What Is DRP?

When you get into an accident, the first thing to do is to get your insurance company involved. The insurance company will handle the accident report, the vehicle inspection, the towing, and so on.

But the one thing you DON'T want your insurance company to handle is choosing the auto body shop in Los Angeles. That's a task you want to stay firmly in control of!

Why is that? Simple: most insurance companies have a Direct Repair Program (DRP) with certain body shops in the city. The insurance company promises to send customers to the body shops, in exchange for the body shops providing service the way the insurance company demands. This is known as DRP "Steering".

Your insurance company may "recommend" a body shop, which will be their "preferred" repair provider. However, it's not usually the best choice for your vehicle. Why not?

Insurance companies will often demand the repairs be done more quickly, even if it means they aren't done thoroughly. Corners will be cut and cheaper parts will often be used just to keep costs low for the insurance company.

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"Preferred" body shops may be so overwhelmed with work from the insurance company that they may end up doing a shoddy, superficial job just to keep up with the demanded repair schedule.

The good news is that you don't have to choose the "preferred" or "recommended" auto body shop in Los Angeles. According to California state law, you have the right to select your repair provider, and the insurance company cannot obligate you to select any specific auto body shop.

This is why you want to take a hand in the selection process. You should always make sure to work with a body shop you can trust, one that you know will provide quality Original Equipment Manufacturer parts (not cheap, counterfeit after-market parts), will do a thorough job on the vehicle (not just repairing the superficial damage to the body, but also repairing structural damage), and will keep YOUR interests as a priority. The right body shop can even help you negotiate with your insurance provider to ensure you get the best quality repair.