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Should I use my insurance company’s auto repair shop?
July 8, 2017
My answer to this question will take a slightly different tack than those already provided. Let’s get to the bottom line first: It is your prerogative to take the vehicle to a body shop of your choice. If you have a body shop that you prefer and want to have them do the work… feel free to use that shop. Continue Reading
My answer to this question will take a slightly different tack than those already provided.
Let’s get to the bottom line first:
If you have a body shop that you prefer and want to have them do the work… feel free to use that shop.
Trust and relationship still mean something today. If you trust a shop different than those sponsored by the insurance company, make that clear to the claims adjuster right up front. Have the adjuster work with your body shop directly to negotiate the scope of loss and pricing.
Just because a shop is affiliated with an insurance company does not make them better at what they do. Regardless, who you have work on your vehicle is your choice. Said a little stronger… Insurance companies can not dictate which shop you use.
On the other hand…
There are benefits to using the body shop affiliated with your auto insurance company.
Let’s take one company, Progressive Network of body shops as an example. Any body shop affiliated with Progressive must adhere to:
Most body shops that affiliate with an insurance company are bound contractually to hold to similar standards. If a problem arises, it usually is worked out between the company and the affiliated shop.
BTW… the shop you like may make the same type of commitments to you directly. Maybe it would be worth showing the benefits offered by the affiliated shop and ask them to respond?
It’s your choice. Making a good decision should include a look at the benefits you might forgo.
Choosing to use your own shop may simply result in taking more personal responsibility for the issues bulleted above, in addition to the final workmanship.
This article may have been originally published at Quora.com.
To see Jeff's Quora.com profile click here.
“Am I covered if I drive someone else’s car?” Or, “Am I covered if someone else drives mine?”
Many don’t realize that the insurance industry is one of the country's most regulated business segments, especially in New York State. The New York State Department of Financial Services (NYS DFS) wields significant control over the insurance business and has a stated goal of protecting consumers.
Most property insurance companies offer Actual Cash Value or Replacement Cost settlement options. Typically, insurance companies will require that you insure the property to the settlement value you choose. If you select Actual Cash Value, the amount you may be required to insure the property for will be less than the corresponding Replacement Value.
In that spirit, the Ryan Agency is sponsoring a Stearns BBQ Dinner pickup at our office on 57 Broadway Mall in Hornell on September 12th from 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM.
Today, an individual’s credit history can play a more significant role than any one of those traditional factors. Good Credit Scores lead to a Positive Insurance score. A good Insurance Score greatly influences what someone will pay to insure their vehicles.
Insurance companies offer various discounts for which their policyholders may qualify.
Great Eight number Six (6) suggests taking a look at removing Comprehensive and Collision on Older Vehicles.
By reducing the number of claims in your insurance history, you can significantly affect your rates in the future.
Sometimes, this concept meets with resistance from policyholders. The thought of paying more in the event of a claim is off-putting to some. Even if that means I pay more for my insurance.
OK. Admittedly, this strategy doesn't benefit everyone, but it can be very beneficial for those it does. You may have unique home or auto insurance needs that prevent you from bundling with the same company. Alternatively… you might have a better rate without the bundle discount by splitting up your insurance between multiple carriers.
