Know Your Insurance Rights After an Auto Accident

After an auto accident, you're dealing with enough—making sure everyone is okay, filing a police report, and getting your insurance involved. What many vehicle owners don’t realize is that you have the right to choose where your car is repaired. But insurance companies don’t always make that clear.

In fact, most insurers will try to steer you toward a specific “preferred” or “in-network” repair shop. At first glance, it might seem convenient—they’ll tell you it’s faster, cheaper, or part of their claims process.

The real reason they push those shops? It saves them money.

Why Insurance Companies Push Certain Shops After an Auto Accident

The preferred shops insurance companies recommend are often part of a Direct Repair Program (DRP).

A DRP is an agreement between an insurance company and certain auto body shops. These shops become part of the insurer’s “preferred network” and, in return, agree to follow the insurance company’s guidelines for repairs—including using specific parts (often aftermarket or used), meeting cost thresholds, and sometimes limiting labor charges.

While DRPs can speed up paperwork between the shop and the insurer, they often prioritize the insurer’s cost savings over the vehicle owner’s best interest. That can mean lower-quality parts, rushed timelines, and repairs that don’t fully restore your car to pre-accident condition.

It’s important to understand: just because a shop is in a DRP doesn’t mean it’s your best option. You are not required to use one of these shops. You have the legal right to choose a repair facility that puts your safety—not the insurer’s savings—first.

Your concern should be quality and safety, not helping the insurance company’s bottom line.

What Are Aftermarket Parts & Why You Should Be Cautious

Aftermarket parts are components made by third-party manufacturers—not your vehicle’s original automaker. They are designed to be “universal fits” or close copies, but they don’t always match the specifications or quality of the original.

Worse yet, you rarely know the full history of an aftermarket part.

If the part was previously used, reconditioned, or sold through multiple vendors before ending up on your vehicle, there’s virtually no way to trace it. If it fails, there’s often no clear line of accountability. Who do you blame—the manufacturer, the rebuilder, the reseller, or the installer? That kind of uncertainty has no place in a vehicle meant to protect you in the event of another accident.

OEM parts, on the other hand, are traceable, tested, and held to your carmaker’s safety standards. They’re designed for your exact make, model, and year, so they perform the way they were originally intended to.

The Risk of Aftermarket Parts

Using aftermarket parts can impact:

• Structural Integrity: An ill-fitting bumper or fender can affect how your car absorbs impact in another crash.
• Resale Value: Cars repaired with OEM parts typically maintain a higher resale value.
• Performance & Longevity: OEM parts are designed to work with your specific make and model, ensuring better performance and durability over time.
• Accountability: With OEM parts, there’s a direct line of responsibility if something fails. With aftermarket, it’s anyone’s guess.

Why OEM-Certified Shops Matter

OEM-certified auto body repair shops like Hammer’s Autoworks follow strict guidelines and use only parts approved by your vehicle’s manufacturer. These certifications require ongoing training, specialized equipment, and detailed inspections to ensure your car is restored to factory standards—not just “good enough.”

We understand the difference between a car that “looks fine” and one that’s truly safe to drive. From proper welds and paint matching to sensor recalibration, every detail matters. And we don’t cut corners.

You Have the Right to Choose

Don’t be pressured into going somewhere just because your insurance company suggested it. Missouri law gives you the right to choose your own repair shop—no matter what your insurance adjuster says.

You’re not obligated to use their network. You’re not required to get multiple estimates. And you have every right to expect repairs that prioritize your safety.

Let Hammer’s Handle the Insurance Headaches

Navigating an insurance claim can feel overwhelming, especially when you’ve just been in an accident. Between paperwork, phone calls, and the pressure to make quick decisions, it's easy to feel lost. But here’s the good news: you don’t have to handle it alone.

At Hammer’s Autoworks, we deal with insurance companies every single day. We know their systems, their language, and their tactics—and we know how to make sure our customers don’t get shortchanged.

From the moment you bring your vehicle to us, we’ll take it from there. We’ll communicate directly with your insurance adjuster, provide the necessary documentation and estimates, and push back if they try to cut corners on your repair.

You shouldn’t have to fight to get your car repaired the right way—that’s our job. Most people will only go through a claim a handful of times in their lives. For us? It’s what we do. We’re experts at working within the process while standing up for what matters most: getting your car back to safe, factory condition with quality OEM parts.

So don’t stress about the details. Drop off your keys and let us go to bat for you.

Choose Quality. Choose Safety. Choose Hammer’s.

At Hammer’s Autoworks, we advocate for our customers every step of the way. We work with your insurance, not for them, to make sure your vehicle is repaired the right way—with OEM parts, by certified technicians, and with your safety in mind.

Have questions after an accident? Need help navigating the claims process? We’ve got your back.

Contact Hammer’s Autoworks today—because we’re going to fix it right.