Collision Center
Call: 804-749-3088
“Make The Smart Choice”
Mobile Repairs Collision Center provides the Highest Quality in Auto Body Repair. We do this with the professional and personal attention you deserve. Our collision Center is a full service state of the art repair facility. We do this by selecting the right equipment and using the highest quality in Auto Body and Paint Products available. We take pride in what we do and will restore your vehicle to its pre-accident condition.
We offer the following services to make your experience with us as easy and pleasant as possible.
- Free Estimates
- 24/7 Towing Service
- Full Service Center on site for your Mechanical needs
- Computerized Color Matching
- State of the Art Frame Machine
- Rental Car Availability
- Environmentally Friendly Products
- Fleet and Commercial Accounts Welcome
- Insurance Claims Welcome!
Lifetime Warranty on All Body & Paint Work
“Personal Care With First Rate Service”
Kim Smart - Manager
Virginia law is very specific in protecting your right to choose the repair facility of your choice. It is illegal for an insurance company to badger, intimate or discourage you from taking your vehicle to the body shop of your choice.
We have found the following consumer guidelines to be helpful for customers with vehicles repaired under insurance claims.
- You have the right to choose your repair facility.
- You may be entitled to a rental vehicle. This rental should be of comparable value to your vehicle.
- You have the right to insist on Original Manufacturer's Parts
VIRGINIA LAW:
Approved March 16, 2003
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1- That §38.2-517 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 38.2-5U. Unfair: settlement practices; replacement and repair: penalty.
A. No person shall:
I. Require an insured or claimant to uti1ize designated replacement or repair facilities or services, or the products of designated manufacturers, as a prerequisite to settling or paying any claim arising under a policy or policies of insurance: or
2. Engage in any act of coercion or intimidation causing or; intended to cause an insured or claimant to utilize designated replacement or repair facilities or services, or the products of designated manufacturers, in connection with settling or paying any claim arising under a policy or policies of insurance;
3. Fail to disclose to the insured or claimant, at such time as it recommends the use of a designated motor vehicle replacement or repair facility or service, or products of a designated manufacturer; in connection with settling or paying any claim arising under a policy or policies of insurance, that the insured or claimant is under no obligation to use the replacement or repair facility or service or products of the manufacturer recommended by the insurer or by a representative of the insurer; or
4. Fail to disclose to the insured or claimant, at such time as it recommends the use of a designated motor vehicle replacement or repair facility in connection with settling or paying any claim arising under a policy or policies of insurance, that the insurer has a financial interest in such replacement or repair facility, if the insurer has such an interest.
B. This section shall, not be construed to require an. insurer to pay an amount for motor vehicle repair services or repair products necessary to properly and fairly repair the vehicle to its pre-loss condition that is greater than the prevailing competitive charges for equivalent services or products charged by similar contractors or repair shops within a reasonable geographic or trade area of the address of the repair facility. Offering an explanation of the extent of an insurer's obligation under this section to its policyholder or third-party claimant shall not constitute a violation of this section.
C. Any person violating this section shall be subject to the injunctive, and enforcement provisions of Chapter 2 ( 38.2-200 et seq.) of this title. The Commission shall investigate, with the written authorization of the insured or claimant, any written complaints received pursuant to this section, regardless of whether such written complaints are submitted by an individual or a repair facility. For the purpose of this subsection, any insurance company utilizing a third party shall be held accountable for any violation of this section by such third party.
2. That the provisions of this act shall apply to motor vehicle insurance policies issued or renewed on or after July 1, 2003.
Steering You Wrong: Is Your Insurer Taking You for a Ride?
Have you ever called your insurance company after an accident and been told that the auto body shop of your choice wouldn't be able to handle your repairs? Did your insurer persuade you to use of their “recommended” or “guaranteed” shops, despite the fact that you never heard of these businesses before or they were out of the way for you? If so, you were “steered,” and what happened to you is wrong.
Why it is Done?
