How Can I Get My Car Insurance Company to Give Me a Check Directly Rather Than Paying the Repair Rhop?

December 13, 2020

It's all in the details of the circumstances

There are some scenarios where it is more common for you, as the insured, to receive a check from the company. Other situations call for the company to pay the repair shop directly. In other situations, the company will pay the lien holder. Below are some common conditions under which an insurance company makes a payout, and who normally is listed on the check.
Payout under Property Damage Liability by the Other At-Fault Party:

Check in Your Name: In the case of smaller third party property damage claims, IE: If the other party is at-fault and paying for the damage it is not uncommon for the insurance company to pay you directly. Just ask them to issue the check in your name.

Lien on the Vehicle: Payout Under Your Collision Coverage:

Check in Body Shop Name: Insurance companies will prefer to pay the shop directly when there is a lien on the vehicle (lien holder on the policy).
When there is a lienholder on a policy, the insurance company must honor the bank's interest in the vehicle by either paying the shop directly, or make the check payable to the lienholder.
Alternative - Check in the Bank’s and Your Name: When the bank is on the check (even if your name also appears) at some point you will need to get the bank sign off.
The bank may require a certification of repairs provided by the body shop which can be problematic with out of town banks.
Thu s, the reason why many companies make checks payable directly to the shop that will certify the work.

NO Lien on the Vehicle: Payout Under Your Collision:

In this scenario since the insurance company has no lienholder to protect, a smaller claim such as this may be made payable directly to the insured.
It is not my experience that insurance companies cancel collision coverage if you choose not to fix your car. But, they will likely require a certification of repairs and reduce any future claim payouts by the value of the damage that was not repaired. In other words, you can expect that they will not pay for the same damage twice. Adjusters are pretty good at identifying prior damage ;)

Have questions about your car insurance? We LOVE to help. Please feel welcome to call us at 607-324-7500

< Older Post

Newer Post >

Auto Rates and Finger Prints: Both are Unique to You!

By Jeff Ryan • April 7, 2026

Factors You Can’t Easily Control These factors are built into your profile, but still play a major role: Your location: Claim trends, traffic, and weather patterns where you principally drive. Your age and driving experience: Especially for younger drivers. Other drivers in your household: Their age and driving history. The vehicle you own: Unique to the Year, Make, Model, and Sub-model’s damageability and cost of parts/labor. These factors significantly influence price differences, but they don’t tell the whole story. Factors You Can Control This is where habits and wise decisions can make a real difference: Your driving habits: Minimizing tickets and accidents can have a direct impact. Your coverage choices: Liability limits, deductibles, and optional coverages can vary widely. Your insurance consistency: Avoiding lapses in coverage. Your annual mileage: How much and how often you drive. Discount opportunities: Bundling, pay-in-full, NYS defensive driving course. Your Insurance Score (Yes—You Can Influence It) Insurance companies use a credit-based insurance score as part of their rating process. While it’s based on financial behaviors, it is not permanent—and it can be improved over time. Simple habits like: Paying bills on time Reducing outstanding debt Avoiding excessive credit inquiries… can positively impact your score—and in turn, your insurance rates. Your insurance score is under your control and a worthy mid to long-term project in and of itself. For more information on what you can do to positively influence your score, see: Great 8 Tip #8 - What's Credit Got to Do with Insurance? How Can I Improve My Auto Insurance Score Why Comparing Rates Doesn’t Work When someone says, “I only pay…” , the uniqueness of their fingerprint is missing. What are their: Deductibles Driving history Insurance score Household profile Coverage limits: what they may be giving up in terms of protection. Price without context can be misleading and discouraging.