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After a collision, your insurance company will often give you a list of shops they prefer, or sometimes they point you toward one specific shop and call it an approved repair facility. That shop is part of a Direct Repair Program, commonly called a DRP. Understanding what that means helps you make a more informed decision about where your car actually goes.
At Mashore Autobody, we are not on any insurance company's preferred list. Here is why we think that is actually a good thing for you.
What a Direct Repair Program actually is
A Direct Repair Program is a contract between an insurance company and a body shop. The shop agrees to certain terms, which can include pricing caps, specific parts sourcing guidelines, and a streamlined claims process. In exchange, the insurer steers policyholders toward that shop by listing it on their website, texting the address after a claim, or calling it preferred or approved.
From the insurance company's perspective, DRP arrangements help predict repair costs and speed up claims processing. From the shop's perspective, being on the list brings in a steady stream of customers who might not have found them otherwise. The arrangement can benefit both parties.
What it does not guarantee is that every decision made on your car will be based purely on what is best for your repair.
What DRP agreements mean for the person getting the repair
The DRP contract is between the shop and the insurer. You are not a party to it, but you feel the effects.
In some DRP arrangements, the shop agrees to use aftermarket parts or parts from specific suppliers to keep costs within what the insurer will approve. In others, there are labor rate caps that limit how much time the shop can bill on a repair. That does not mean every DRP shop does poor work. Many are good shops. But the arrangement creates competing priorities that the shop has to balance, and not all of those priorities are yours.
A family-owned shop without a DRP contract has one customer relationship to manage: yours. When we think your car needs a different part, a deeper inspection, or more labor time than the original estimate allows, we go to bat for it. We open a supplement claim and document the reason.
Do you have to use your insurance company's preferred shop in California
No. In California, you have the right to choose the body shop that repairs your car. Your insurer can suggest a shop or provide a list, but the decision is yours. They cannot force you to use a DRP shop, and they cannot refuse to cover your repair because you chose an independent shop, as long as that shop documents the work and participates in the claims process.
We covered this in detail in our guide on whether you have to use the body shop your insurance recommends. The short answer is no.
If you want to confirm your rights under your specific policy, the California Department of Insurance handles consumer questions about auto insurance claims.
What happens if your insurer pushes hard toward a specific shop
Some adjusters are more persistent than others. You might hear that the repair will go faster, or that they cannot guarantee work done at an outside shop. Here is what to know about those statements.
Faster is sometimes true. DRP shops have a direct line to the insurer's claims system, which can cut back and forth on approvals. But faster only matters if the shop does the repair right. A repair that comes back wrong is slower in the end.
On guarantees: your insurer is required by California law to pay for a proper repair, regardless of which licensed shop performs it. The guarantee language around DRP shops is a selling point, not a legal protection that disappears if you choose an independent shop. We stand behind every repair we do.
If you feel genuinely pressured into a shop you do not want to use, you can file a complaint with the California Department of Insurance.
Why the family-shop difference matters here
We have been repairing cars in Brentwood since 2006. That track record did not come from being on an insurance company's list. It came from building a real relationship with every driver who brought us their car.
When you bring your car to Mashore Autobody, you talk to the same people from your first call to the moment you pick up your keys. We listen to your specific concerns, explain your options in plain language, and we do not treat you as a number in a queue. That is The Family-Shop Standard.
For a full guide on what to look for when choosing any shop, see our article on how to choose a body shop you can trust.
Questions to ask before picking any shop
Whether you choose a DRP shop or an independent shop, these questions will tell you a lot about who you are dealing with.
Who decides which parts go in my car? Ask whether they use OEM or aftermarket parts by default, and what drives the decision.
What happens if the repair costs more than the original estimate? A shop that handles supplements on your behalf is a shop that is working for you.
Will I deal with the same person throughout the repair? At a high-volume DRP shop, the answer is often no. At a family-owned shop, yes.
Do you stand behind the work? Ask about the warranty. A shop that backs its work does not need fine print to explain it away.
See the full list we recommend in our article on questions to ask a body shop before you hand over your keys.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Direct Repair Program (DRP) shop?
A DRP shop is a body shop that has a contract with one or more insurance companies. In exchange for being listed as a preferred shop, the shop agrees to certain pricing and parts guidelines. You as the driver are not a party to that contract.
Do I have to use my insurance company's preferred shop in California?
No. California law gives you the right to choose your own body shop. Your insurer can suggest a shop, but they cannot require you to use it or refuse to pay for a repair done at an independent shop that documents the work.
Is a DRP shop always a worse choice?
Not always. Some DRP shops do quality work. The issue is that the shop has competing priorities: the terms of their insurer agreement and what is best for your car. An independent shop's only priority is your repair.
What does 'preferred shop' or 'approved repair facility' actually mean?
It means the shop has a business arrangement with your insurer that benefits both of them. It does not mean the shop was independently tested for quality or that they will do a better job on your specific car.
How do I know if a shop is working for me or for my insurance company?
Ask them: who decides which parts go in my car? What happens if the repair costs more than the estimate? Do you handle supplements on my behalf? A shop that answers those questions clearly is a shop that is working for you.
Next step
If your insurance company has given you a preferred shop and you are wondering whether to use it, call us first. A free estimate costs you nothing, and talking to us before you decide costs nothing. We will look at your car, tell you honestly what the repair involves, and let you choose.
Mashore Autobody is family owned and operated at 44 Sycamore Ave Suite A, Brentwood, CA 94513. We work with every insurance company and handle the paperwork so the whole thing stays painless on your end. Call 925-516-1930 or stop in. Like it never happened.
Call (925) 516-1930 or stop by 44 Sycamore Ave, Suite A in Brentwood. Estimates are free. Read about our how we work with your insurance company, how we work, or get directions and hours. We serve Brentwood, Oakley, Antioch, Discovery Bay and Byron.