If you've had a car accident and you need a repair, then your insurance company may have given you a choice — you can use one of their approved companies or choose your own shop. There are some benefits to going with an insurer recommendation. What are they?

1. You Get an Easier Fix

If you organise everything yourself, then you need to find quotes and choose the right auto repairs specialist. You also have to negotiate with your insurance company to get approval on quoted costs for the shop you want to use.

This all takes time. You could spend a frustrating period juggling calls between your insurance company and the shop to sort things out.

If the smash repair business you choose is part of your insurance company's approved list, then the shop deals with your insurer directly. You can leave them to it.

2. You Won't Be Out of Pocket

If you opt for a private repair, then there might be a discrepancy between the quote the shop gives you and the amount the insurer will pay. Insurers will set a rate for the damage; this may be lower than the quotes you get.

If there is a shortfall, then you probably can't convince the insurance company to up their offer unless you can prove that their estimate is incorrect or missing something. Generally, the company will expect you to cover the difference.

If the insurance company already works with the repair shop, then they talk to each other about the cost of the job directly. The shop explains the scope of the work to the insurer and negotiates justifiable repairs and costs. This helps ensure that you don't have any nasty surprise costs once the job is done, as the insurer approves everything along the way.

3. Your Insurer Will Approve the Repair

Once your car is fixed, then you expect your insurance to factor the repair into your policy coverage. However, this isn't always the case if you use a shop that isn't on your insurer's list.

For example, if you have a problem with your car in the future that comes down to a problem with the repair work, then your insurance company might not pay out on a claim if you used your own repair company. They may only accept claims if you used one of their approved businesses.

To find out more about how insurance auto repairs will work after your accident, contact local smash repair shops that provide insurance auto repair services.