A car insurance company may recommend or suggest where to have your vehicle repaired following a car accident, but it possesses no authority to mandate a specific car repair shop.

However, many insurance companies now employ a service called Direct Repair Program (DRP) with the intent of streamlining the insurance claims process. In it, insurance companies work directly with certain car repair shops, strongly urging customers to use their services. In return for the referrals, these repair shops provide discounts on parts and labor.

If your insurance company has a DRP, always keep in mind that this program is completely optional. You are not obligated to participate, regardless of how much pressure your insurance company may apply. Reports have recently surfaced of some DRP participating repair shops providing shoddy work in response to insurance agent pressure for trimming repair costs. So be sure to weigh your decision carefully before deciding on whether or not to participate if the DRP is offered.    

Auto Repair Following an Auto Accident

The option of which car repair shop to use is always yours. It's best to look at two or three shops and compare estimates before deciding on which auto repair shop to use. 

If you follow the recommendation of your auto insurance company, it will, in most cases, stand by the completed repairs. Make sure your insurance company provides you with a copy of the repair shop estimate used to gauge the settlement amount. If the estimate amount provided by your insurance company differs with the repair shop's written cost amount, your insurance provider will then have do one of the following:

• Cover the difference.
• Negotiate an agreed upon repair amount with the auto shop.
• Suggest a repair shop to you that will correct the damages at its estimate amount.

After the repair service, be sure to request a form listing all itemized repairs. This way, in the event of any problems, you'll have the basis for possible recourse.