The Insurance Company is Responsible for Selecting the Shop to Repair Your Vehicle
False. Insurance agents and adjusters have no authority in telling you where to have your vehicle repaired. It is YOUR investment and YOUR responsibility to select a competent collision repair facility to properly restore your vehicle to pre-loss condition.
The Insurance Representative Said the Shop You Selected Isn’t On Their "Approved" or "Preferred" list, and You Should Choose a Shop From Their "List"
False. In an effort to influence your decision process, some insurance companies use this "preferred shop" technique (under a number of interesting names). By them doing so, many uninformed consumers end up at repair shops who have agreed to repair the vehicle using procedures and imitation parts dictated by the referring insurance company.
You are NOT required to visit these shops. Doing so could put you at a disadvantage in settling your claim and receiving a high-quality repair to your vehicle!
You Must Obtain Multiple Estimates
False. There is no law requiring you to get more than one estimate. This is often the reason one ends up with substandard repair work. You see, buying auto collision repair isn’t like buying a sweeper. It’s easy to compare features among sweepers, but difficult to compare levels of quality when it comes to auto collision repair. A repair can look good after the paint finish is applied, but it's the underlying repair that determines the longevity of the repair.
With multiple estimates in hand, the insurance company will likely pay for the repair based on the lowest estimate.
The problem?
The lowest estimate is often the most incomplete estimate. Here's an example:
Shop A writes an estimate including a number of operations necessary to properly restore your vehicle. These operations could include a wheel alignment check, corrosion protection (rustproofing), aiming of the head lamps, paint blend operations, etc.
Shop B prepares an estimate and overlooks the above mentioned operations from their repair estimate.
The insurance company pays for the repair based on Shop B's estimate. The vehicle owner mistakenly assumes they have done so because Shop B is "cheaper" than Shop A. Because of these omitted operations, the vehicle is returned to the owner with mismatched paint, could exhibit premature tire wear, or begin to rust.
Who loses? The vehicle owner.
All Repair Shops Are Basically the Same
Not true. There are substantial differences among repair shops. Some have made considerably large investments in equipment and training. Many have not. Always do your homework when selecting a repair repair facility. Ask friends for recommendations.
Some vehicle owners assume the dealer must do the repairs to maintain their vehicle manufacturer’s warranty. This is also untrue. The manufacturer warrants only the parts used in the repair process. This warranty is in effect with independent repairers as well.
Furthermore, independent repair shops specialize in collision repair only, where dealers must also focus attention on selling new and used cars, servicing trade-ins, operating parts departments, etc. Independent facilities use the same, manufacturer-warranted parts as the dealer. If you have any questions about the parts warranty, just ask.
Don't rely on your insurance company to make this selection for you. You must do your homework . Select a repair facility that will represent YOUR best interests by repairing your vehicle to pre-accident condition and provide you with a written warranty on the repair.