If you want your car to take care of you, then you need to take care of your car. Having it repaired professionally will not only help retain it’s value but will save you money in the long run. As with anything mechanical, if you start hearing a “funny” noise, you have two choices: Turn the radio up so that you don’t hear it or get it fixed. It’s very unlikely that it will “work itself out.”

Never drive a car that could be unsafe because of damages or because it needs to be repaired. Generally, it’s more expensive to fix you at the doctors after an accident than it is to have the car repaired at a reliable auto shop. Additionally it leaves the insurance company potentially off the hook because of your perceived “negligence”.

Some insurance companies may want you to go to their claims center before having your car repaired. Unless this is stated as a requirement in your coverage, it may be better to leave your car at your collision repair shop and ask that the insurance company inspect the car there.

As of this writing, you are not required by law to obtain more than one estimate or appraisal. If your insurance claims that you must do this, ask for the law that they are following or consult with your attorney.

Insurance companies are regulated and your insurance company cannot require you to go to a particular shop. They may adamantly insist that you do, but it’s probably not a law. Again, laws change and this site does not provide legal advice. There are differing views about going to a body shop that is a “preferred vendor” (or other such term) of an insurance company. On one hand, you may actually get a better rate, on the other hand, you may not get everything that is actually owed to you. The reason for this is that these shops have guaranteed rates for different repairs, even down to the amount of labor allowed for each job, just like managed health care. The auto shops are encouraged to cut corners, since they know the amount of money they get for each job is fixed.

Get several quotes if at all possible. There can be quite a difference in repair estimates. You aren’t obligated to take the lowest one, or even show all the quotes to an insurance company. Also, some shops specialize in certain types of cars which generally means that they will end up doing a better job even if it is a bit more. It pays to use a specialist in these cases. Also, a lower estimate may not include all necessary work. If you’re not sure why one estimate is different from another you’ve received, ask the shop manager.

Only choose a shop that has certified technicians.

Ensure that the shop will be using manufacturer (OEM) replacement parts and not some after-market which can often be a lower quality. If you need to use (because the OEM part is not available) or want to use after-market parts, ask about getting a discount for those parts.

Ensure that the body shop offers a repair warranty. Make sure it covers labor, parts, paint, and auto glass, if applicable.

Let the collision repair shop you choose help you negotiate your claim with the insurance company, this often leads to a better deal.

If you were not at fault for the accident, let a professional service like Advocate Auto Claims help you reclaim the Diminished Value of your car. In many cases, this can amount to thousands of dollars.