What You Need to Know About Your Insurance Company’s Certified Repair Facilities

So, you’ve got a new insurance policy for your home or car, and you’re keeping your fingers crossed that you’ll never actually have to use it. But on the off chance that something in your master plan goes awry and you have to make a claim, you might find yourself wondering whether or not you should go to one of your insurer's preferred vendors for the repairs.

Learn why insurance companies have preferred vendors and find out how using a certified repair facility could benefit you.

Why do insurance companies have preferred repair facilities?

Insurance companies generally love to use their own preferred vendors when it comes to home and car repairs. Why? There are several reasons. First, your insurance provider wants to get you back to good as quickly as possible. And let’s face it, it’s bad enough that something has happened to your home or car that requires repairs — having to deal with the hassle of shoddy repair work shouldn’t be part of the process. Who hasn’t heard a story about a general contractor or car repair shop that not only messed up a repair, but made the situation worse? Preferred vendors are vetted by insurance companies and must meet stringent licensing requirements, certifications, and ongoing education expectations, while also maintaining a track record of satisfied customers.

Second, it saves you (and them) money in the long run. Insurance companies want the work done right, on time, and on budget. And they’re more likely to get it done right (and at a predictable price) by their own trusted partner than if you go to your local shop or find a contractor yourself. When insurance companies can predict the price of common repairs, it also helps to reduce premiums. When there are no surprises when it comes to the costs of repairs, it helps prevent bigger surprises when it comes to the cost of premiums for customers like you.

What are the benefits of using one of your insurance company’s certified repair facilities?

If you’re weighing the pros and cons of using your insurance company’s preferred vendor for repairs to your home or vehicle, consider the perks they offer:

• Using a certified repair facility saves you the trouble of gathering quotes and assessing repair shops and contractors yourself. Why shop around hoping to find the most qualified mechanic or contractor when someone else has not only vetted them, but they also have tangible proof of how awesome they are?
• Repairs done by your insurance company’s certified repair facilities are guaranteed. When you go with one of your insurance company’s preferred vendors, you’ll usually get a written service warranty, and your insurance company will handle any quality issues that might come up.
• Using your insurance company’s certified repair facilities saves you (and other customers) money in the long run. Predictable repair rates and work that doesn’t need to be redone means improved accuracy when insurance companies set premiums. And keeping costs in check is a win-win situation.

Bonus perks of using a Certified Economical Repair Facility (CERF)

In addition to these standard benefits, if you’re an Economical customer and you go to one of our certified repair facilities, you’ll also benefit from:

• Quicker repairs. Our CERFs have the authority to get started on many repairs without waiting for approval from us.
• Immediate approval of rental vehicles. If your car insurance policy includes rental car coverage, you won’t need to call us on your own to get our approval for a rental car — a CERF can arrange it for you.
• A faster claims experience and higher satisfaction rates. Customers who use our CERFs consistently have their claims closed more quickly and report significantly higher satisfaction rates compared with those who use other vendors.

What’s not covered by your insurance company’s certified repair facility’s service guarantee?

As solid as they are, certified repair facilities and service guarantees aren’t magical genies, so be sure to read the terms and conditions of any warranties that come with your repairs. The most common exclusions that would void a car or home repair guarantee include:

• Regular wear and tear on your car or home
• Damage due to environmental factors (like gravel chips on your newly painted car)
• Modifications to repairs that are done by another vendor that’s not in your insurance company’s network
• Abnormal use or improper maintenance
• Subsequent damage or fire after repairs have been made
• Vehicle parts that have a limited Original Equipment Manufacturer warranty (the insurance company won’t guarantee it beyond the OEM’s warranty)
• Vehicle rust or rust repairs

Have more questions about your insurance company’s certified repair facilities?

With thanks to Economical Insurance for their editorial contribution.