• Do I have the right to select the body shop to repair my car?
Yes. In order to expedite your claim, select the collision repair shop of your choice, and notify your insurance company or your agent. The choice of the repair facility is yours!

• Do I need to get three estimates?
In most cases, no. Notify your insurance company or your agent as soon as possile after you have an accident. Your insurance adjuster may need to inspect the damage. If your your car is safe to drive, your insurance company may ask you to take your car to a drive-in claims. You should call them for an appointment before taking your car in. Make sure you get a written copy of the insurance adjuster's estimate, and take it to the body shop of your choice.

Some insurance agents may tell you to get two or three estimates. Talk to your insurance adjuster first. Generally claims are handled by the insurance company's claims department, not the agents.

In some cases your insurance agent may be authorized by their company to pay your claim. If he or she tells you to get more than one estimate, ask if your claim will be paid from the agent's office. If the answer is "yes," getting additional estimates may speed up the claims payment process. If the answer is "no," talk to your insunce adjuster first.

For more information, see our frequently asked questions.