Does my insurance company offer me a direct repair program through a local body shop and how does the process work in dealing with a direct repair shop?
This is how a Direct Repair Program works: You are involved in an accident and contact your insurance company, or the insurer of the at-fault driver. The auto insurance company then refers you to a network of conveniently located repair facilities that offer a limited lifetime warranty on the repairs to your vehicle. The service might also offer on-site rental car arrangements. The insurance company and the collision shop handle all the details and paperwork, so you do not have to.
The collision shop and the auto insurer determine the specific provisions of a Direct Repair Program. The advantage to the collision specialist is the steady stream of referrals or work. A collision shop might participate in one, or several, insurance companies’ Direct Repair Programs.
Although a Direct Repair Program can generate additional paperwork for a body shop, it can also prevent delays. When an additional part is needed for a repair, the shop does not have to stop working on a vehicle to wait for an insurance adjuster to re-evaluate the situation and perhaps write a new estimate. Insurance companies promote the advantages of a Direct Repair Program to their customers as convenience, warranties on repair work, and the freedom from estimates and other paperwork details.