Do body shops work differently on your car if you are paying or the insurance co.?

Question

I called a body shop for an estimate and the first thing he asked is if I'm paying for it or an insurance co....RED FLAG! why does it matter? Is the quality of work going to be substandard (if insurance pays) or excellent if I was going to pay for it on my own? I want the best quality work done since the guy who hit me, his insurance is gonna pay, not no short-cuts so his insurance doesn't pay too much.

Answer 1

Definite red flag. A shop will have to do better work for the insurance because they have strict guidelines on parts used and hours charged (book time --there are specific labor hours charged for specific jobs).

Some companies will try to skimp on materials and overcharge hours if the client is paying personally.

Some companies will skimp on materials, but will list charge and list all parts and labor if insurance companies are involved.

You have to find a service provider with which you are most comfortable. Large dealerships are more expensive but you are less likely to have a scam run on you and you are more likely to have hassle-free warranty claims.

Small or specialized service providers can save you money and may provide superior service both personally and on the car; however, there is a greater chance to get questionable charges. Smaller companies can sometime offer more specific (and cost effective) repair options at your request.

To protect yourself you should always ask to see their policies regarding:
Insurance claims
Billing
Warranty services
Estimate guarantees

And never let them talk you into something you are not comfortable with...Always ask questions and ask to see the parts that were repaired and make sure they match what was listed on the invoice.

Be very careful looking for a shop, but if you find a good one with people you trust you will save yourself trouble and headaches in the long-run.

Answer 2

If a shop offers free quotes, they dont ask such questions, they look at the damage, asses its approximate repair value and you either allow them to do it or not. If the Insurance Co says they are an Approved Repair shop, that can be a 50/50 mis lead. Approved by an Insurance Co doesnt mean the best quality work, it only means that the Insurance Co has a deal with them or has dealt with them before and is satisfied.
Body Shops ask about Insurance jobs becuase so many Insurance Companies have screwed them out of rightous earned payment for work performed.
But thats the body shops fault for not asking if it is an Insurance Job, see the logic here yet.
I did a wrecked door on a 2004 Mazda in 2003 for a Dealer, the car had been wrecked as it was being offloaded from the Car Hauler. New door put on, car fixed. Did the car sell as Used? no, does the car have a History of Repairs, no. Because no one owned the car no records were kept.
But it isnt a red flag, could be, but more than likeley justa shop that got pooched by an insurance company.
Insurance Jobs should be taken to the Most Qualified Repair Shop within 100miles. If that is 3 New Car Dealers, then that is what your estimate is.
The Insurance Company does not tell you were to get it fixed,you choose that. sorta, is best outta 3.

Answer 3

Calm down, boy...most major body shops deal directly with larger Insurance companies, i.e; direct repair programs. It's likely that they were just trying to make sure they didn't write an estimate on your car until they have an electronic assignment from your insurance carrier. An example is State Farm's Service First or Select Service program; you simply report your claim and drop your car off at the shop. If they are direct repair approved they handle estimate, photos, paperwork, etc. You simply pick up the car and pay the deductible if you have one. There are also many people out there that try to shaft the system by getting estimates before the insurance company appraisers see the car, squealing and howling when the insurance estimate is $75.00 less than ONE of the estimates he has stuffed in his back pocket. The poor body shop is jammed in the middle by writing worthless estimates because the car owner just wants to cash-out and spend the money. It takes time to properly write a repair estimate and shops don't have it to spend for deadbeats. It's possible the shop is a low-life and has two sets of principals but these guys are getting rare as they are being pushed right out of business by stand-up collision repairers that don't deal any nonsense. I would guess they were simply trying to assist you when you called.
PS - forget about an estimate over the phone --- they HAVE to see the vehicle/damage.

Answer 4

In the area where I live, if the insurance company is paying the bill, the repair shops charge full 'book' hours and use the best oem parts.

But, if you are just trying to repair some damage for your own car they will cut you a better deal on labor (or look on the internet for some quality used parts) to keep you as a customer for when you do have a 'big' insurance job.

Answer 5

No, it's not that they will repair it differently. They probably want to know because the labor rates are different, and there are certain things that may not be covered- (you can't get new parts if you don't have a new car, for example). Not necessarily a red flag, and why didn't you ask when you had him on the phone why he said that?

Answer 6

It is not necessarily that they work differently but they may definitely charge differently....they will max out the charges if the insurance company is paying. Get at least three estimates and get references on the shops. Check out the reports at your local BBB and talk to friends about their experiences. Work must be warrantied or it's not worth it.

Answer 7

yes it does make a differance, most insurance companies want to fix it the cheapest way they can, even if it mean putting junky stuff back on. if you pay for it, you should get what you want and not have to settle for what some pencil pusher behind a desk that dont even know you wants you to have on your car.