You choose the shop. We help manage the repair.
Insurance repairs run on three roles: you choose where the car is repaired, the insurer decides what the policy covers, and the shop documents and performs the repair. These guides explain each piece in plain English — what we handle, what you control, and what only the insurer can decide.
Your Right to Choose a Repair Shop
In California, you — not your insurer — choose where your vehicle is repaired. Here's what that right covers and how to use it calmly.
Understanding the Estimate
What a collision estimate actually contains, why the first number is a starting point, and how to read yours line by line.
Repair Supplements
Supplements are how hidden damage gets documented and approved after the first estimate. They're normal — here's how the process works.
OEM vs. Aftermarket Parts
New OEM, aftermarket, and recycled parts each have a place. What California law says, and how the decision actually gets made.
Deductibles
What a deductible is, who collects it, when it's waived, and the scams to avoid.
Quick insurance questions
Can my insurance company make me use their shop?
No. In California, you have the right to choose the repair shop. An insurer may recommend shops in its network, but the decision is yours, and an insurer cannot require you to use a specific shop. We help coordinate with your insurer wherever you choose to have the vehicle repaired.
What is a repair supplement?
A supplement is additional repair cost documented after the initial estimate — usually because disassembly revealed damage that couldn't be seen from outside. Supplements are a normal part of collision repair. We document them with photos and submit them to your insurer; coverage decisions remain with the insurer.
Will you use OEM parts?
Part types depend on the repair plan, your insurance policy, and your choices. New OEM, aftermarket, and recycled parts each have a place, and California law gives you specific disclosure rights about which are used. We explain what the plan calls for and what your options are before work begins.
When do I pay my deductible?
Your deductible is your share of an insured repair, set by your policy, and it's typically paid to the shop when you pick up the vehicle. If another driver's insurance is paying, there may be no deductible at all. We'll walk you through what applies to your claim.
Have an insurer's estimate? Upload it with your estimate request →
Working through an insurance claim?
You choose the shop. We help manage the repair — documentation, supplements, and adjuster communication.