How Do Body Shops Work With Car Insurance?
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The Claim and Inspection
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Once an insurance company establishes responsibility for the repairs to your vehicle, a claim is established and a claim adjuster is assigned. The adjuster is responsible for taking the claimant through the repair process. If entitled, the insurance company will ensure you are provided with a rental vehicle. Also at this point, before a body shop is chosen, the insurance company taking responsibility for the repair will have the vehicle inspected and assessed for the true extent of the damage. Depending on the insurance company, some will send a field adjuster first to examine the vehicle before a body shop makes its assessment. Others prefer that the car be driven, if possible, or towed to an inspection center owned and operated by the insurance company. This allows the insurance company to decide if the vehicle is even worth repairing or whether it is better to total the vehicle and pay the claimant for the value of the car.
Choosing the Body Shop
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For the sake of this article, the vehicle is considered worth repairing. Some insurance companies require that you work through their list of body repair shops. If that is the case, you will be given a list to choose from and the car will be taken to that shop. While at the body shop, the owners will make their own assessment and the insurance company and body shop work out the details of the repair job and length of time needed to complete the job. Most insurance companies will allow you to take it to the shop of your choice. However, they do not make it easy for you as many companies require a minimum of three estimates before approving the repair. Once the estimates are gathered, it is your responsibility to send them off to the adjuster for approval. Once the estimate is approved, the vehicle is taken to the shop for repairs.
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Payment Methods
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The payment process varies among insurance companies. Many companies prefer direct payment, especially if the insurance company has a relationship with the body shop. This allows for a billing cycle to be established between the two parties and it also helps deter any side deals made between the body shop and the claimant. If you are going through your own body shop, many companies simply make a check out to the shop directly and send it through the mail. There are instances when the adjuster will bring the check to the shop to ensure the work has been completed. Due to the increase in fraud or side deals between claimants and shops, unless a vehicle is totaled, an insurance company will rarely make a check out directly to a claimant.
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