You’ve just been in an accident. You call your insurance company, and somewhere in that conversation the adjuster says something like: “We have a preferred shop nearby — we can set everything up for you there.” It sounds helpful. It might even sound required. So let’s answer the question thousands of Kentucky drivers search every year, clearly and up front:
No. You do not have to use your insurance company’s recommended body shop. In Kentucky, the choice of repair facility is yours — and it’s written into state law.
What Kentucky Law Actually Says
This isn’t fine print or a gray area. Kentucky Revised Statute 304.12-275, on the books since 2012, requires insurers to inform you that you have the right to choose your own repair facility when you file a vehicle damage claim. The law even requires every appraisal to carry a bold-print notice stating: “Under Kentucky law, the consumer and/or lessee has the right to choose the repair facility to make repairs to his or her motor vehicle.”
In other words: the insurance company pays for the repair, but you decide who performs it. (The one carve-out in the statute involves auto glass replacement, which is handled under separate rules.)
Why Insurers Recommend Certain Shops
Insurance companies maintain “direct repair program” (DRP) networks — shops that agree to the insurer’s pricing, processes, and cost controls in exchange for referral volume. To be fair, DRP shops can be perfectly good, and the arrangement offers the insurer real efficiencies. But it’s worth understanding whose interests the arrangement is built around: the network exists primarily to manage the insurer’s costs. Your interest — your specific vehicle repaired correctly, to manufacturer standards, holding its value — is a separate question, and Kentucky law puts that decision in your hands.
What “Steering” Sounds Like
Most adjusters are professional and follow the law. But if you choose your own shop, you may still hear soft-pressure lines like these — and it helps to recognize them:
- “We can’t guarantee the work if you go somewhere else.” — The shop guarantees its own work. At Bachman Collision Center, we stand behind our repairs, and your insurer must still pay covered claims regardless of which qualified shop you choose.
- “It will take longer to get your claim approved there.” — Insurers handle claims at independent and dealership shops every day; we work directly with all major carriers and manage the paperwork routinely.
- “That shop’s rates are higher than what we pay.” — Insurers are obligated to pay reasonable costs to properly repair your vehicle. Differences are typically worked out between the shop and the carrier — that’s part of our job, not yours.
None of these lines changes your legal right. A simple, polite response works every time: “I understand, but under Kentucky law I’m choosing my own repair facility. Please note the claim accordingly.”
Why Your Choice of Shop Genuinely Matters
Modern vehicles are not simple to repair. Behind a “basic” bumper cover may sit radar sensors, parking sensors, and crash absorbers; behind a windshield, the camera that runs your lane keeping and emergency braking. Repairing today’s vehicles correctly means following manufacturer repair procedures, using properly matched parts, and calibrating driver-assistance systems after the work — steps that protect both your safety and your vehicle’s resale value. That’s the standard we built Bachman Collision Center around: factory-informed repairs backed by a dealership group that services these same vehicles every day.
And a point that surprises people: you can bring us any make or model. You don’t need to have bought your vehicle from a Bachman store — and your insurer doesn’t need to have us “in network” — for us to handle your repair and your claim.
How It Works When You Choose Us
- Tell your insurer you’re using Bachman Collision Center in Louisville — that’s the whole requirement. You can do it during the first claim call.
- We provide the estimate, communicate directly with your insurance carrier, and handle supplements if hidden damage turns up once panels come off (it often does).
- We keep you updated throughout the repair, and you pick up your vehicle when it’s done right — not just done fast.
You pay your deductible just as you would at any shop; choosing your own facility doesn’t cost you anything extra on a covered claim.
The Bottom Line
Your insurance company gets to decide what it pays. You get to decide who touches your car. Kentucky law says so explicitly — and any appraisal you receive should say so in bold print. If you’re ever unsure or feel pressured, you can also contact the Kentucky Department of Insurance, which oversees these consumer protections.
If you’ve been in an accident anywhere in the Louisville area, contact Bachman Collision Center. We’ll give you an honest estimate, deal with your insurance company for you, and repair your vehicle the right way — because it was always your choice to make.
Your Right to Choose: FAQ
Can my insurance company force me to use their body shop?
No. Under Kentucky law (KRS 304.12-275), you have the right to choose your repair facility, and insurers are required to tell you so when you file a vehicle damage claim.
Will my claim be denied if I don’t use the insurer’s preferred shop?
No — a covered claim can’t be denied simply because you chose your own qualified repair facility. The insurer’s obligation to pay for proper repairs doesn’t depend on which shop performs them.
Does choosing my own shop cost me more?
On a covered claim, you pay your deductible either way. Our team works directly with your carrier on the estimate and any supplements — negotiating repair costs with the insurer is our job, not yours.
What is insurance ‘steering’?
Steering is when an insurer pressures or misleads a customer into using its preferred network shop — implying it’s required, warning of delays, or disparaging other shops. Kentucky’s right-to-choose law exists precisely to protect you from it.
Do I need to get multiple estimates before repairs?
Generally no — one estimate from the shop of your choice is typically all that’s needed to start a claim, and we coordinate directly with your insurance company’s appraiser from there.
What if the insurance estimate is lower than the real repair cost?
That’s common, especially once disassembly reveals hidden damage. Shops file what’s called a supplement with the carrier for the additional covered repairs — we handle that process routinely with every major insurer.
Can Bachman Collision Center repair brands you don’t sell?
Yes — we repair all makes and models, and you don’t need to have purchased your vehicle from a Bachman dealership to use our collision center.
Who do I contact if I feel pressured by my insurance company?
You can politely restate your choice — that’s usually the end of it — and if problems persist, the Kentucky Department of Insurance handles consumer complaints. And of course, call Bachman Collision Center in Louisville; we’re happy to communicate with your carrier on your behalf.
