As soon as you recover from the initial shock of surviving an automobile accident or other damage to your car, you will need to think about vehicle repair. Since your insurance company will likely recommend an auto body shop, the question is whether you should defer to their advice? In fact, do you even have a choice?
Consider these similar scenarios:
- Would you let the government tell you which accountant to hire to do your taxes?
- Would you let the policeman who arrested you pick the attorney to represent you in court?
- Would you let your pastor select your spouse?
Likewise, you should not let your insurance company tell you who to hire to repair your car. Most insurance companies have negotiated repair contracts with body shops in different regions. But the practice of relying on the one who will pay the bill to choose the service provider reminds us of a line said by Steve Buscemi to Bruce Willis in the 1998 movie, Armageddon:
“You know we’re sitting on four million pounds of fuel, one nuclear weapon and a thing that has 270,000 moving parts built by the lowest bidder. Makes you feel good, doesn’t it?”
No matter how customer-oriented your insurance company is, to survive in today’s economic climate, they have no choice but to make decisions based on the best interests of the company instead of their clients. So it is wise for consumers to do their own due diligence, before choosing an auto body shop.
If you choose the insurance company’s repair shop, it will benefit the insurance company, which has negotiated lower labor and material rates, as well as parts’ discounts with those shops. That said, you can rest assured that preferred providers will have met the insurance company’s equipment and training requirements and likely also require contracted shops to offer a lifetime warranty. But any legitimate auto body shops will meet and even exceed these minimal requirements, no matter who is footing the bill.
Most auto body shops make quick claim turnaround a priority. Also, since insurance repairs are their bread and butter, estimators understand how to work with adjusters to ease the estimate and repair process. At C&L Auto Body, we provide insurance concierge service. That means that after you contact your insurance to file a claim, we will handle the rest — doing the legwork, arranging for transportation and billing for rental cars. We will also keep you informed throughout the entire process.
Overall, whether you decide to work with the auto body shop that your insurance company recommends or opt to find a repair center on you own, it is important that you choose a shop that you feel confident about.
The highly trained staff at C&L Auto Body takes great pride in returning vehicles to customers in factory-new condition or better – to clients’ custom specifications. The “go-to” location for repair and restoration since 1970, C&L is known for our attention to detail, courteous service, and fair and affordable prices. Owned and operated by the Buonsanti family, at C&L Auto Body, we strive to treat clients like family. Come by the shop 781 E San Bernardino Road in Covina, drop us a line at mailto:info@dgcollisioncenter.com or call today for more information: (626) 445-6630.