Choosing a Repair Shop

IMPORTANT ITEMS TO CONSIDER BEFORE
CHOOSING YOUR REPAIR FACILITY

1. You choose where you want your vehicle towed and repaired. It’s the law.

2. You only need one estimate to determine the amount of damage.

3. Review your car insurance policy especially regarding car rentals.

4. Verify the insurance company pays for all covered repairs.

5. Take care in choosing the right repair shop because your safety depends on it.

6. Insurance companies have deadlines they must follow regarding the claims process.

7. Ask questions until you get all of them answered. This is a step toward picking the right body shop.

INSURANCE RECOMMENDATIONS AND CLAIMS

WE CAN RECOMMEND INSURANCE COMPANIES FOR YOU TO CONSIDER.

We tend to recommend local companies because you benefit from meeting their staff in person. We don’t recommend Internet policies because they’re unreliable. We can also help you with the claims since we have worked with many insurance companies. If you don’t understand any part of the insurance company’s procedures or have concerns, we can get the answers for you. You always come first.

Information You Should Know

(from the Maryland Insurance Administrations “A Consumer Guide to Auto Insurance”)

You are not required to use a specific auto body repair shop; you may have your vehicle repaired at the shop of your choice. Maryland law prohibits an insurer or an adjuster from requiring that a certain repair shop be used or from recommending a particular shop without notifying the claimant or the insured that their vehicle may be repaired by the auto shop of their choice. The insurer will only pay an amount that it has determined represents the cost of repair for the damage your vehicle sustained as a direct result of the loss based on an estimate of the cost for the necessary parts and labor expenses.

An insurer is not required to pay to have your vehicle repaired with original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts unless the policy provides this coverage. Most policies only pay for repairs with parts of like kind and quality. Parts of like kind and quality can include after-market and used parts. However, if your policy only provides coverage for after-market or used parts and you want to use OEM parts, you can use them if you pay the difference in the cost of repair. You can check with your insurer to see if they offer payment for repair of your automobile with original equipment manufacturer parts. You also should review the language of your policy to determine the insurer’s obligation.

An insurer may determine that your car is a “total loss” if the cost to repair the damage (excluding cosmetic damage) equals or exceeds the vehicle’s actual cash value. An insurer will determine what your vehicle’s actual cash value was by establishing its actual cash value immediately before the damage occurred. If you are the insured under the policy and your insurer has determined that your vehicle is a total loss as a result of a covered claim, your insurer generally has 10 business days to make you a cash settlement offer. If your vehicle was stolen and is not recovered, your insurer is required by law to make you a cash settlement offer for your vehicle within the later of 30 days after receiving notification of the claim or the time period provided in the policy.