultimately, no matter what you hear, THE BODY SHOP IS YOUR CHOICE.
What Is A DRP Body Shop?
Direct Repair Program (DRP) is another name for an insurance company’s listing of shops, such as: State Farm’s “Service First”, Allstate’s “PRO”, Progressive’s “Total Pro or Concierge”, etc. DRP repair facilities have been solicited by the insurance company which sends customers their way in exchange for discounted repairs, such as lower labor rates or parts discounts. The consumer is not required or obligated to use a DRP repair facility.
Automotive Specialties made a decision many years ago to decline any DRP contracts which allows us to work WITH all insurance companies but work FOR our customer.
Must I Notify My Insurance Company Before Repairs?
Yes, insurance policies require that you notify the company and tell them where the damaged vehicle may be inspected. The insurance company may wish to send an adjustor of their choice to inspect the vehicle or review the shop’s estimate prior to repair.
Who Pays The Repair Bill?
You must arrange for payment. Your insurance policy states the insurance company will pay for repairs less any deductibles or depreciation.
What If Repair Costs Exceed The Original Estimate?
Often times in the collision repair process additional damages are found resulting in more labor and parts needed to restore the vehicle to pre-accident condition. Parts sometimes come in at higher prices than quoted. These additional charges are called a supplement and will be covered by the insurance company with supporting paperwork from the repair facility.
If There Is A Problem With The Repair Job, Who Should You Contact?
First, contact the manager of the repair shop. If your problem is not resolved, contact your insurance company claims manager.
GOOGLE THAT SH*T…
After an automobile accident, googling “auto body repair near me” may seem the easiest step. However, the auto industry is huge and countless large national chains are competing for your business. The local, family-owned business may not have afforded the privilege of appearing at the top of your search.
Furthermore, shops that are a part of a national chain tend to make many of their decisions under the influence of insurance providers since they will get a lot of work sent their way from these partnerships. This relationship allows insurance providers to negotiate low labor rates with the shops on their “list”. Lower income on each job has to be made up somewhere else, doesn’t it?
A local body shop that is not bound by direction from the insurance company will likely perform services and repairs specifically needed resulting in a finished job they can fully warranty.
In a family business you will likely deal with the owner or a long-time employee rather than a series of customer service reps.
A small shop’s success often depends on word-of-mouth and each completed repair is a rolling advertisement of the shop’s work and reputation.
Automotive Specialties has been serving this community since 1983. This longevity must say something about the quality of our work. Located in the back southeast corner of Yorkville’s Fox Industrial Park, we do not get drive by traffic so local advertising and word-of-mouth has been our best advertisement over all these years. We choose to work for YOU, not the insurance company- so we are not on any of the insurance company’s “lists”.
Should your friends and/or family ever require collision repair services from a major accident, minor dent or bumper blemish, tell them to search Automotive-Specialties.com.