After being in a car accident, you will want to make sure your wrecked car is repaired completely, repaired properly, and that you aren’t left in the dark to deal with diminished value claim or lingering issues with the vehicle. Your insurer will likely recommend several “preferred” auto body shop for you to use. Many experts agree you could be better off finding your own shop, as the guide below explains.

Why Do Insurers Recommend Specific Body Shops After a Car Accident?

Your insurance company likely has an agreement with the auto body shops they refer you too. In exchange for sending business their way, the shop may offer discounts to your insurance company. They may also look for other ways to cut costs, such as using less expensive and unsafe parts.

Why Might You Want to Go Elsewhere?

The shop your insurer sends you to will likely have basic qualifications for the job. However, they also have a business agreement with your insurer, and likely get most of their work from them. For this reason, the shop's first loyalty is going to be to the insurance company, not you. The shop will be more concerned with saving the insurance company money more than with doing a proper repair to your car. High quality body shops to repair your vehicle are very rare and difficult to find. Independent shops compared to dealership shops are not always better. 

How to Choose the Best Body Shop After a Car Accident

When you consider auto shops in your area, look for one that appears clean and well-managed. Ask the questions that are important to you. Don’t assume that if they are insurance approved means they are the best, that simply means they are friends with the insurance company. You should be able to get a firm price quote in writing, with a breakdown of how the shop plans to repair your vehicle. Ask the shop in writing if they are following the manufactures repair procedures. Ask the shop in writing if they have the staff and equipment to properly repair your vehicle. They should also educate you on what the insurance company is likely to do or say about the shop’s estimate. Ask the shop how they plan to teach you about what is not being covered by insurance. Ask them how much the repair cost difference is for a proper repair. Remember: Cheap repairs aren’t good, and good repairs aren’t cheap. It is NOT acceptable to repair a vehicle improperly, but unfortunately we see it all the time. Get educated and stay safe.

After the repair is completed, you qualify for collection of diminished value if the wreck was caused by someone else. For advice on how to recover from a car accident, consult WreckExpert.com, serving the entire country. For over 20 years, they have negotiated with insurance companies to make sure that their clients receive all of what is owed to them. They want to make sure your vehicle goes to a quality auto body shop, that you are paid a fair value for a total loss, that you are fairly compensated for loss of value, or pursuing compensation for any poorly-completed repair jobs. Learn more about these varied services online. For a free review from an expert, call (913) 444-4636.