How to Select a Body Shop

How do most people select a. body shop? When an accident happens, those involved will be calling their insurance agent, and usually the insurance company representative will point his customer to a body shop which he suggests.

When you submit a claim, your insurance company representative will recommend a auto body repair shop where you can take your vehicle for vehicle repairs. But going with his recommendation is not always the best choice, and in a lot of cases, is a very POOR one. Let me explain:

Insurance companies have a kind of network of  auto body shops within something called a “direct repair program.” The program consists of a contract between the insurance firm and the repair shop. The auto body repair shop agrees to provide car repairs for the insurer’s claimants. In return, the insurance carrier will “steer” their customers toward the auto body shop.

Often the auto body shop is required, under the agreement, to write all estimates working with aftermarket auto parts. And the shop will also be required to shoulder all liability for auto repairs and indemnify the insurer from any lawsuit the client may bring.

You might be thinking why it would matter to you if the auto body repair shop makes use of aftermarket auto parts to repair your vehicle. “So what if they’re utilizing aftermarket parts?” What you are going to find out may come as a shock to you.

Aftermarket car parts, also called replacement crash, salvage, or rebuilt parts, are automobile car parts that are manufactured by a company other than the original manufacturer or vendor. Aftermarket makers are typically located outside of North America, normally in Taiwan.

Since these parts are less expensive than  factory made auto parts, they are cheaper and make it less pricey to repair your vehicle, which means that the insurance company pays less when settling your claim. But regrettably for you, they are usually second-rate to components produced by the maker of your automobile, or his specified vendor. Auto repairs with these types of auto parts may well result in a vehicle that’s unsafe to drive, or at least is more likely to break down.

Given that there are liability concerns involved if repairs are done in a substandard manner, for what possible reason might a body shop willingly enter into the insurance company’s direct repair program to start with? Simple: because they want to stay in business! Because it’s a matter of the survival of their business. Since most people looking for auto body work will follow their insurer’s suggestion, the shops not in the direct repair program are not likely to get much business.

But let’s say you’ve been involved in a car accident but opt to take your auto to a body shop that does not have an agreement with your insurer. Your insurance carrier might choose to make your life more difficult by convincing you that you made a mistake. Possibly they will balk at paying for repairs – or perhaps drag their feet about sending out an adjustor to check out your vehicle.

So does this make your life more difficult? Without a doubt. But compare that to having your vehicle fixed in a fashion that’s substandard, or even dangerous!

To wrap up our discussion, if you have an accident and need your automobile fixed, don’t neglect to do your research. Find out if the auto body shop you’re taking you automobile to uses aftermarket or salvaged parts, and if so, look elsewhere to get your vehicle restored. And if your insurance company representative states “We can’t give you a rental if you use them”, “If if you use a non-preferred repair shop your repair will be delayed waiting for for our adjustor to check the vehicle”, or “You will have to pay much more if you use the shop that you picked” don’t believe it – these are intended to discourage you from getting your car fixed in a manner that may be more costly (for the insurer) but will result in a better repair job, and possibly a safer car.