Do I Have to Use the Repair Shop My Insurance Company Recommends?
An adjuster just handed you the name of a “preferred” repair shop, and it felt less like a suggestion than an order. If you’re now wondering whether you actually have a choice here, you’re asking the right question at the right time, before any paperwork gets signed.
No, you do not have to use the repair shop your insurance company recommends. Utah law protects your right to choose your own auto body shop after an accident, and that choice belongs to you, not your insurer.
At Jerry Seiner Collision, we’ve worked directly with every major insurance company for over four decades, which means we’ve walked thousands of Salt Lake City drivers through this exact moment. This guide covers your right to choose a shop, what “steering” actually means, what really changes if you pick a shop outside the insurer’s network, and how to compare your options before you commit to anything.
Key Points: Do I Have to Use Insurance Recommended Repair Shop
- You have the legal right to choose your own repair shop. Utah’s insurance regulator confirms this directly: insurers cannot require you to use a specific shop, no matter how the adjuster phrases the recommendation.
- Choosing a different shop can affect what you pay, not whether you’re covered. If your chosen shop’s estimate runs higher than the insurer’s preferred shop, you may owe the difference. That’s a cost question, not a permission question.
- Parts and warranty terms often differ more than people expect. Utah law requires insurers to disclose in writing when non-OEM parts are used, and workmanship warranties vary by shop, so it pays to ask both questions upfront.
Insurance-Preferred Shop vs. Independent Shop: What’s Actually Different
Both options can produce a solid repair. The real differences show up in who controls the parts, the paperwork, and the warranty behind the work.
| Factor | Insurance-Preferred (DRP) Shop | Independent Shop You Choose |
| Who selects it | The insurer’s contracted network | You |
| Parts policy | Often defaults to aftermarket unless you push back | Set by the shop; Jerry Seiner Collision uses OEM parts whenever possible |
| Estimate approval | Typically pre-approved, which can move faster | May need a review round, but the choice is still yours |
| Your out-of-pocket cost | Covered at the insurer’s negotiated rate | Covered, though you may owe the gap if your estimate runs higher |
| Workmanship warranty | Backed by DRP network terms | Backed directly by the shop; confirm the terms before you sign |
A direct repair program (DRP) is an arrangement between an insurer and a shop network that pre-negotiates rates and speeds up estimate approval. DRPs aren’t illegal or automatically bad. They’re just one option, not the only one. The real question isn’t which list a shop is on, it’s what parts, warranty, and workmanship you’re actually getting.
You Have the Right to Choose Your Own Repair Shop
Utah’s insurance regulator puts it plainly: you are not required to use a repair shop suggested by your insurance company. That right exists whether you’re filing a claim under your own policy or against another driver’s insurer. Insurance companies can absolutely recommend a shop through a DRP relationship, and many drivers are happy with that recommendation.
What insurers cannot legally do is make that recommendation mandatory or deny your claim because you picked someone else. If an adjuster’s language ever suggests otherwise, that’s worth writing down and asking about directly.
What Is “Steering,” and Why Do Insurers Do It?
Steering is when an insurance adjuster pressures or misleads a claimant into using a specific repair shop, usually one in the insurer’s preferred network. It shows up as comments like “that shop will take longer,” “we can’t guarantee their work,” or “this is the only shop we’ll pay full price for.”
None of those claims override your right to choose. Insurers steer because DRP shops move faster and cost less to manage on their end, and that’s a legitimate business reason. The tactics used to get you there are what regulators watch closely, not the recommendation itself.
What Actually Happens If You Choose a Different Shop
Here’s where most of the real anxiety lives, and it’s worth addressing head-on. Choosing your own shop does not void your coverage or delay your claim by default. The one financial detail to know: if your chosen shop’s estimate is higher than the insurer’s suggested shop, you may have to cover that difference out of pocket.
That’s not a penalty for choosing independently. It’s simply how the insurer’s payout is calculated. Getting a written estimate from your chosen shop early, before repairs start, lets you see that number and decide with full information instead of guessing.
What Utah Law Actually Says
The Utah Insurance Department addresses this question directly in its published consumer guidance on auto claims: “You are not required to use a repair shop suggested by the insurance company.” The same guidance covers two related protections.
First, betterment is a deduction an insurer applies when a repair replaces an old, worn part with a new one, and any such deduction must be itemized in writing so you can see exactly what was subtracted and why. Second, if your insurer uses non-OEM or aftermarket parts in your repair, Utah law requires that use to be disclosed in writing on your estimate, part by part. This information comes from state consumer protection guidance, not legal advice specific to your situation.
If a dispute comes up with your insurer, the Utah Insurance Department’s complaint process is the right next step.
How to Choose the Right Shop for Your Repair
Whether you’re leaning toward the insurer’s recommendation or looking elsewhere, the same questions apply:
- Ask about parts policy first. Find out whether the shop defaults to OEM or aftermarket parts, and whether you can request OEM specifically.
- Get the estimate in writing. A written estimate protects you if costs shift later and gives you something concrete to compare across shops.
- Ask what the workmanship warranty actually covers. Warranty length and terms vary widely between shops, so don’t assume they’re the same everywhere.
- Ask how much insurance claim experience the shop has. A shop that works with claims daily can usually manage the paperwork and communication without adding stress to your week.
- Trust your read on the shop itself. A shop willing to walk you through each of these questions clearly is usually the one that will treat the rest of the repair the same way.
Bring Your Estimate to Jerry Seiner Collision
Jerry Seiner Collision has repaired vehicles for Salt Lake City drivers since 1981, and we work directly with all major insurance companies, not just one preferred network. Drivers across Salt Lake City, Sandy, Bountiful, and South Jordan bring us their estimates every week, whether their insurer recommended us or not, and our technicians use OEM parts whenever possible to get vehicles back to pre-accident condition.
If you’re weighing your options after an accident, start with a free online estimate or reach out through our contact page. The best way to know you’re making the right call is to get your questions answered before repairs ever begin.
Visit us today at Jerry Seiner Collision Center in Salt Lake City, UT, or schedule your free estimate online. Let us help you get back on the road with confidence.
