Insurance
We deal with the adjuster so you don’t have to
The repair is the part we enjoy. The claim is the part that wears people out, so we take that on too. Estimate, submission, supplements, rental, direct billing.
You choose the shop. Not your insurer.
In California an insurer can recommend a shop from its direct-repair network, and it can decline to pay above a reasonable market rate. What it can’t do is require you to use a particular shop. If someone told you otherwise, they were wrong. Bring us the estimate they gave you and we’ll work from it.
This is general information about how claims work, not legal advice. For anything about your specific policy, talk to your carrier or an attorney.
The claim, step by step
What happens, in order
Most people do this once. We do it every day, so here’s the whole sequence, start to finish.
- 01
Report the accident to your carrier
Open the claim yourself, so the claim number is in your name. Tell them you’ve already picked your repair shop. You don’t need their permission for that.
- 02
Bring us the car and the claim number
We take our own photos, write a full estimate against the manufacturer’s repair procedures, and send it over to the adjuster.
- 03
We negotiate the estimate
Carriers often write from photos and miss what’s behind the panel. We document the difference and supply the procedure references that back it up.
- 04
Teardown, then a supplement if needed
Taking it apart is when hidden damage shows up. We photograph it, submit a supplement, and get approval before we carry on. Never after.
- 05
Repair, calibrate, quality-check
Structure measured, panels fitted, paint matched, ADAS recalibrated, diagnostics cleared and written up.
- 06
You pay your deductible and collect
We bill the carrier directly where your policy allows, so usually the deductible is the only money that changes hands with us.
Know this
What you’re entitled to
- You choose the repair shop, not your insurer.
- You can get your own estimate and submit it to the claim.
- A repair that puts the car back to its pre-loss condition.
- You can ask which parts are being used, and why.
- You can request a supplement when hidden damage is found.
Watch out for
Three things worth pushing back on
A photo-only estimate
Nobody can see a bent reinforcement bar in a photograph. A photo estimate is a starting point, not a repair plan.
Aftermarket structural parts
Cosmetic aftermarket parts are usually fine. In a structural or safety-related spot, challenge it.
A repair with no calibration line
If glass, a bumper or a mirror was replaced and there’s no calibration line on the estimate, something got left out.
Carriers
We work with all major insurers
And the ones that aren’t on this list. If they write policies in California, we can work the claim.
We work with all major carriers and bill them directly where your policy allows. How the claim process works →
Questions
What people ask about claims
More on the full FAQ, or ask the assistant in the corner.
Bring us the claim. We’ll take it from there.
Free written estimate, submitted to your carrier, supplements documented properly. All you deal with is your deductible.