As part of their services, several insurers offer their customers access to their network of “preferred” collision repair facilities. These are businesses that regularly perform work for that insurer; in return, the insurer provides marketing and other perks to that shop for making their insured's repairs a priority. These businesses are commonly known as “Direct Repair Program” or “DRP” shops.
In a typical “DRP” scenario, the insurers agree to market a shop to their policyholders (typically when an insured calls to report a claim) if that shop agrees to repair the vehicle to the contractual standards of the insurer. These standards often include giving that particular policyholder high priority at the shop and guaranteeing that the repair will be completed within a set period of time (i.e. three days or even 24 hours). When conducted appropriately, DRPs provide peace of mind to customers who are concerned about the timely return of their vehicles and enable the insurer to build solid working relationships with shops in a particular market area. (Hammer & Dolly, April 2011)
Why it is Wrong?
While DRP arrangements exist in most states – and insurers are certainly able to market their services to customers – it is important that you never forget that you, the consumer, have the ultimate right to have your vehicle repaired at the shop of your choice. If and when an insurer gives you the impression that you can only go to one of their program shops, you are not being treated fairly. In 2008, the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) – a national collision repair trade group comprised of 6,000 collision repair businesses and 58,500 specialized professionals – issued a list of what they consider to be unfair and deceptive DRP marketing practices. Here are a few of the most common offenses: Deceptive referral practices of a malicious nature. Utilizing language and word tracks that cause the consumer to question the quality, services and integrity of any repairer that is not a part of an insurers' Direct Repair Program (DRP) or “referral” program.
Disparaging Statements. Insurance company employees making disparaging remarks to consumers in an effort to apparently “steer” them to one of their DRP or referral shops. Vague and Ambiguous remarks about repair “delays.” It is reported that various insurance company employees have time and again insinuated, or worse yet, stated to a consumer that the repairs will take longer if they are NOT done at one of their
DRP shops.
Preying on the consumer's lack of knowledge in their rights or repair expectations to gain leverage against the informed repairer. The vast majority of consumers do not have the skills or experience needed to make sound collision repair decisions without guidance and input. Unfortunately, it appears as though some insurers take this situation and use it in their favor. The end result is a consumer who is coerced into a situation that may not be in their best interest. In fact, if repairs are done in a substandard way, the consumer is oftentimes at a loss on how to rectify the situation.
What Others Have Done
Unfortunately, “steering” can become so problematic at times that the legal system has to get involved. Bill Ebert, a body shop owner in Illinois, successfully sued State Farm for using unfair tactics in encouraging customers not to utilize the services at his shop, American Auto Body. According to Bill's son (and current shop owner) Wade, State Farm had told consumers that his family's business was known for charging for work they hadn't performed and other offenses. “[State Farm] took it upon themselves to start telling customers, ‘You know, American Auto Body doesn't play nice,'” he says. “You can say all kinds of things [to market your services], but when you start lying, there's a problem.” The push against “steering” has even extended into the world of politics. In 2009, California Congresswoman Jackie Speier opposed state legislation (sponsored by Personal Insurance Federation of California, who represent State Farm, among others) that gave the state's auto insurers greater leeway in marketing their DRP services. Ultimately passed into law in October 2009 (much to the chagrin of many body shop industry groups), the bill added the following passage to the California Insurance Code: An insurer may provide the claimant with specific truthful and non-deceptive information regarding the services and benefits available to the claimant during the claims process. This may include, but is not limited to, information about the repair warranties offered, the type of replacement parts to be used, the anticipated time to repair the damaged vehicle and the quality of the workmanship available to the claimant.
What You Can Do?
Because you are a vehicle owner and collision repair consumer, it is always in your best interest to make the most informed choice on where you have your car repaired. While you should be cautious of being steered towards an insurer's preferred body shop, you should also be aware that many DRP shops perform professional, high-quality work. It is quite possible that your shop of choice is a DRP shop anyway. But never allow anyone to take away your right to choose. If you would like more information on steering, or if you suspect that it has happened to you, please contact the Washington Metropolitan Auto Body Association at (804) 789-9649.