Your insurer can recommend a shop. They cannot require one. Here's the law and how to use it.
After a claim is opened, many drivers hear some version of "you need to take it to one of our approved shops." In California that is not true. Insurance Code section 758.5 gives you the right to have your vehicle repaired at the shop of your choice, and the insurer must honor that choice.
Direct repair program (DRP) shops agree to the insurer's pricing, labor rates and parts choices in exchange for referrals. That relationship can mean aftermarket or used parts, capped labor times and pressure to close the file quickly. It doesn't make every DRP shop bad, but it means the shop's first customer is the insurance company, not you.
We are an independent, certified body shop that works for the vehicle owner — not a DRP. We submit estimates and supplements directly to the adjuster, document hidden damage and negotiate parts and procedures so the vehicle is repaired to manufacturer standards. If the insurer pushes back on your choice, we handle that conversation.
Send us the claim details. We'll confirm your rights in writing and take over the conversation with the adjuster.
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