Do I have to use the repair shop my insurance company suggests in Florida?
No. In Florida, the choice of shop is yours by law. Your insurer may suggest a shop — the decision stays with you. That is the whole answer; the rest of this post is what it means in practice, and what happens next if you choose your own shop.
Key facts
- Your choice, by law — in Florida, you pick the repair shop. An insurer suggestion is a suggestion.
- You can bring the car to Theo AutoBody — 212 SE 3rd St, Delray Beach, FL 33483 — and we work with your insurer from there.
- We handle the claim paperwork directly — and settle the claim with your insurer, so you are not stuck in the middle.
- You see the repair — photo updates at every teardown, so hidden damage is found and verified, not guessed at.
What a “suggested shop” actually means
After a crash, your insurer may move fast to suggest a shop — sometimes while you are still sorting out the tow. It is easy to hear that suggestion as an instruction, or to worry that your claim will be denied or delayed if you go somewhere else.
In Florida, the choice of shop is yours by law. The insurer may suggest. The decision stays with you. You do not need permission to take your car to the shop you trust, and choosing your own shop is the normal, legal path — not an exception you have to fight for.
How it works if you choose your own shop
Bring the car to Theo AutoBody LLC at 212 SE 3rd St in Delray Beach, and we work with your insurer from there. We handle the claim paperwork with your insurer directly, and we settle the claim directly with your insurer — so you deal with us, not a call center, and you are not stuck in the middle relaying messages between a shop and an adjuster.
Not sure what the damage is worth yet? Start with the What’s My Damage? estimator on our homepage: four quick questions, a Florida ballpark in under 30 seconds, no sign-up. It is a ballpark only, not a quote — your exact number needs eyes on the car.
What happens during the repair
The estimate you can see from outside the car is only part of the story. Panels come off so hidden damage is found, photographed, and verified — not guessed at. You get photo updates at every teardown: you see the damage and the progress, not just the invoice at the end.
That matters for insurance claims, because damage found at teardown is documented with photos — the evidence a supplement is built on — instead of becoming an argument later.
The short version
- Your insurer suggests. You decide. That is Florida law.
- Pick the shop you trust, and let the shop handle the insurer.
- Insist on seeing the damage — photos at teardown, before and during the work.
Had a crash and not sure where to start? Call or text (561) 325-9203 — appointments at 212 SE 3rd St, Delray Beach, serving Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, and Lake Worth.