How insurance claims work for auto body repair
The claim process confuses everyone the first time. Here is what actually happens between the accident and picking up your car.
Most people only file one body-shop claim in their life. So the process is unfamiliar right when you are already stressed. Here is the plain version.
You open the claim with your insurer, or with the at-fault driver's insurer if they hit you. Either way, a claim number gets assigned and an adjuster is named.
The adjuster inspects the car. They can come to your driveway, the shop, or ask for photos. Their job is to write an estimate for visible damage.
You choose the shop. Connecticut law lets you pick any registered repair shop. The insurer's "preferred network" is a suggestion, not a requirement.
The shop writes its own supplement. Almost every collision has hidden damage the adjuster could not see — a bent radiator support, a broken mounting tab. The shop sends a supplement to the insurer for approval before ordering parts.
Parts are ordered. OEM, aftermarket, and used parts all have a place. Your policy spells out which the insurer will pay for. If you want all OEM, you may owe the difference.
Repair happens. Frame work, paint, reassembly, and a final detail. A reputable shop will send progress updates and call you before any change in scope.
You pick up the car. You owe your deductible to the shop if the claim is on your own policy. If the other driver is at fault and accepted liability, there is usually no deductible.
Ask for the final repair paperwork and keep it. It proves the work was done and helps resale value down the road.
Questions about your car?
Call the shop on Greenwich Ave. We answer, give you a straight quote, and tell you when we can fit you in.