Let’s face it. The goal of any good business is to make money whenever they can, and also save money too. This in particular is a delicate balancing act put on by insurance companies. But they do not do this with complete greed in mind, like so many of you would like to believe. Keeping their costs low is huge boon for you the insured as well, because it helps to keep premiums down. One way insurance companies implement cost cutting measures is by recommending that the people they insure use the direct repair companies with which they are associated. These companies  are under contract with the insurance agencies, which allows the agency some perks that they don’t get from a non-contrac Read entire post...

Once again, the old battle of good vs. evil rears its ugly head, but this time it’s in the collision repair industry. When you get into a car accident, and you need to repair your vehicle, who do you go to? Do you use your own “guy,” or do you go to one of the shops suggested by your insurance company, which is called a direct repair shop. The reason this is such a hot topic is because the insurance companies have basically taken the freedom of choice away from the vehicle owner. If you use one of the direct repair shops recommended by the insurance company you will get perks that you will not receive from a non-contracted repair provider. One major bonus is that the parts and repair y Read entire post...

You’ve had an accident and now you need to get your vehicle repaired. What do you do? Whether you are a claimant or an insured, you need to report the accident to the insurance company.  When you speak to them, they will recommend one of their Direct Repair Shops. Do you have to use a Direct Repair Shop? No. In the end, the choice is yours. The insurance company may tell you that the shop of your choice is not on their “approved” list of shops and that they may not be able to efficiently handle your claim due to your selection of a certain shop, but do not be intimidated by this. It is your right to choose whatever shop you want to repair your vehicle. However, if by chan Read entire post...

From the other side of the tracks Stumbled across a blog post on a great discussion board I’ve been participating on, much to either the delight or dismay of the other participants, as I apparently do not fit in. But that’s ok. I love a good debate. Back to the blog post. AutoMuse® points out a recent news item up in Connecticut where the Attorney General, Richard Blumenthal, wants to pass legislation to make sure consumers cars are repaired correctly and safely and demands that insurance companies do not harass or push consumers to use their “DRPs” or preferred shops. Consumers deserve to choose where a car is repaired. No insurer should straightjacket or corral c Read entire post...

Direct Repair Programs or DRP’s are commonplace in today’s world of vehicle repair. More and more shops have joined forces with insurance companies all over the United States in order to gain as many referrals as they can in an industry that can be very competitive. DRP’s facilitate the relationship between the body shop and the insurance company and the owner of the vehicle being repaired. Taking your vehicle to a DRP shop is supposed to save a lot of hassle and paperwork on everyone’s behalf.
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If a Direct Repair Shop does not complete the repairs before the rental period approved by my insurance company, who is responsible for rental fees? Always check with your insurance company as to who is responsible for rental fees in any unexpected circumstances. Usually, if you have taken your car to a Direct Repair Shop on your insurance company’s program, then either the insurance company or the repair facility is responsible for all rental fees. This is NOT the case if you have chosen to take your car to a shop off their “approved” list. Again, always speak with your insurance company and find out what their policy is. Read entire post...

Whether or not you are entitled to a rental car is stated in your insurance policy. Generally, for only a dollar or two extra each month, you can add coverage for rental car reimbursement, which provides a rental car for little or no money while your car is in the repair shop or if it is stolen. Check your policy for specifics. The insurance company is generally only obligated to cover the rental car for the amount of time it takes to repair the car. Read entire post...

Most insurance companies take the labor hours divided by a set formula according to their company guidelines. Every insurance company will be different but it is typically an average of a 5 hour word day. For example, if the estimate calls for 45 hours total labor, divide 45 by 5 and your estimated repair time is 9 business days. The majority of repair shops do not have weekend hours.  This repair time can be delayed by parts on back order, additional repairs that require supplements or other unexpected factors. Read entire post...

What is expected before the vehicle is brought to the shop if it is drivable? What if the vehicle is non-drivable?  Estimate has to be written and accepted, parts will need to be ordered by the shop and the car scheduled to be brought into the auto body shop for repairs. If the vehicle is non-drivable, it will need to be towed to the repair facility. Read entire post...

Like scouting for a plumber or a mechanic, the reputation of the body shop is an important factor to consider. Always ask for references from your insurance company. They don’t deal with inferior service providers because they have a vested interest in the vehicles being repaired properly. Another thing you can do is ask your mechanic. If he has been around the area awhile you can bet that he knows who the best body shops are and which ones to avoid. A good reference is priceless. You can also contact the Better Business Bureau about a particular shop.Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) and I-CAR are training and certification associations for the collision repair industry. Look for th Read entire post...