Car Insurance Explained
It’s a beautiful day in Los Angeles and you’re driving around town when suddenly you get into a small fender bender, are a victim of a hit and run, or worse, you are involved in a major collision. You need to file a car insurance claim.
So now what?
First you take care of yourself and your passengers, exchange information with the other driver, and then call your Insurance Company. They will immediately start a car insurance claim and they might recommend you to take your car to your Insurance Company’s body shop. But…
Do you really have to take your car to the Insurance Company’s body shop? Or DRP?
No.
You can take your car to any auto body shop you want. By law, the choice is yours.
Your Insurance Company will tell you, “you can take your car to any auto repair shop you want”; but, they might also tell you that if you do the repairs at another body shop it will possible take longer or that they may not warranty the repairs.
Many insurance companies have goals on how many claims they want to get to their Direct Repair Program (DRP) collision shops. Car insurance claim representatives and call center representatives try to steer customers to their preferred shops list they call DRPs. Steering is against the law! So why does your Car Insurance Company insist you take your car to a body shop they prefer?
Who benefits more from you going to your Insurance Company’s body shop or DRP?
Your Insurance Company.
How?
Most car insurance companies use body shop’s who met their equipment, facility, and training requirements as well as offer lifetime warranty -something professional auto body shops also do. But here is the difference, most insurance companies negotiate lower labor rates, discount on materials, and/or part costs with their collision shops.
Is a body shop that is not on your Insurance Company’s preferred list bad?
No.
A professional and reputable auto body repair shop will:
- Work with any insurance company.
- Understand the car insurance claim process.
- Restore your vehicle to pre-accident condition.
- Provide lifetime warranty on repairs.
- Give you a fair and honest repair estimate.
- Employ experienced autobody and paint technicians.
- Have experience working on your type of vehicle.
- Have all the proper permits and licenses in order.
- Handle your car insurance claim in a timely manner.
- Have plenty of positive reviews on Google, Facebook, and Yelp.
You Get What You Or What Your Car Insurance Company Pays For
Your Insurance Company might insist you take your car to the body shop they prefer. But is that really in your best interest? Remember, the insurance companies are here to make money for their shareholders, not you. It is in their best interest to pay less to have your vehicle repaired.
Do you really want your vehicle repaired by the lowest bidder?
Remember, most car insurance companies promise DRPs, preferred body shops, more business if they agree to discounted labor rates, material, and part costs.
So what’s wrong with this practice?
You and your car might pay the price for this bad business practice. The quality of the job on your car is at stake, the overall look of your car, and even your life and the life of your passengers can be in danger.
But the Insurance Company’s body shops meet their requirements, what can go wrong?
Think about what happens when people try to save time and money. In this case, your Insurance Company’s body shop might have to resort to certain bad practices in order to save time and money like:
- Technicians could cut corners, to save time, since they are required to do the job in less time than what it really takes.
- The shop could deny a particular repair because, according to them, it was not due to the accident, so now you get stuck with that bill.
- The autobody man could repair parts, or buy used parts, instead of purchasing the new parts you were promised, in order to save money.
- The repair shop could use lower quality paint, materials, and processes to save money.
Do you really want someone working on low pay, (most likely a person with little experienced) on your car or doing the repairs in a hurry and quite possibly make a few mistakes on the way? Will you feel safe to drive your car?
Do you want to get stuck paying extra for something that should have been covered by your Car Insurance Company? Would you feel comfortable if your Insurance Company’s auto body shop lied to you in order to save/make money off your car insurance claim? Which brings up the question. What other things might have they lied to you about?
Would you trust these bad business practice with your life or the lives of your loved ones?
The Choice Is Yours, The Car Is Yours
Of course, we are not saying that all car insurance companies or all the DRP body shops they recommend are bad, simply be aware of that there are good and bad apples. The same is true about non recommended auto body shops.
Above all, don’t be intimidated by your Insurance Company. Use common sense, whether you go with your Insurance Company’s body shop or your own professional auto body repair shop. Do your research. Read the reviews. Speak to your friends and family and get recommendations. Don’t feel like you have to take your car to the shop your Insurance Company “recommends” or steers you to, this is illegal as stated in the Fair Claims Settlement Practices Regulations.
