Body shop direct repair programs

In exchange, the insurance company suggests that certain cars are repaired at these approved shops. In order to participate in a direct repair program, the insurance company sets standards that the repair shops must meet.

Usually, these standards include fast service and inexpensive repairs. There is generally a set of rules for repairs that the repair shop follows, and the insurance company has agreed to pay for repairs that follow these rules. Insurance companies are not legally allowed to send you to a specific repair shop — this illegal process is called steering. You can repair your car at any repair shop. There are advantages and disadvantages to a DRP shop.

Many DRP shops offer lifetime guarantees on repairs like paint and craftsmanship. It should also be very clear what the insurance company will pay for up front. Insurance companies promote the advantages of a direct repair program to their customers as convenience, warranties on repair work, and the freedom from estimates and other paperwork details. Some direct repair program contracts between insurance companies and collision specialists require the repairer to write all estimates using aftermarket or salvage parts.

Other details can assign the responsibility of any non-essential repairs to the customer. Some contracts also require the collision shop to shoulder all liability for repairs performed and indemnify the insurer from any lawsuit the customer might bring. In some states in the U.

This prevents insurance companies from limiting the number of automotive body repair businesses or locations with which they have agreements. In these instances, any automobile body repair business or location that meets objective criteria can participate.

Often these carriers and their insureds are utilizing a managed network like this one in order to find coverage outside of their own familiar area. Unlike many other direct repair programs who charge a assignment fee, AutoBody Alliance charges only a single, annual fee in order to help with the fees associated with hosting and maintaining the program. There are no additional charges associated with being a member.

If you are interested in having your body shop become a member of the AutoBody Alliance, you can start by either searching for your shop in our directory and then "claiming" it to verify your information, or if you do not find it by searching, create a free account and request to add your shop to our directory. From there you can follow the steps on your dashboard to apply for Network Certification. Approval of your application is dependent on meeting the required criteria for being a member of the AutoBody Alliance network, as well as geographical coverage requirements.

Read more Information for Repair Facilities. Benefit to Insurance Carriers The benefits to insurance carriers through the Managed Repair Network quickly become apparent when reviewing the tools and information available through the program. AutoBody Alliance provides a customizable, single point to dispatch estimate requests to network shops, independent appraisers and owner's choice repair facilities.

To begin with, our managed network provides a searchable list of reputable collision repair shops with coverage throughout the United States.