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QuestionInsurance Question  I live in Phoenix, Arizona. At work a delivery truck hit my car and damaged the bumper. The driver's insurance company told me to take some pictures and get an estimate and submit it for reimbursement approval. I took my car to my regular repair place and they gave me an estimate for $789.00. I submitted it and the insurance company said I have to submit an estimate from a body shop and not a tire place that also does repairs. The body shop I choose to go to gave me an estimate for $630.00. I want to take my car to my regular repair place. Can the insurer tell me where to take my car for repair or can I choose where to take my car for repair, even if they charge more than the other place I went to? So in AZ can I pick who I want to repair my car, get an estimate and send it to the other party's insurance?

AnswerAuto Insurance Answer

In Arizona you can choose a repair shop and get an estimate from this mechanic and send it to the at-fault party's insurance company however most insurers will request you to get other estimates done to make sure your choice of repair shops has a reasonable estimate. Many times an insurance company will have preferred body or repair shops they will request you go to for an estimate because these places are known to have a fair, decent price for doing repairs. The repair process can be billed to the paying insurance company, if handled and explained properly.

The Arizona Department of Insurance states that when getting repairs done to your car an insurer may not require you to travel unreasonably to inspect a replacement auto, to obtain a repair estimate or to have the vehicle repaired at a specific repair shop. However the AZ DOI does go on to say that if you choose to have the repairs done at a facility which charges more than several other independent shops, any amount in excess of the settlement provided by the insurer will be your responsibility.

So you may choose your repair shop in AZ however if it costs more at this facility to repair you car than at other mechanic shops, you will need to pay the difference. You may see want to get estimates from other repair shops to show the insurance company, if these estimates are for more than $630 than delivery truck's insurance provider may be willing to pay more out for the repair of your car. If to settle this claim they only want to offer you the $630, since you have gotten an estimate for this amount and thus could get it fixed for this amount, then if you want to use your regular repair / tire shop then you will need to pay the difference between the insurance settlement amount and the cost of the repairs at this facility. 

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