It's your car. It's your choice of shop.
In all 50 states, the decision about who repairs your vehicle belongs to you — the owner — not to your insurance company. Most people don't know this, and it's the single most useful thing to know after an accident.
What your insurer can and can't do
Your insurance company may recommend shops from its "direct repair program" (DRP) — a network of shops with agreements with that insurer. Recommendations are allowed. But pressuring you, telling you a repair "won't be guaranteed" elsewhere, or delaying your claim because you chose your own shop — commonly called steering — is restricted or prohibited in most states.
- You may take your vehicle to any licensed repair shop you trust.
- Your insurer must handle your claim regardless of which shop you choose.
- A shop's warranty comes from the shop, not the insurer — ours is written and lasts as long as you own the vehicle.
What a DRP relationship actually means
DRP shops aren't bad shops — but their agreements are with the insurer, and those agreements can shape repair decisions like parts selection and labor time. An independent shop's only agreement is with you. We think that difference matters, and we're happy to explain any line of your estimate in plain language.
How we work with every carrier
Choosing your own shop doesn't mean doing paperwork alone. We work directly with all insurance companies every day: we submit the estimate and photos, negotiate supplements when hidden damage appears, and keep the claim moving — you stay informed without being the middleman.