Better Body Works

It's the law! You can choose where to have your vehicle repaired.

As an insured motorist you have the right to take your car to the body shop of your choice. While Insurance companies may offer you referrals to one of their 'preferred' body shops, those are usually shops on what they call their DRP or Direct Repair Program, but, they cannot require you to have the work done there. You may also ask, “do you really want the company that's paying the bill to write that estimate?”

Excerpt from NYS Insurance Department news release:

INSURERS DID NOT SYSTEMATICALLY “STEER” AUTO BODY REPAIR CUSTOMERS TO DESIGNATED SHOPS, INVESTIGATION FINDS

Some practices raise concerns; consumers’ right to choose where to have cars repaired must be protected, Superintendent says

Auto insurance companies have not systematically violated a section of the State Insurance Law that gives consumers the right to choose where they want their vehicles repaired after a collision, Insurance Superintendent Eric Dinallo said today.

However, in some isolated instances, representatives of some insurance companies engaged in practices that could be considered violations of the Insurance Law or regulations by providing improper or inaccurate information, Dinallo said. His announcement was based on a comprehensive investigation by the New York State Insurance Department, which was launched after complaints by a statewide trade association for collision repair professionals that insurance companies were illegally “steering” customers to designated collision repair shops.

read full story click here

To read the law:
Application of Section 2610(b) of the Insurance Law
click here
Better Body Works 111 Nott Terrace Schenectady, NY 12308






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