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-contracted repair shop.

The first is the free storage. Let’s face it. Storing a car is expensive, whether it be for an individual or an insurance company. So one of the things in the contract with the direct repairs shops is free storage for the cars they are working on. You may not even realize this, but this storage fee gets worked into the cost you pay for repairs.

Next is another freebie, and it’s towing. If the direct repair shop ends up towing the car that they later get contracted to work on, the chances of the insurance company ending up paying for the tow truck virtually disappear.

You, as the consumer may not realize this, but it’s a good thing for you too. And I say this because somewhere along the line this fee would get buried right along with a bunch of other things that you would ultimately be paying for in the end anyway. So the insurance company’s deal with the direct repair shop saves you money in the end, which is why it’s truly in your best interest to use the repair shops recommended by your insurance provider. They really do have your best interest at heart.

And what’s the point of making a deal with direct repair shops if there are no pricing concessions involved. It would be kind of foolish, don’t you think?

These contracted repair shops offer discounts on parts and labor in some cases, keeping the costs to the insurance company down where in turn they are not required to pay out as much on their claims.

Right now you might be thinking “Wait a minute. Why is it a good thing for the insurance company to have to pay me less money on my claim?” The answer is very simple. They are only paying you less because the company that did the repairs charged must less than their competitor would have. Do you understand now?

The less the insurance company has to pay for repairs, the lower everyone’s premiums will be. This will always be the case, so it can be smart to work with your insurance company instead of against them. It’s just good business sense. So don’t use people outside of the network because you feel like your freedom is being taken away from you. You are only hurting yourself in the long run.

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 you receive will have a warranty. It never hurts to get a warranty, in particular when dealing with a high dollar item such as car repairs.

And another perk, if you can call it one, is if enough people complain about one of the direct repair shops, the will receive bad marks and ultimately be cut from the program. This is a huge loss for the repair shop, because let’s face it, no shop wants to lose millions of dollars worth of business.

But here’s my question to you, and it’s a big one, so pay attention.

Why do you even care if a company gets removed as a DRP (direct repair program)?

Granted, this will only end up helping the people in your shoes that come after you. By getting a subpar repair shop removed, you save future accident victims that belong to the same insurance company as you the agony of dealing with an undeserving company that really doesn’t care about the people they work for.

While this is definitely a nice thing to do for others, this really is not helping you today or even years from now, unless of course you plan on making car accidents and repairs a regular part of your life. If that’s the case, then you are doing yourself a tremendous favor later on down the line.

Truth be told, direct repair programs are not designed with the consumer in mind. Their main function is to save the insurance companies truckloads of money, while they in turn set up a system where the insurance company doesn’t have to pay the insured the what they are truly owed on their claim.

There is a word for this in the English language. It’s called theft. And as usual in this country, a group of major players (the insurance industry) devised a system to legally steal from all of their customers. Because make no mistakes about it, they are stealing from you.

By making it so unbeneficial for you to use a repair shop outside of their network, they are legally forcing you to use companies that work with them to swindle you out of your hard earned cash.

Do you fight the system or conform to it? You be the judge. Anyone have any comments? Feel free to join the discussion.

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 chance you pick a bad shop (that is not a DRP), and they mess up your repairs, it is you against the body shop. The insurance company is only liable to pay for the original repair, it will not warranty how those repairs are made, whereas if you had gone to one of the insurance company’s direct repair facilities, then they would have to get involved.

In closing, always remember, you have to go with a shop that you feel comfortable dealing with. It is your vehicle being repaired and you have to be happy with the outcome.

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 consumers, forcing them to use a so-called preferred shop.

I actually agree with this statement, and although I outline what DRP’s are, and how they work, and how properly run ones will protect and help a consumer, I have always said it is the CUSTOMER’S choice as to where they get their car repaired. I think some of my naysayers miss that part of my discussions, posts and articles.

For the full blog post over at AutoMuse® click here.

And my question for those reading: If Lyn had taken her vehicle to a non-DRP shop and had the same problems with the repairs, who was going to back up her problems then?

Myth: In many cases, the consumer believes that the insurance company and body shop are in bed with one another and do not have the best interests of the customer at heart. Consumers often feel that the insurance company wants their vehicle fixed as cheap as possible and that the repair will be below standards.

Fact: Even though the body shop has a contract with the insurance company to follow the insurance company’s repair guidelines in regards to parts and labor rates, the body shop also has a contract with the vehicle owner to repair their vehicle per the manufacturer and I-Car certification standards. What this means is that any respectable body shop worth their salt will not let any insurance company dictate how the vehicle should be repaired. Especially if that body shop holds the liability on those repairs.

