How do direct repair programs work?

by AutoBody by Jake » Thu Jan 17, 2008 02:36 pm

Thought it best to start a new topic. Maybe there's people out there that have questions about DRP's and the shops that become one.

I've got quite a bit of experience with the direct repair program process and it's ups and downs, yes. There's a fair bit that goes on behind the scenes, and that's where I see some headaches.

Do you have any experience with them where you are? What do you think of them?

Total Comments: 192

Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 11:45 am Post Subject:

Quote:
tcope mentioned something about a coalition to "police" the repair industry
News to me. I don't recall stating anything like that

It was me...I said that...

I agree with you Mike most 'reputable' dealers will do this (auction trade ins) but they also auction about 80-90% of their trades and many other dealers buy their 'stock' at the auction! What a circle! ha ha....You know about ten years ago I bought a new car, I traded in my 94 dodge truck (i loved that truck)....anyway the salesman had no idea what my occupation was (as yet, hadn't got to the credit app yet)...and he is filling out this paper work before he gave it to ''the guy'' that was going to tell me how much they would give me on my trade in...salemans says to me, ''Your truck hasn't been wrecked has it?...NOW WAIT BEFORE YOU ANSWER!! I REALLY don't want to know if it's been wrecked or not...just say, 'i don't know'' I couldn't believe this moron...it had not been wrecked but still! I ask him why, and he said, 'it won't make any difference as far as the value, but 'if'' we know we are ''supposed'' to tell a prospective buyer'....I fear/think this happens more than we are willing to admit....

Also re: carfax, you do understand that every repair is not on the carfax reports right?

Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 10:18 am Post Subject: Direct repair shops

If you are faced with the option of going to one of these, take it. Working for Geico I can tell you that everything Lori says is very true. I don't have time to type out all the details but she's pretty dead on about these shops. Without these shops you can expect to see a geico adjuster at an inspection center, get your estimate, find your own body shop, have them order parts, wait until they come in, then arrange a time to take your vehicle back to your body shop, etc. You get the idea. With the direct repair shops your vehicle goes in, you leave in a rental, the shop gets paid handsomly (but not inflated), and you get your car fixed the right way the first time. They also guarantee that work for as long as you own it. It's just simple. We want you guys to have your vehicle back to new and we want your claim to go smoothly and quickly.

When people choose their own shops, it just complicates things. The shops usually need the geico adjuster to approve for more money or parts...plus you lose out on a lifetime guarantee from your insurance.

Oh and your helpful claims reps kind of depend on you booking the direct repair shop for their stats. Happy claims reps means fast and friendly claims handling. We can also track the progress of your repairs easier with our own shops.

Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 11:50 pm Post Subject: DRP

I do post repair inspections. Most of the bad work I see comes out of a DRP body shop. The problem is that the body shop works for the Insurance company, not the vehicle owner. I was a DRP for one of the larger insurance companies. The ONLY thing they were interested in was money. They told me to put on inferior parts, to ignore damage, and to use improper repair methods.

If you go to a DRP shop, you are more likely to get a bad job. That said, IF you have a Consumer Advocate in your area, you can get a bad job fixed easier when fixed by a DRP shop vs a non-DRP.

I own a body shop and I hate that the work is steered to a DRP. But as a Consumer Advocate, I love it. The insurance company MUST stand behind the DRP work. The insurance company will pay to have your car re-repaired at the shop of your choice. They really don't care how much the re-repairs cost, they will bill the DRP. Other than time a re-repair may not cost the insurance company anything.

If a body shop gets $250,000. worth of work from an insurance company, and you bring the shop one small $2500. job, who do you think the body shop will look after. They will cater to their $250,000. customer.

Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 12:54 am Post Subject:

Hi Wreck Check and welcome to the community...first since you are a 'former' drp I'm sure you won't mind backing up this statement..

They told me to put on inferior parts, to ignore damage, and to use improper repair methods.

Please do explain the inferior parts, ignoring damage and using improper repair methods, also the state you are in and the company you are talking about...Are we to assume you were the DRP for one company only? Or is this the only company you had problems with?

If you go to a DRP shop, you are more likely to get a bad job.

Again, 'more than likely' to get a bad job? So you did bad work on the drp jobs you did? I'm not saying that a drp can't throw out a bad job, just as easy as any other shop, but no more or no less than the across the board percentage...good part though is rather than having to take some shop to court, your drp gaurantee will fix it...as you pointed out...again, I'd like to see some documentation that you have a better chance of getting a bad repair at a drp than not...

I own a body shop and I hate that the work is steered to a DRP.


But not when you were a drp right? :roll: The insurance company MUST stand behind the DRP work.

The insurance company will pay to have your car re-repaired at the shop of your choice. They really don't care how much the re-repairs cost, they will bill the DRP. Other than time a re-repair may not cost the insurance company anything

You are correct for the most part...on this statement...if a drp does something wrong on a repair and the customer will not allow them to make it right, and most will unless it's really bad...the drp shop (if it was a negligent repair) will eventually have to pay this bad one way or another..

If a body shop gets $250,000. worth of work from an insurance company, and you bring the shop one small $2500. job, who do you think the body shop will look after. They will cater to their $250,000. customer

Well sorry but that's a character issue on the person that owns the shop...

Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 04:53 pm Post Subject:

Here we go again. In what way were you "told" to use inferior parts and define "inferior". Never mind... we all know you mean aftermarket parts. By parts do you mean door skins, fenders, etc? That is, parts that are for appearance only and don't lend themselves to safety?

When you say that people are likely to get a bad job done at a DRP, are you talking about all the dealerships that work on thousands of vehicles regardless if they are refered by an insurance company or not? I guess they do such a poor job that they don't lack in customers.

Or do you mention this because....

I own a body shop and I hate that the work is steered to a DRP.

But as a Consumer Advocate, I love it. [/quote]So your pretty much banking against DRPs on all fronts.

The insurance company MUST stand behind the DRP work. The insurance company will pay to have your car re-repaired at the shop of your choice. They really don't care how much the re-repairs cost, they will bill the DRP. Other than time a re-repair may not cost the insurance company anything.

A choice to use a DRP _AND_ a warrenty if you do! Life is SWEET!

If a body shop gets $250,000. worth of work from an insurance company, and you bring the shop one small $2500. job, who do you think the body shop will look after. They will cater to their $250,000. customer.

So you're saying that the shop would rather not have a customer complain to the insurance company, who will then complain to the body shop. Double SWEET!

In 20 years I've only heard of two people complain about work at a DRP shop. Odd, if they all do such piss poor work.

Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 06:09 pm Post Subject:

I am with t-scope on this one. I have seen plenty vehicles repaired through these kinds of shops, including my own and have always thought their work was great.

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Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 02:12 am Post Subject: Insurance repair list?

How do I as a small body shop in Milwaukee, WI participate in the DRP.

Posted: Wed May 18, 2011 07:26 am Post Subject:

You have to approach each insurance company you want to work with and see what their criteria is to be a DRF.

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Really great article with very interesting information. You might want to follow up to this topic!?! 2012

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