Your consumer rights:
Consider the following to better ensure that your vehicle will be repaired in a proper, complete and safe manner.
Choice of Repair Facility
Choosing the right body shop for your vehicle’s repair is a crucial decision, and in most cases, the choice is yours to make. However, not all shops are the same. Make the wise decision to find a repair facility dedicated to thorough repairs, equipped with the necessary tools, and committed to ongoing industry education.
Considering a “direct-repair facility” recommended by your insurer? These shops have a contractual agreement with the insurer. Make sure they have repair quality as a top priority over their contractual agreement to repair vehicles quickly while keeping costs low. Ask yourself… What might be getting overlooked to keep costs down and how this can affect your vehicle’s performance in the possibility of a subsequent accident?
Keep in mind, the body shop is repairing YOUR vehicle for YOU, so it’s important you feel confident in the shop you choose. If you’re filing an insurance claim, the insurer pays the bill, but in most states, they cannot require you to use a specific shop. Ultimately, the choice of body shop is YOURS.
Choice of Replacement Parts
As a consumer, you have the right to request that your vehicle be repaired only with Original Equipment (OE) collision replacement parts. These are the same parts that your vehicle manufacturer distributes to ensure proper fit, function, and most importantly, safety.
Two factors influence whether your request will be honored: your insurance policy limitations and local (state) laws and regulations regarding collision repair.
Insurance Policy Limitations
Prior to being involved in an accident, check your policy to see what allowances may, or may not be, made for certain part types.
Some policies may allow for OE parts in all circumstances, while others may allow for OE parts depending on the age of the vehicle. Some may specifically call for use of parts that are “like kind and quality,” or salvage parts. In other cases, insurance companies may offer two auto policies: one that specifies that only OE parts be used, and another that may allow the use of alternative parts.
The Right to a Safe, Properly Repaired Vehicle
Everyone deserves to drive or ride in a safely repaired vehicle; one that will perform properly in the event of a subsequent collision. But don’t leave safety to chance.
Ask questions about the parts that will be used, and how your car will be repaired. Ask about the technicians’ training and if the shop is “certified” or “recognized” within the collision repair community. You have rights, but rights must be exercised. Get involved in the repair of your vehicle.
An Independent Family Owned Repair Facility 