If your insurance company is pushing you to have your car repaired at a specific shop, there are some important things to know. The discussion below addresses some of the most common questions and concerns we've run into over the years at Ultimate Collision Center.
We know that it's stressful when you have an accident, but you can rest assured that it is our ULTIMATE goal to make the repair process as painless and easy as possible. Please take a few moments to review your rights as listed on this page. If you have any questions, call us at
(217) 532-6419. We will be more than happy to help you thru the process and address all of your concerns.
As an Insured Vehicle Owner, You Have Rights
Do I have to use the shop my insurance company recommends or can I take it to Ultimate Collision Center?
You can always bring your vehicle to Ultimate Collision Center. The insurance company cannot tell you where to get your vehicle repaired. Some insurance companies with will attempt to convince or steer you to their preferred shop.
Should this happen, please contact us. We can answer any questions you might have. We deal with insurance companies every day and will be glad to help you thru the process. Remember that it is the insurance adjuster's job to satisfy the company and close the claim at the lowest possible cost. If you decide to use your insurance company’s preferred shop, ask if your policy contains an "elects to repair" clause, causing the responsible insurance company to be responsible for the quality of repairs and possible loss of value. The above information applies to your insurance company and also applies if you are involved in an accident where someone else is at fault and their insurance would be responsible for damages to your vehicle.
You may also hear "You bought it at a car dealership and you have to take it back there to be repaired."
Not true! At Ultimate Collision Center, collision repair is all we do. Our employees attend regular training from the following: Spies-Hecker Automotive finishes, DuPont, Chief Equipment, Pro Spot, I-CAR, ATEG, and many other industry programs to stay abreast of current repair procedures. Don’t buy into the "Who better to repair your car?" pitch that you hear from dealerships.
More Information on Insurance "Steering"
Feeling pressured to go to another repair facility? Remember - It's your car; it's your choice!
Don't be steered into another accident by your insurance company or the other party's insurance company. Did you know some insurance companies have ownership in some shops? Makes you wonder who the customer really is. Ultimate Collision Center does not participate in any of the repair networks because of concessions and or stipulations in the contracts that could lead to non Original equipment parts, salvage and or aftermarket parts.
We believe we have a responsibility to the vehicle owner, who is ultimately our customer, not to the insurance company. The reason insurance companies use this different verbiage is that the state of Illinois does not allow insurance companies to direct or "steer" customers to a particular shop (at least they are not supposed to), so they have the above wording to intimidate the customer into thinking they have to do what the insurance company dictates or they will not pay the claim.
What You May Hear
You may hear phrases from insurance companies when you want to bring your vehicle to Ultimate Collision Center or any shop that is not on their "list" and what our response is. Don't be manipulated by the word tricks.
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"They are not one of our network shops and they are not on our list, so we can't guarantee the repairs."
It’s true we are not on everybody's list. We don’t want to be - we choose who we want to be associated with. We identify the vehicle owner as our primary customer, not the insurance company. As for guaranteeing our work, they don’t. We do. We have our own lifetime guarantee and stand behind everything we do. When have you ever seen an insurance company with a car being re-repaired at their office? The truth is that they will send you back to the shop that repaired your vehicle originally or one that was selected from their list.
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"If you use them, we can't get an adjuster out for several days. If you take it to our network shop, we will have someone start on it right away."
This is just another ploy to steer you. We have heard insurance companies tell our customers how busy they are and they can't get someone out for 7 or 8 days. We know that is simply not true. Most companies are required to appraise a vehicle within 72 hours.
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"If you use that shop, you will have to pay for your rental out of pocket."
This is not true. Some insurance companies will try to force you into a rental reimbursement, which means they will either try to get you to pay with a credit card and then reimburse you or offer to send check for X amount of rental days (which you should promptly refuse to do). Most companies have direct bill agreements with rental companies, but they do not always disclose that.
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"They charge more than the prevailing rate, and you will have to pay the difference in repair cost."
All additional fees are clearly discussed with you and subject to your approval. In most cases, the customer collects the difference from the insurance company after a few phone calls.
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"Claims take longer to settle if you use them."
In most cases, the only thing that takes longer is the insurance companies’ response time. They are sometimes slow to respond. .
These are just some of the wording used to manipulate you into using a specific repair facility. Be careful. It's your vehicle and your investment. You have the right to make the choice about who repairs your vehicle.
We stand behind our work with a lifetime warranty on all repairs for the original owner.
For Your FREE Estimate on Collision Repair, Call
(217) 532-6419
"WHEN YOU DEMAND THE VERY BEST!"