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CALIFORNIA MOTORISTS BILL OF RIGHTS states that YOU, THE OWNER OF A DAMAGED VEHICLE, have the legal right to CHOOSE THE BODY SHOP OF YOUR CHOICE to repair your damaged vehicle; NOT YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY. Your insurance company CANNOT even suggest, recommend, tell you have to, force you, try to intimidate you, or even mention that you must take your vehicle to their shop of choice for any reason, "UNLESS YOU ASK FIRST FOR A RECOMMENDATION." If they do they are in violation of California State Insurance Regulations. Do not let anyone tell you where you have to take your vehicle for repair. You have the right to choose the shop to repair your vehicle; Use that right!!! The regulation is there to protect you.
Your insurance company may go so far as to tell you that the shop of your choice is not on their list because they did not pass the insurance company's inspection; or they may tell you if you take your car to a shop not on their list you will have to pay the difference between what they will pay and what the shop wants; or they may tell you that it will take them 10 days to see the car in the shop of your choice, but if you will take it to their shop they can get started tomorrow; etc. THIS IS ALL ILLEGAL Verb age and is in violation of California ANTI-STEERING laws and regulations. THE SHOP OF CHOICE IS YOURS; DO NOT LET AN INSURANCE COMPANY CON OR INTIMIDATE YOU INTO TAKING YOUR VEHICLE WHERE YOU DO NOT WANT TO TAKE IT!
SOME INSURANCE COMPANIES MAY WANT YOU TO TAKE YOUR VEHICLE TO THEIR SHOP ONLY BECAUSE THEY CAN SAVE MONEY THERE. YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY MAY NOT EVEN HAVE ANY INTEREST IN THE QUALITY OF THE REPAIRS OR EVEN IF THE VEHICLE IS REPAIRED TO PRE-LOSS CONDITION; THEY MAY ONLY BE LOOKING AT THE COST TO THEM, SO BEWARE.
Aluminum vehicles, or vehicles comprised of aluminum panels must be repaired at a repair facility that performs proper aluminum repairs, are specifically trained in aluminum repairs and have the equipment for properly repairing aluminum paneled vehicles. Some manufactures, such as Jaguar, do train and certify specific repair facilities, such as ours, to properly repair their aluminum bodied vehicles to high quality Jaguar standards as well as to pre-loss condition. They do not want aluminum vehicles further damaged by non-certified repair facilities or by insurance companies sending these vehicles to non-trained, under-equiped repair shops just so they may save some money by cost cutting repairs. Cross contamination of an aluminum paneled/bodied vehicle by alloy from a non-aluminum paneled vehicle could result in premature corrosion, electrolysis which could ultimately lessen the life and value of the vehicle.
Check on the shops that you are recommended to take your vehicle to. Check that they are licensed with the California Bureau of Automotive Repair and do not have a history of citations. Ask them for warranty and insurance information so that you may feel comfortable knowing that your vehicle is being properly repaired and is in safe hands.
Check on the shop to see that they are properly equipped and trained to repair your vehicle, whether it be a Ford or Mercedes-Benz.Check for shop certifications: ICAR, ASE, SRS and New Vehicle Manufacturer repair certifications are evidence of continued shop personnel training is in place. A shop that does not have any training in place will not be up to date on current vehicles and repair methods and may not have the technical knowledge to properly repair your vehicle.
SB551: SECTION 1. Section 758.5 is added to the Insurance Code Effective January 1, 2004. This section of the insurance codes stipulates that an insurance company may not suggest or recommend that your vehicle be repaired at a specific automotive repair dealer unless a referral has been expressly requested; and the claimant has been informed in writing of the right to select the repair dealer of their choice. Once a claimant has specified a repair dealer to repair their vehicle an insurance company may not suggest or recommend that the claimant select a different automotive repair dealer.
If you do not have a repair shop of choice, or a qualified recommendation you should consider the insurance companies DRP recommendation at that time. The insurance company must, by mandated law, warrant the repairs to the vehicle themselves, in addition to the shops own warranty. Again, just be sure of the shop you take it to.
Upon completion of repairs, be sure you receive a signed copy of the final repair invoice, with any insurance papers, a copy of the shop's written warranty and a copy of any parts invoices. Have the shop estimator or manager go over the repaired vehicle with you. Have the shop estimator or manager show you what the shop did to repair your vehicle. Be sure that you are comfortable with the repairs when you pick it up.
Quality reputable shops do warrant repairs. And, all shops can and do sometimes miss something. You know your vehicle better than any repairing shop. If you do see, hear or feel anything; go back to the shop and they will, if they are any kind of shop at all, take care of any related problems. Do not just keep driving the vehicle and think, "Oh well it isn't so bad"; it is and can be taken care of.
ALL AUTO REPAIR FACILITIES, DEALERSHIPS, BODY SHOPS MUST BE CITY LICENSED, HAVE A STATE OF CALIFORNIA EPA NUMBER, BE INSURED AND BE REGISTERED WITH THE CALIFORNIA BUREAU OF AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR. COMPLAINTS REGARDING THESE TYPE OF SHOPS ARE INVESTIGATED BY THE BUREAU OF AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR AND HANDLED ACCORDINGLY. BE SURE YOU CHECK ON ANY SHOP YOU WISH TO TAKE YOUR VEHICLE TO BY VISITING THEIR WEB SITE: WWW.AUTOREPAIR.CA.GOV
BOSTROM'S QUALITY AUTO CRAFT CITY LICENSE NUMBER: 020165
BUREAU OF AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR REGISTRATION: AG228617
CALIFORNIA EPA NUMBER: CAL0026110
NIACS NUMBER: 11121
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