Florida drivers often feel steered toward an insurance company’s “preferred” body shop after an accident — but you have the legal right to choose where your vehicle is repaired. At db Orlando Collision West, we act as your advocate, ensuring repairs follow OEM procedures and protecting your warranty and safety.
What Is a “Preferred” or Direct Repair Shop (DRP)?
Many insurers maintain Direct Repair Programs that give certain shops a steady stream of work in exchange for reduced pricing or procedural concessions. While this may sound convenient, DRPs can create conflicts of interest where insurer cost-savings compete with full OEM repair standards.
Why “Preferred” Doesn’t Always Mean “Best”
Insurance-preferred shops may accept aftermarket parts, reduced labor rates, or skip manufacturer-required scans and calibrations. These shortcuts can compromise crash performance, sensor function, and warranty protections. Independent OEM-certified shops prioritize manufacturer procedures and safety over insurer-driven shortcuts.
Florida Law Protects Your Right to Choose
Under Florida Statute §626.9743, insurers may not require claimants to use a particular repair facility or delay claims because a consumer selects a non-preferred shop. If an adjuster pressures you, document the communication and remember your statutory rights.
Hidden Risks of Letting an Insurer Choose
Compromised structural repairs or omitted frame straightening.
Use of non-OEM or recycled parts that may not meet crash standards.
Skipped ADAS calibrations that can cause safety systems to malfunction.
Repairs that reduce resale value or unintentionally void portions of factory warranties.
What to Do If You’re Being Steered
Stay calm and polite. Thank the adjuster for the suggestion, then remind them you have the right to select your repair shop. Keep records—texts, emails, and call notes—and contact an independent, OEM-certified facility for an estimate and advocacy through the claims process.
What Happens When You Choose db Orlando Collision West
When you choose our West facility, we perform full blueprinting and digital scans, submit OEM documentation to your insurer, provide photo and timestamped updates, and deliver a written lifetime warranty on paint and structural repairs. We coordinate directly with insurers so you don’t pay for shortcuts — you pay for a proper, safe repair.
“We don’t work for the insurer — we work for the vehicle owner. Our role is to document what the manufacturer requires and to defend those procedures with insurers so your family’s safety isn’t negotiated away,” said Drew Bryant, Founder of db Orlando Collision West.
Contact
To learn more or schedule an estimate, contact db Orlando Collision West:
12301 W Colonial Dr, Winter Garden, FL 34787
Phone: (407) 874-1565
About db Orlando Collision West
db Orlando Collision West is a factory-certified collision repair facility serving Orlando and the surrounding communities. The shop is OEM-certified for major automakers, operates under I-CAR Gold Class standards, and performs manufacturer-approved blueprinting, ADAS calibration, and structural repairs backed by a written lifetime warranty.
