If you own the vehicle and do not have a lien holder you may be able to keep the money and not make the repair depending upon your state's laws. For example the North Dakota Department of Insurance states that the policy provisions for loss settlement will dictate the basis a company will use to settle a claim.

Most policies currently do not include a provision for a cash settlement. In these situations, the company is obligated to settle (pay) based upon the cost of repair. Some policies, however, may go further and allow the company to negotiate a cash settlement. If they do, it is reasonable for the company to deduct labor, overhead costs and sales tax if you are not going to repair the vehicle (according to ND laws, other states may differ).

You may check with your state's insurance regulatory body to find out what your state laws allow regarding cash settlements instead of a check to the repair shop for the damages to your vehicle to be fixed.

If you are able to take the money and not use it towards the repair of your vehicle keep in mind that if you are in an accident at a later date this unrepaired pre-existing (previous) damage may be deducted from any settlement in the future. This is one of the downfalls to not using an insurance check for the repairs it was intended to pay for; the damages are still on the vehicle and thus can reduce the settlement of a future claim.