Your Legal Right to Choose

Although Ray's  DOES have relationships with specific insurance carriers,  you are NOT REQUIRED to use an "insurance-approved" or "preferred" repair facility. By law, the vehicle owner—not the insurance company—chooses where repairs are performed.

No insurer can:

• Force you to pay out of pocket for repairs necessary to restore your vehicle to pre loss condition.
• Deny your claim because of your shop choice 
• Reduce coverage because you select an independent repair facility 

 After an accident, you may be told that you must use an “insurance-approved” or “preferred” repair facility. While this may sound reassuring, it is important to understand what that designation actually means—and what it does not mean for you or your vehicle. 

An insurance-approved repair facility is selected by an insurance company based on internal business agreements. These agreements typically prioritize:

• Cost containment for the insurer
• Repair speed and volume throughput 
• Administrative convenience

 They are not based on who represents the vehicle owner’s interests first. 

 Your vehicle is one of your largest investments and a critical safety system for you and your family. Choosing where it is repaired should be based on workmanship, accountability, and transparency—not corporate agreements made without your involvement.

Ray’s Auto Body works for you. Period.

Today’s vehicles are engineered with advanced materials, complex electronics, and integrated safety systems. Many repair facilities often rely on standardized repair templates designed for speed and consistency—not precision.

This can result in:

• Missed OEM-required procedures 
• Improper structural or safety system repairs 
• Incomplete diagnostics, calibrations and OEM required safety inspections

These issues may not be obvious at delivery but can affect vehicle safety, performance, and resale value.

Insurance companies are financially responsible for claim payouts. Repair facilities that depend heavily on insurer referrals may be pressured—directly or indirectly—to:

• Use alternative, aftermarket, or recycled parts when available 
• Repair components that manufacturers recommend replacing 
• Limit repair operations to what the insurer authorizes rather than what the vehicle requires 

While many technicians work hard to do quality repairs, the system itself creates a conflict between what is best for the insurer and what is best for you.

Ray’s Auto Body is independently owned and operated since 1968. That independence allows us to:

• Advocate for proper, manufacturer-recommended repairs 
• Document and justify necessary procedures—even when inconvenient 
• Use parts and methods based on safety, not shortcuts 
• Answer to our customers, not insurance scorecards 

Our success depends on repair quality, safety, and long-term trust—not insurer volume metrics.