Remember, your Car Insurance Company works for you, you pay them to compensate you for a loss.
It’s your car, not theirs. You drive your car, not them.
It’s your life, not theirs. You have the choice, please choose carefully.
The Bottom Line On Your Car Insurance Claim
In general, if you take your car to a reputable and professional body shop of your choice you will always get what your insurance dollars pay for. All your car repairs will be taken care of by your auto body shop. By exercising your power of choice, you promote quality and fairness because the people working on your car will be paid a proper labor rate and will not resort to cutting corners. The result, your car will be done right in a fair and honest way.
Your auto body shop’s goals should be to make you happy, not your Insurance Company’s shareholders.
And the State of California knows this, that is why they made it a law. Read it below.
Car Insurance Claim,
Consumer (Insured) Bill Of Rights
You have the right to select the repair facility of your choice for the repairs to your vehicle under California Code of Regulations, Title 10, Chapter 5, Section 2695.8(e)(2).
A consumer is entitled to:
1. Select the auto body repair shop to repair auto body damage covered by the insurance company. AN INSURANCE COMPANY SHALL NOT REQUIRE THE REPAIRS TO BE DONE AT A SPECIFIC AUTO BODY REPAIR SHOP.
2. An itemized written estimate for auto body repairs and, upon completion of repairs, a detailed invoice. The estimate and the invoice must include an itemized list of parts and labor along with the total price for the work performed. The estimate and invoice must also identify all parts as new, used, aftermarket, reconditioned, or rebuilt.
3. Be informed about coverage for towing and storage services.
4. Be informed about the extent of coverage, if any, for a replacement rental vehicle while a damaged vehicle is being repaired.
5. Be informed of where to report suspected fraud or other complaints and concerns about auto body repairs.
6. Seek and obtain an independent repair estimate directly from a registered auto body repair shop for repair of a damaged vehicle, even when pursuing an insurance claim for repair of the vehicle.
Car insurance claim complaints within the jurisdiction of the bureau of automotive repair
Direct your complaints concerning the repair of a vehicle by an auto body repair shop to:
Toll Free (866) 799-3811
California Department of Consumer Affairs
Bureau of Automotive Repair
10240 Systems Parkway
Sacramento, CA 95827
The Bureau of Automotive Repair can also accept complaints over its website at www.autorepair.ca.gov
Car insurance claim complaints within the jurisdiction of the California Insurance Commissioner
Submit your concerns regarding how an auto insurance claim is being handled to the California Department of Insurance at:
(800) 927-HELP
(213) 897-8921
California Department of Insurance
Consumer Services Division
300 South Spring Street
Los Angeles, CA 90013
The California Department of Insurance can also accept complaints over its website at www.insurance.ca.gov
“Jaider is the best, he works with you, and helps you as much as he can. I had someone hit my vehicle after barely having it for less than month, brand new 2019 vehicle, Jaider helped getting my insurance to get the whole process done faster, and after the fix, it’s like what accident? Looks like my vehicle never had any repair done. I am a customer for life now because of Jaider and the amazing work everyone does at this shop, can’t thank Jaider enough.”
-Anthony G. 2019
Thank you for taking the time to read this page.
As of January 2022 we have some good news and some bad news…
The BAD NEWS is we have moved out of our location and are in search of a new home for the West Coast Body and Paint shop.
The GOOD NEWS is that we have a West Coast Body and Paint mobile paint repair service unit that will come to you! The mobile paint unit provides auto services for minor body and paint repairs.
Our estimates are free. Once we receive your images we will provide you with an initial estimate. The estimate is a ballpark figure, and after we assess your vehicle’s damage in person, we will review the estimate with you. If you agree to the final estimate, we will begin repairing your car. Fill out the form below or contact us through WhatsApp to request a quote.
***FILL OUT TO REQUEST A QUOTE FROM OUR MOBILE PAINT REPAIR UNIT***
Are you looking for a trustworthy collision repair shop in Van Nuys or the Los Angeles area?
Come by our professional collision repair shop in Van Nuys if you need accident repair or have a question, give us a call 818.785.2639, text 818.793.7728 or drop us a line to schedule an appointment for a free estimate. Check out our before and afters too here. We serve the San Fernando Valley and the Los Angeles area.