It is unfortunate, but sunny Florida has built up a reputation for being one of the states with the highest rates of car crashes. Being in a car accident results in headaches for drivers, not only physical ones. Depending on how severe the accident is and whose fault it is, there are personal injury claims to consider and medical bills to pay.
You also have to get your car fixed or otherwise walk to work. When it is time to get quotes for car repair, you can go to your preferred auto body shop or use your insurance provider’s preferred auto body shop.
In most cases, following your insurer’s recommendations would be better. It is likely your insurance company’s auto body shop offers repair warranties, including lifetime warranties.
You may be skeptical about taking your car to an auto body shop you are unfamiliar with. However, considering that your insurer endorses a specific body shop, there are several benefits to going with their option.
Convenience and Efficiency
If your car is damaged in an accident, you want it fixed quickly. If you are not mobile, getting to work or anywhere else will become a pain.
Your insurer’s auto body shop may be able to complete the job quicker than another. This is mainly due to insurance providers’ long-standing relationships with certain body shops, which speed up the repair process.
Moreover, the body shop is likely familiar with your insurer’s specific requirements and procedures. So you will have far less paperwork and delays to deal with. As a bonus, there is a good chance that the insurer’s body shop will offer you a loan vehicle while your car is being repaired. Your insurer may even refund you for money spent on a rental car.
There are also still massive rental car shortages in various parts of Florida. If your insurer’s body shop has rental cars on standby for customers, you at least will not have to struggle with renting one elsewhere.
Car Repair Challenges
If your car is severely damaged after the accident, you need an expert repair professional to advise you on the extent of the repairs. If your car is not being written off, it may take days or weeks to fix. This will affect the quote and how long you need to drive a rental car.
Also, if your vehicle had other issues before the accident, the auto body shop might want to fix those, too. The repair technician may find additional damage not included in the original quote.
If this happens, the auto body shop will notify your insurer for approval before making the extra repairs. Remember that while your insurer might pay for additional damage repairs, they will likely not pay for issues unrelated to the accident.
However, if there is shop negligence while your car is being fixed, the technician is responsible for repairing the damage free of charge. If you want to fix issues that occurred before the accident, you must pay for them out of pocket.
Car Repair Expertise
Car repair technicians in Florida have seen just about everything when it comes to vehicle damage. This means they have the expertise and experience to fix almost anything. Insurance-preferred shops can fix the damage if you were involved in an accident with multiple other vehicles or a deer collided with your car.
Cost-Effective Solutions
At this point, it is important to note that using a specific auto body shop is not an insurance requirement. There is still a misconception that insurers force clients to use certain body shops.
You can choose, but your insurer may try to coerce you into going with its preferred option. This mainly happens when the insurer is guaranteed a discount on car repairs. These discounts often cover parts and labor.
If you feel you are being pressured into choosing an insurer-preferred auto body shop, you can also hire a lawyer to assist you. Car insurance providers are prohibited by law from forcing you to use an auto body shop just because they will pay out less if you do.
While it may be true that the insurer’s auto body shop is cheaper and more experienced, you still make the final decision. You may want to compare several quotes before settling on an auto body shop.
Warranty Protection
That said, you should also consider the type of warranty the insurer’s auto body shop offers. If there are lifetime repair warranties on certain parts or fixes, it may be worthwhile following the insurer’s recommendations. It is crucial to include the warranty terms in your decision, as they can save you money in the long run.
What If You Want to Choose Your Auto Body Shop?
If you insist on looking for another auto body shop, you must consider the following:
- Does the body shop have enough experience to fix the damage your car has sustained?
- Does the body shop have a good reputation, and does it come recommended (reviews and testimonials)?
- Does the body shop charge upfront costs and offer warranties on all or just certain repairs?
- Is there an estimated repair time, and does the body shop have a reputation for sticking to timelines?
- Does the body shop have all the tools, equipment, and facilities required to accommodate and fix your car?
- Will the auto body shop work with your insurer regarding the claims process?
These are important factors to remember before you take your car in for repairs. If you do not consider them, you run the risk of taking your car to a disreputable auto body shop.
Choose Right the First Time
If you trust that your insurer has your best interests at heart, you should choose its auto body shop option. Either way, choosing the right auto body shop is crucial for getting you back on the road and saving you some money, too.
Always compare estimates and research all body shops’ reputations and work ethics to ensure you make the right choice the first time.
