Can I choose where to get my vehicle repaired after an accident?
You may wonder whether you can choose where to get your vehicle repaired after an accident. Depending on your insurance company, you may be able to choose where your vehicle is repaired, but you'll probably have a few limitations based on your policy.
Free Auto Insurance Comparison
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Jeffrey Manola
Licensed Insurance Agent
Jeffrey Manola is an experienced life insurance agent who founded TopQuoteLifeInsurance.com and NoMedicalExamQuotes.com. His mission when creating these sites was to provide online consumers searching for life insurance with the most affordable term life insurance, permanent life insurance, no medical exam life insurance, and burial insurance. Not only does he strive to provide consumers with t...
Licensed Insurance Agent
UPDATED: Nov 27, 2023
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider.
Our insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different insurance companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by insurance experts.
UPDATED: Nov 27, 2023
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider.
Our insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different insurance companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
- An insurance adjuster may ask you to go to an approved repair shop to get an estimate
- An insurance adjuster may ask you to choose a few repairs shops and get multiple quotes for comparison
- If you have a car loan, the lender may require you to use a repair shop on the lender’s approved list
Assuming you know how to correctly handle a car accident, using your favorite mechanic to make repairs after a car accident may give you confidence. However, if the mechanic charges more than the insurance company is willing to pay, you may have to pay the difference out of pocket.
Some insurance companies send a trained insurance adjuster to view the damaged vehicle in person and then make an estimate of the necessary repairs.
Other companies rely on multiple estimates that you get from qualified repair shops to determine the costs of the repairs. Lenders may have specific requirements and only allow approved repair shops to do the work.
Can I choose where to get my vehicle repaired after an accident?
How do you know if the repair costs estimate is fair? There are challenges when making auto repairs after an accident. One considerable challenge is that the mechanic may discover additional problems when making the repairs, which were not apparent when the estimates were made.
There are also questions such as — does car insurance cover non-accident repairs?
Your regular auto mechanic may be pretty good at routine maintenance and repairs but not have the unique skills and equipment needed to repair damage from an auto accident. If your mechanic is unfamiliar with accident repair work, the estimate given for the repairs may be unreliable.
Are you looking for free insurance quotes?
Your one-stop online insurance guide. Get free quotes now!
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Using a Repair Shop Approved by Your Insurance After an Accident
There might be benefits worth considering when choosing a repair shop. You may get a discount if you decide to work with a repair shop on the insurance company’s approved list.
It helps to know the details about car insurance deductibles. You may also qualify for a reduced deductible because the repair shop may pay part of your deductible.
Faulty Repairs and Insurance Coverage
Does car insurance cover mechanical failure? The answer is usually no. If you get a bad repair job, your recourse is to return to the repair shop; hopefully, the repair warranty will cover the problem.
If you use a repair shop approved by the insurance company and have a problem with the repairs, you may get a better result because the repair shop must guarantee the work. The shop does not want to risk losing approved status with the insurance company.
Saving Time by Using an Approved Repair Shop After an Accident
The paperwork for processing an insurance claim is more straightforward when using an approved repair shop.
Because an approved repair shop frequently works with claims made with certain insurance companies, they know how to process the paperwork to get paid. If you choose to work with a repair shop unfamiliar with the process, you may experience a delay in processing your claim and have problems.
Using an approved repair shop may make it easier to obtain a rental car if your vehicle needs to be in the shop for an extended time to make the repairs.
Choosing Where to Get Your Vehicle Repaired After an Accident
Most state law does not permit an insurance company to demand that you use an approved repair shop; however, lenders can legally require this method for accident repairs. In many circumstances, the benefits of using an approved repair shop are worth considering.
Are you looking for free insurance quotes?
Your one-stop online insurance guide. Get free quotes now!
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Case Studies: Choosing a Repair Shop After an Accident
Case Study 1: John’s Dilemma
John recently got into a car accident and wants to choose his favorite mechanic to make the necessary repairs. However, his insurance company requires him to use an approved repair shop. John is worried that the approved shop might not provide the same quality of service as his trusted mechanic.
Case Study 2: Sarah’s Out-of-Pocket Expenses
Sarah’s insurance policy allows her to select her preferred repair shop, but it comes with a limitation. If the repair costs exceed the amount approved by her insurance company, she will have to pay the difference out of pocket. Sarah needs to weigh the convenience of choosing her own mechanic against the potential financial burden.
Case Study 3: Mike’s Approved Repair Shop Benefit
Mike’s insurance policy requires him to use an approved repair shop, but he discovers a benefit in doing so. The shop offers a discount to customers working with the insurance company’s approved list. Additionally, Mike may qualify for a reduced deductible because the repair shop is willing to contribute to the deductible.
Case Study 4: Jennifer’s Bad Repair Job
Jennifer chose a repair shop that was not approved by her insurance company. Unfortunately, the repairs turned out to be faulty, leaving her with additional problems.
Since the shop was not affiliated with her insurance, Jennifer’s recourse is limited, and she may have to cover the costs of fixing the poor repair job.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a lender force me to use a particular repair shop?
A lender has a lien on the title ownership of the vehicle. This gives the lender specific rights, including control over repairing accident damage. Read the terms and conditions of your loan agreement carefully.
Can I make the repairs myself?
You may have more rights if you own your car and no lender has a lien on it. Check your insurance policy terms because you may be able to have a repair shop make the repairs, do it yourself, or keep the insurance payment without making the repairs.
What is the risk if I do not use an approved repair shop?
Car insurance companies may not agree to continue providing insurance if an approved repair shop does not make certain repairs. Moreover, if you get into another accident, you may face denial of a claim if you made the repairs from the previous accident.
Are you looking for free insurance quotes?
Your one-stop online insurance guide. Get free quotes now!
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Jeffrey Manola
Licensed Insurance Agent
Jeffrey Manola is an experienced life insurance agent who founded TopQuoteLifeInsurance.com and NoMedicalExamQuotes.com. His mission when creating these sites was to provide online consumers searching for life insurance with the most affordable term life insurance, permanent life insurance, no medical exam life insurance, and burial insurance. Not only does he strive to provide consumers with t...
Licensed Insurance Agent
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by insurance experts.