PriceProtect™
DriveShield™
GarageGuard™
Services
Insurance
Car Insurance
Compare Car Insurance with Jerry
Jerry’s Expert Advice
Car Insurance Estimates
Home & Renters Insurance
Renters Insurance
Repairs
Car Repair Estimates
Repair Estimates for Popular Services
Advice
Read Car Content
Browse Jerry Car Advice
Check Out Expert Car QnA
Learn About How We Create Content
Jerry Data & Research
How can I tell if a repair shop recommended by my insurer is gouging me for accident repairs?
I recently got in a single-car accident. Most of the damage looks cosmetic, but the insurance company's preferred auto body shop gave me an estimate for $7,500. My deductible is $2,000, and I think the damage is far less than that. How can I tell if a repair shop is gouging me?
Eric Schad · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
“Unless you’re a mechanic yourself, you might not know how expensive many car repairs are, especially anything involving body work. If the insurance company referred you to one of their preferred shops, chances are they trust their estimates.
If you think that $7,500 is outrageous, you can always get a second opinion elsewhere. By getting a second (or third or fourth) opinion, you can get better insight into the costs to repair the damage.
Let’s say that you get other estimates and they’re all less than $2,000. You’ve definitely proved that the first place was gouging you. In this case, paying out of pocket will actually save you money, provided that the quality of the work is good.
If you’re ever in doubt about how much a repair costs, always get a few estimates before you file a claim on your
car insurance
.”View full answer
- Gregory R.
WHY YOU CAN TRUST JERRY
Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
Join 4M+ members in lowering their car insurance
You Might Also Be Interested
Read Advice From Car Experts At Jerry
What Others Are Asking
Browse More Content
Insurance in Your State
Easiest way to compare and buy car insurance
No long forms
No spam or unwanted phone calls
Quotes from top insurance companies