Do I Have The Right To Take My Car To The Auto Body Shop That I Choose Or To The Preferred Shop Of My Insurance Company?

In case you are involved in a fender bender, there is a high probability that your insurance company will ask you to drop your car at a specific Auto Body Shop. You should know that you have the right to go to the collision center of your choice to perform the necessary repairs. There is no law that requires you to follow the orders of your insurance company to go or not go to a specific Auto Body Shop.

Every insurance company has contracts with various collision centers in most cities, the industry term for these contracts is DRP (Direct Repair Program). The truth is that this program cost less and saves the insurance company some expenses, on the other hand, it is not always beneficial to the customer. So basically, for the extra referrals, the Auto body shop is required under the contract signed to give the insurance company a break on parts prices and labor rates. While the repairs may look reasonable to the insurance company’s appraiser, there is no guarantee that you will be pleased with the quality of the repairs.

According to the statistics, 70% of the auto claims that insurance companies deal with are handled by the DRP shops, in fact, insurance companies would like all their claims to go to their contracted auto body shops. To stop you from going to the repair shop of your choice, the insurance company will warn you that they are not going to warranty the repairs, so basically you are on your own in assuming the responsibility for the work performed on your car. Another scare tactic used by the insurance company is to warn the policyholder that the process will take longer if they go to an out-of-network Auto Body Shop. The truth of the matter is that every respectable collision center provides warranties on their work. Patriots Auto Body offers a Lifetime Warranty on paint and bodywork. Reputable Auto body shops are used to handling insurance claims, and the process is not long, as most insurance companies claim, in fact, it is usually quick and hassle-free.

If you are looking for an auto body repair shop, keep in mind that you have the right to choose your own collision shop. If the insurance company sends you to their recommended shop and their work is not up to par, you have two choices, you will either have to pay another Auto Body Shop to fix your car again or just live with it. Be Smart in your decision-making, do your homework and make sure you obtain estimates from several Auto Body Shops. Patriots Auto Body provides a Free Estimate to give you an idea of how much the repairs will cost you. Drivers residing in Lowell and surrounding cities are strongly encouraged to contact Patriots Auto Body and Collision Center. The friendly staff will be more than happy to answer all your questions or concerns and get you back on the road in no time.