Myth: Consumers often believe that DRPs will use inferior parts and products when repairing their vehicles in order to keep the repairs cheap and make the numbers that insurance companies keep them to every year.

Fact: There are basically 3 different types of parts: OEM, non-OEM or more commonly referred to as aftermarket and LKQ or used/refurbished parts. OEM (original equipment manufacturer) parts are parts provided by the actual vehicle manufactures. Non-OEM parts are parts provided by a variety of aftermarket vendors. The third type can be refurbished OEM or used parts from a salvage yard.

The body shop can only repair your vehicle with the type of parts that are stated in your insurance policy. It is very important that you review your policy and go over what that shop will use on your vehicle.

Myth: Consumers believe that they have no choice as to where they can get their vehicle repaired.

Fact: While insurance companies will refer you to a DRP, it is still ultimately the consumers choice as to what shop they go to.

In closing, whatever body shop or collision repair center is chosen, it is their responsibility to the consumer to repair the vehicle to pre-accident condition, meeting all state and federal laws as well as manufacturer’s standards and any certifications. No insurance company can tell a shop to do otherwise.

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.

 This repair time can be delayed by parts on back order, additional repairs that require supplements or other unexpected factors.

 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.

You also want to be able to view their work. If they are unwilling to show you before and after photos and even let you see jobs they are currently working on just walk away. Any reputable body shop will be more than happy to show you the quality of their work.

Another thing that you definitely want to look for from a quality body shop is a guarantee. A good shop will always stand behind the repairs they have done and will usually give some kind of warranty on paint, parts, and labor. Ask specifically what their policy is regarding guarantees and what they will do for you if you are not happy with the quality of the work that they have. If they get indignant with you leave and find another one, any decent body shop knows and understands a customer has concerns about there vehicle being repaired properly.

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.

If by chance you pick a bad shop, and they mess up your repairs, it is you against the body shop. The insurance company is only liable to pay for the original repair, it will not warranty how those repairs are made, whereas if you had gone to one of the insurance company’s direct repair facilities, then they would have to get involved.

 Some auto insurance companies use a Direct Repair Program to provide repairs for their policy holders. In a Direct Repair Program, a collision shop and an auto insurance company complete a contract to provide repairs for the insurance company’s claimants.

This is how a Direct Repair Program works: You are involved in an accident and contact your insurance company, or the insurer of the at-fault driver. The auto insurance company then refers you to a network of conveniently located repair facilities that offer a limited lifetime warranty on the repairs to your vehicle. The service might also offer on-site rental car arrangements. The insurance company and the collision shop handle all the details and paperwork, so you do not have to.

The collision shop and the auto insurer determine the specific provisions of a Direct Repair Program. The advantage to the collision specialist is the steady stream of referrals or work. A collision shop might participate in one, or several, insurance companies’ Direct Repair Programs.

Although a Direct Repair Program can generate additional paperwork for a body shop, it can also prevent delays. When an additional part is needed for a repair, the shop does not have to stop working on a vehicle to wait for an insurance adjuster to re-evaluate the situation and perhaps write a new estimate. Insurance companies promote the advantages of a Direct Repair Program to their customers as convenience, warranties on repair work, and the freedom from estimates and other paperwork details.

Your insurance will elect to replace your vehicle or reimburse you for the ACV in those instances where the vehicle is economically impractical to repair.

A vehicle is considered economically impractical to repair, or a total loss, if the cost to repair the vehicle equals or exceeds the vehicle’s ACV on the date of the loss. In many instances an insurance company will total a vehicle if the appraised damages equal 80% of the vehicle’s ACV because often, once repairs are begun, additional damages or “hidden damages” are found which would render the vehicle a total loss by definition. (This is sometimes referred to as a “constructive total” loss).

Your insurance will elect to replace your vehicle or reimburse you for the ACV in those instances where the vehicle is economically impractical to repair.

A vehicle is considered economically impractical to repair, or a total loss, if the cost to repair the vehicle equals or exceeds the vehicle’s ACV on the date of the loss. In many instances an insurance company will total a vehicle if the appraised damages equal 80% of the vehicle’s ACV because often, once repairs are begun, additional damages or “hidden damages” are found which would render the vehicle a total loss by definition. (This is sometimes referred to as a “constructive total” loss).

If the accident or claim is not my fault, do I go through my insurance company or the other person’s insurance company?

Report the crash to your insurance company immediately or within the time specified by your policy along with a copy of any police reports or supporting documents. Then report it to the other insurance company.

Typically each company will have its own way of handling a claim. The majority of the time, if it is not your fault, the other insurance company will process the claim. Just keep on top of them to insure your case is being handled promptly and to your satisfaction.