Should I use my insurance company’s auto repair shop?

Jul 08, 2017

My answer to this question will take a slightly different tack than those already provided. Let’s get to the bottom line first: It is your prerogative to take the vehicle to a body shop of your choice. If you have a body shop that you prefer and want to have them do the work… feel free to use that shop. Continue Reading

My answer to this question will take a slightly different tack than those already provided.

Let’s get to the bottom line first:

If you have a body shop that you prefer and want to have them do the work… feel free to use that shop.

Trust and relationship still mean something today. If you trust a shop different than those sponsored by the insurance company, make that clear to the claims adjuster right up front. Have the adjuster work with your body shop directly to negotiate the scope of loss and pricing.

Just because a shop is affiliated with an insurance company does  not  make them better at what they do. Regardless, who you have work on your vehicle is  your choice.  Said a little stronger… Insurance companies can not dictate which shop you use.

On the other hand…

There are  benefits  to using the body shop affiliated with your auto insurance company.

Let’s take one company,  Progressive Network of body shops  as an example. Any body shop affiliated with Progressive must adhere to:

Most body shops that affiliate with an insurance company are bound contractually to hold to similar standards. If a problem arises, it usually is worked out between the company and the affiliated shop.

BTW… the shop you like may make the same type of commitments to you directly. Maybe it would be worth showing the benefits offered by the affiliated shop and ask them to respond?

It’s your choice. Making a good decision should include a look at the benefits you might forgo.

Choosing to use your own shop may simply result in taking more personal responsibility for the issues bulleted above, in addition to the final workmanship.


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“Ask Jeff" is a weekly post made on the RyanAgency.com Blog. 

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