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You can choose whatever shop you are happy with. However if you choose a shop that costs more, you won’t necessarily get more from in insurance company.
My wife and I just encountered this situation 1 month ago. We called our insurance company and they advised us of who they recommend. We took the car to the body shop they recommended and the car came out looking better than before the accident. If your insurance company recommends the same body shop as the other company, then visit them in person and check out their work. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO USE THE BODY SHOP THE OTHER COMPANY RECOMMENDS………………
No. The choice of repair shops is up to you. You can even take the check and buy ***** with it if you like — the insurer only has an obligation to pay you for the damages. If you can get a better deal at another shop then jump on it.
You always have the right to take your vehicle to the shop of your choice. There are a few things to keep in mind though. Each insurance company has a network of shops that they they have relationships with. These relationships allow for flexibility that can benefit you as the consumer. If you choose to take your vehicle to a recommended shop the repairs are usually guaranteed for as long as you own the car. Also, insurance appraiser write an initial estimate. Keep in mind the work estimate. More often then not there is additional hidden damage or sometimes there are part price or labor cost difference. In that instance a supplemental estimate will be required. Sometimes this estimate cannot be completed until the vehicle is complete. In order to get your vehicle back to you a preferred shop may be willing to accept a direction of pay which would allow the insurance company to directly pay the shop for the additional damages without putting your name on the check. It is an honor system and the shop will release your vehicle without the supplement check in hand. Also, they are more apt to be conscious of your rental time. The insurance company only owes you for the allotted time. If you choose your own shop and it is not part of the network you will be responsible for hashing it out with the shop if you are disastisfied with the repairs. Additionally, they may want to hold your vehicle until payment is recieved in hand. And, the estimate says 5 days and the shop is taking longer without the possibility of a supplement, the insurance carrier may not cover the additional rental days. These are just some things to think about when you are deciding how to proceed with your repairs.
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No, you do not have to use that shop, but there are excellent benefit that come along with using one of their partner shops that you should keep in mind. Most insurance companies warranty the work done by the shops for as long as you own the vehicle.
Keep in mind– If you pick your own shop to do the work, and they don’t repair it correctly, that is between you and the body shop. The insurance company would not be able to warranty the work and cannot step in if the repairs are not done right.