03/22/2026
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A Third-Party Claimant Has the Right to Choose Their Repair Shop
If you’re involved in an accident and dealing with another driver’s insurer—such as State Farm—you may receive a standard form letter explaining your repair options. These letters often begin by stating that you are free to choose any repair shop. That statement is correct. However, the rest of the language can sometimes create confusion about a vehicle owner’s responsibilities and risks.
The Right to Choose Your Repair Facility:
Consumers have the right to choose the repair facility they trust. This applies whether you are the policyholder or a third-party claimant. Insurers cannot require you to use a specific repair shop.
Your vehicle is your property, and only you can authorize repairs. The shop you choose works for you—not the insurance company.
The Misconception About “Discussing the Estimate”:
Some letters, like the one shown here, state that it is the vehicle owner’s responsibility to discuss the insurance company’s estimate with the repair shop before authorizing repairs.
In reality, the vehicle owner has NO obligation to negotiate or interpret an insurance estimate. That is not the consumer’s role. A third party claimant has NO responsibility other than to have their vehicle repaired correctly. There is NO value in state farms estimate! They don't repair cars!
A professional collision repair facility evaluates the damage, researches manufacturer repair procedures, and prepares its own repair plan. If there are differences between the shop’s repair plan and the insurer’s estimate...the shop may assist the vehicle owner in navigating the claims process.
Insurance Estimates Are Not Repair Blueprints:
An insurance estimate is simply the insurer’s opinion of the cost of repairs based on a preliminary inspection (usually photos). It is not a repair plan and it does not dictate the correct way to repair a vehicle. In other words, insurers are legally bound to set aside some funds to pay for the loss (reserve of loss). Those opinions of the loss amount are most often determined by AI or someone sitting in a cubicle in middle America with a degree in elementary education.
Proper repairs should be based on manufacturer repair procedures, safety requirements, and the actual damage discovered during the repair process.
Language That Shifts Risk to the Customer:
Letters may also state that the customer could be responsible for charges the insurer does not agree to pay.
Statements like this can create concern for vehicle owners because they appear to shift financial risk onto the consumer. A third-party claimant should not feel pressured to choose a repair shop based solely on whether it agrees with the insurer’s estimate.
The goal of a proper repair is to restore the vehicle safely and correctly—not simply to meet the lowest estimate.
The Bottom Line:
If you are a third-party claimant- You have the right to choose the repair shop you trust.
You are not responsible for negotiating repair estimates with the insurance company.
Proper repairs should be based on manufacturer procedures and a complete repair plan.
At the end of the day, the most important thing is that your vehicle is repaired safely, correctly, and completely—not just within the limits of an initial insurance estimate. 🚗
