Can My Insurance Choose the Body Shop? Your Rights in California
You choose the body shop, not your insurer
This is the question we are asked more than any other: my insurance company gave me a list — do I have to use one of those shops? In California, no. The choice of repair facility belongs to the vehicle owner. An insurer may suggest a shop, and it may have a network it prefers to work with, but it cannot require you to use one, and taking your car elsewhere does not make your claim invalid.
What steering looks like
The pressure is rarely direct. It sounds like “we can get you in today at our partner shop”, or “we cannot guarantee work done at a shop outside the network”, or a warning that using your own shop will delay everything. None of that removes your right to decide. If you are told you must use a particular facility, ask for it in writing — the request usually ends the conversation. The California Department of Insurance publishes guidance on this and takes complaints from consumers who feel they were pushed.
What your insurer can legitimately do
Being honest about the other side of this: an insurer is not obliged to pay any number a shop writes. It will pay what it considers a reasonable cost for the repair, and if there is a gap between that and your shop’s estimate, someone has to resolve it. In practice this is normal and it is resolved between the shop and the adjuster, with photographs and documentation, not by you standing in the middle. That is what we do on every claim we handle, and it is a large part of why choosing a shop that will actually argue your case matters.
How the claim runs when you choose us
You open the claim with your insurer, or the other driver’s if they are at fault, and give us the claim number. We photograph the damage, write the estimate and send it to the adjuster. When the car is disassembled and additional damage appears, we document it and file a supplement. You do not have to relay messages between two parties who each have your car’s file open in front of them.
Working with a specific carrier? We have pages for GEICO, State Farm, AAA, Progressive, Allstate, Mercury and Farmers, plus a general insurance claims page.
Claim guides: choosing your own body shop in California, what a supplement is, how your deductible works, rental car while your car is in the shop and OEM vs aftermarket parts.
Talk to us before you commit
The Body Shop Collision Repair
12911 Cerise Ave, Hawthorne, CA 90250
Phone: (323) 661-6600
Email: 711body@gmail.com
Mon–Fri 9:00 AM – 7:30 PM · Sat 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM · Sun 11:30 AM – 4:30 PM
After-hours towing and drop-off available — call us.
More detail on the work itself: bumper repair, paintless dent repair, car painting and colour matching, collision and structural repair, motorcycle body repair and a free estimate from photos.
We also look after drivers in Hawthorne, Inglewood, Gardena, Lawndale, El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, Torrance, Palos Verdes, Westchester & LAX, Playa del Rey, Playa Vista, Marina del Rey, Culver City, Santa Monica. Full list on our service areas page.
Choosing your own shop: common questions
Can my insurance company force me to use their body shop?
No. In California the choice of repair facility belongs to the vehicle owner. An insurer may recommend a shop, but the decision is yours and your claim stays valid either way.
Will my claim be denied if I use a shop outside the network?
No. Using an out-of-network shop is not grounds for denying a valid claim. The insurer still pays what it considers a reasonable cost of repair.
What if my shop’s estimate is higher than what the insurer wants to pay?
That difference is worked out between the shop and the adjuster with photographs and documentation. It is a routine part of claims handling, not a reason to change shops.
Does the insurer’s guarantee only apply at their partner shops?
Insurers often say so, and it is one of the main reasons drivers feel pushed. Ask what the guarantee actually covers, and compare it with the warranty the shop itself gives you.
Who do I call first, the insurer or the shop?
Either. Many customers get a free written estimate from us first so they know the number before deciding whether to open a claim at all.
Where can I check my rights independently?
The California Department of Insurance publishes consumer guidance on auto claims and accepts complaints. Your own policy documents also set out the claims process in writing.
Questions about your claim? Call (323) 661-6600 or bring the car to 12911 Cerise Ave, Hawthorne, for a free estimate.
