YOUR RIGHT TO CHOOSE YOUR OWN REPAIR SHOP

When you file a comprehensive claim for hail damage, your insurance company will often suggest a "preferred" or "direct repair" shop as part of their network. That's a legitimate option if you want it — but it's your option to decline, not a requirement.

What Texas Law Actually Protects

You have the right to choose any licensed repair shop for insurance-covered work. Your insurer can recommend a shop and may make the claims process marginally faster if you use one of their network vendors, but they cannot require you to use a specific shop as a condition of paying your claim.

Why Insurers Have Preferred Shops in the First Place

Direct repair programs exist because they simplify claims administration for the insurer — standardized estimates, direct billing, sometimes negotiated rates. None of that changes your right to choose differently; it's a convenience for the insurer, not an obligation for you.

How to Exercise Your Choice in Practice

When you file the claim, simply tell the adjuster which shop you're using. A shop that regularly handles insurance work, like Pro PDR, knows how to communicate directly with adjusters, provide documentation, and file supplements if the initial estimate misses damage — the same coordination a "preferred" shop would provide, just from the shop you actually chose.

What If the Insurer Pushes Back?

If an adjuster implies you must use a specific shop, you can ask them to point to the specific policy language requiring it — in the large majority of standard auto policies, no such requirement exists. Your policy pays for the repair; it doesn't dictate who performs it.