Auto body and insurance FAQ
Clear answers before you authorize a repair.
The most important questions are not always about paint or parts. They are about who chooses the shop, what the insurer approved, what can change, and what you should receive in writing.
The first decision
Can I choose my own auto body shop in New Jersey?
Generally, yes. New Jersey law says an insurer may not deny an insured person the right to select an auto body repair facility for a covered vehicle simply because the insurer has a financial arrangement with another shop or repair network. An insurer can recommend a facility, but a recommendation does not by itself make that facility mandatory.
The statute includes an important condition that simplified “right to choose” slogans often leave out. The repair facility selected by the insured must accept the same terms and conditions from the insurer that would apply under the insurer’s most generous arrangement with a shop, facility, or network. Those terms can affect labor and repair procedures as well as parts, documentation and payment. Ask both the insurer and the shop what terms are being accepted.
Before repairs begin, the selected shop must also give the insured a written notification in the form established by the state regulator. The notice explains that agreeing to those insurer terms may jeopardize a manufacturer or dealer warranty or a lease agreement. Read that notice and ask questions before authorizing work; it is not paperwork to skip.
A practical sequence is: tell the insurer which licensed shop you want, obtain the insurer’s estimate or authorization details, ask the shop whether it can accept the applicable terms, and review the required written notice before repairs start. If the estimate changes after teardown, ask what changed, why it is necessary, and who must approve the supplement.
Source: New Jersey P.L.1998, c.21, codified at N.J.S.A. 17:33B-36.1. This explanation is general information, not legal advice, and it does not interpret your policy, warranty, or lease.
How long will collision repair take?
A reliable timeline depends on the damage, parts availability, insurer response, and what becomes visible during teardown. Ask when the initial assessment will occur, which parts are outstanding, and what milestone must be reached before the completion date can be narrowed. Dawn’s does not publish one blanket turnaround for unlike repairs.
What does the warranty cover?
Ask for the warranty that applies to your estimate in writing before authorizing work. Check which parts and workmanship it covers, what is excluded, and how to report a concern after pickup.
What if I disagree with the insurer’s estimate?
Ask for the estimate in writing and compare it with the shop’s repair plan. Differences may involve operations, parts, labor, visible versus hidden damage, or policy limits. The shop can document repair-related questions, while policy coverage and dispute rights must be addressed with the insurer. Do not assume the first estimate is the final repair plan.
What should I bring or send for an estimate?
Start with your contact information, vehicle year/make/model, a plain-language description of the damage or service need, and any insurer estimate or claim information already available. Photos can help start the conversation, but an in-person inspection may still be needed before scope, price, or timing can be confirmed.
Which payment methods are accepted?
Call to confirm accepted payment methods and whether a deposit is needed. If an insurer is paying toward the repair, ask how its payment and your balance will be handled before pickup.
The next clear step