YOUR RIGHTS IN NJ
CAR INSURANCE LINGO IS CONFUSING.
WE'LL TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING FOR YOU.
One thing that most drivers do not realize is that no matter what, YOU have the right to choose where your car gets repaired. Your insurance company may tell you that a shop is out of their network, but that doesn’t exist in collision repair the same way it does in a health insurance situations. Insurance companies have direct repair partners known as "direct repair shops" (DRP) that are their preference. No matter what, the choice of repair facility is always in the customer’s hands, and that is protected by law.
Several auto body repair shops, specifically those that are part of a chain, are known as “direct-repair facilities,” or DRP for short. This means they have a contractual agreement with Insurance companies to perform fast repairs at a specified budget and deadline. These deadlines are usually impossible to meet, causing the technicians to cut corners in the repair process to save time. They run on the philosophy:
Faster repairs = happy Insurance company = more cars = more money.
Because of the agreement your insurance company has with their DRP shops, they’ll make it seem like it’s the best shop out there for your car. No matter what your insurance company may tell you, YOU have the right to choose where you get your vehicle repaired. If your insurance company attempts to "demand" that you utilize one of their "recommended DRP Shops" that is considered "steering" which is illegal and subjects the insurance company to fines and penalties.
Several auto body repair shops, specifically those that are part of a chain, are known as “direct-repair facilities,” or DRP for short. This means they have a contractual agreement with Insurance companies to perform fast repairs at a specified budget and deadline. These deadlines are usually impossible to meet, causing the technicians to cut corners in the repair process to save time. They run on the philosophy:
Faster repairs = happy Insurance company = more cars = more money.
Because of the agreement your insurance company has with their DRP shops, they’ll make it seem like it’s the best shop out there for your car. No matter what your insurance company may tell you, YOU have the right to choose where you get your vehicle repaired. If your insurance company attempts to "demand" that you utilize one of their "recommended DRP Shops" that is considered "steering" which is illegal and subjects the insurance company to fines and penalties.