You have specific rights and obligations that you should be aware of. Review your policy - Understand your rights.   You are not required by law to get more than one estimate. You may have the shop of your choice make the repairs.  You are not required to use a shop selected by a claims adjuster.  However, you are required by your policy to allow your insurance company a reasonable amount of time to inspect the damages prior to repairing them. Only you the owner, can authorize repairs on your vehicle. You're entitled to have your vehicle repaired to its pre-accident condition. Make sure your Collision Repair Center does not fix your vehicle with used or rebuilt parts without your authorization. Repair estimates will vary.  A lower estimate may not include necessary proceedures to ensure your repair is done properly and safely.   It's your car, make sure it's repaired to your satisfaction. If you disagree with your Insurance Company about the cost of the loss, use the "Appraisal Clause" in your policy, whereby an independent appraiser can be called in to help resolve the matter. A Third Party insurance company (where the other party was at fault) does Not have the authority to artificially limit or control your claim - the liability for your damages actually rests with the at-fault party. Insurance Companies don't repair cars, they negotiate claims. Don't take financial advice from any party that has an interest in how much you receive.  Insurance companies are for profit businesses, and nobody would object to any business earning a legitimate profit, however, these profits should not be borne on the backs of consumers through underpayment of claims.  DO NOT rely on the insurance company for sound advice; their objective is to minimize their losses.   Disclaimer:  Because we are not lawyers or legal experts and do not presume to give legal advice, we urge you to consult your own legal counsel to answer any questions about your rights and responsiblities under law.  If you would like a referral to an attorney who is knowledgeable regarding insurance and consumer law, contact our office.