Your Repair-Shop Choice After a Louisiana Accident
After a collision, the insurance company may recommend a repair facility before you have had much time to evaluate the damage. That often leads drivers to ask, “can I choose my own body shop in Louisiana?” Yes. Louisiana law gives vehicle owners and claimants the ability to select the repair facility they want, rather than requiring them to use a particular shop chosen by the insurer.
For drivers in Prairieville and the surrounding Ascension Parish area, choosing a shop is only the beginning. You also need to understand the estimate, repair plan, parts being proposed, possible hidden damage, and how the shop will communicate with the insurance company. Lankford Paint & Body is an owner-operated Prairieville collision shop that currently handles collision repair, paint refinishing, dent work, glass replacement, and insurance-related repair coordination.
Can I Choose My Own Body Shop in Louisiana After an Accident?
Louisiana Revised Statutes R.S. 22:1892(D) states that an insurer cannot require motor vehicle repairs, including vehicle-glass work, to be completed at a particular shop or by a particular entity as a condition of making a claim payment. The law also says an insurer cannot recommend a particular repair service or repair network without informing the insured or claimant that there is no obligation to use that recommendation.
The Louisiana Department of Insurance gives consumers the same guidance: even when an adjuster recommends a specific body shop, the vehicle owner can select another repair facility. LDI recommends telling the claims adjuster which shop you have chosen before repairs begin.
So, if your question is “can I choose my own body shop in Louisiana?”, the important distinction is between an insurer making a recommendation and an insurer making the recommendation a requirement.
Do I Have to Use the Insurance Body Shop?
No. An insurance preferred body shop in Louisiana may be presented as a convenient option, but the recommendation does not eliminate your ability to select another qualified collision repair facility. Louisiana law specifically requires disclosure that you are not obligated to use the insurer’s recommended service or network.
That does not mean choosing your own shop automatically resolves every issue associated with the claim. Coverage, deductibles, parts decisions, repair costs, rental coverage, and disagreements over the scope of repairs can still depend on the policy, the claim, and the facts of the loss. The Louisiana Department of Insurance provides separate guidance on these subjects.
Understanding those distinctions is an important part of your Louisiana collision repair rights.
What Should You Review Before Authorizing Repairs?
Start With a Written Estimate
The Louisiana Department of Insurance recommends asking for a written estimate showing the work to be performed, required parts, and labor charges. It also advises that the estimate address what happens if the repair cost exceeds the original amount.
An initial insurance estimate and the body shop’s complete repair plan are not necessarily the same document. Collision damage can extend behind bumper covers, exterior panels, trim, or other components that cannot be fully evaluated until disassembly begins.
Lankford’s current website states that customers receive a free written estimate before work begins and that the shop handles the estimate and supplement process with insurers. Its collision repair services include structural, frame, sectioning, glass, towing coordination, and rental assistance where applicable to the repair.
Understand the Parts Being Proposed
Part selection deserves a specific conversation before you authorize repairs.
Under Louisiana R.S. 51:2424, non-OEM aftermarket crash parts intended for the repair must be disclosed to the insured in writing, and the written estimate must clearly identify the applicable parts.
The Louisiana Department of Insurance also explains that an owner may request OEM parts, although the owner may sometimes be responsible for a cost difference. That is why it is better to discuss the actual vehicle, proposed repair, insurer estimate, and applicable manufacturer requirements instead of assuming one parts category is automatically appropriate in every situation.
Ask what parts are being used, why they were selected, and what warranties apply to the parts and the repair.
Know Why a Supplement May Be Needed
A supplement can become necessary when additional collision damage is discovered after the original estimate or after damaged components are removed.
That does not automatically mean the first estimate was improper. Some damage simply cannot be seen during the initial exterior inspection.
If you already have an insurance estimate but want the vehicle evaluated by a Prairieville collision shop, Lankford Paint & Body offers free estimates and currently works with major insurance carriers while handling estimate and supplement communication.
A Hypothetical Prairieville Collision Example
Consider a hypothetical Prairieville driver who is rear-ended. The bumper cover is visibly damaged, and the trunk no longer closes correctly.
The insurer writes an initial estimate and recommends a network shop. The owner instead decides to choose a collision repair shop based on communication, repair experience, and confidence in the repair planning process.
Once the bumper is removed, additional damage may be found behind the exterior cover. The shop documents the newly identified damage, develops the appropriate repair plan, and submits supplemental information to the insurer when necessary. Paint refinishing and blending decisions are then based on the actual panels being repaired.
The important point is that choosing the repair facility and determining the complete repair scope are two different decisions.
How to Choose a Collision Repair Shop
Whether you select an insurer-recommended facility or another shop, evaluate the repair business itself. A practical checklist includes:
- Ask for a clear written estimate and explanation of the proposed repair.
- Ask how additional damage discovered during disassembly will be documented.
- Ask how the shop communicates supplements and repair-plan changes.
- Review the parts being proposed and any applicable disclosures.
- Ask what warranty applies to workmanship and replacement parts.
- Look for appropriate collision-repair training and qualifications.
- Ask how vehicle-specific repair information is researched when structural procedures are involved.
- Make sure the shop will keep you informed instead of communicating only with the insurer.
I-CAR’s repair-planning guidance emphasizes researching vehicle-specific body repair manuals, construction materials, welding requirements, corrosion protection, diagnostic procedures, and other manufacturer information that can affect a complete repair plan.
Lankford’s current website identifies the business as owner-operated and I-CAR Certified, with Jeremy Lankford currently listed as having 21 years in the trade. You can review more about the shop’s owner-operated approach.
What If an Insurer Pressures You Toward a Particular Shop?
Louisiana law goes beyond simply allowing you to choose. R.S. 22:1892(D) also prohibits an insurer from using intimidation, coercion, or threats to push an insured or claimant toward a specified repair business.
If you believe you are being improperly pressured, keep records of the relevant communications and consider contacting the Louisiana Department of Insurance for consumer guidance. LDI accepts complaints from policyholders concerning personal auto damage claims and states that its Office of Consumer Services can assist with insurance-policy questions.
This article provides general information about Louisiana collision repair rights and is not individual legal or insurance advice.
Start With a Clear Repair Plan in Prairieville
The answer to “can I choose my own body shop in Louisiana?” is yes, but choosing the shop should be followed by careful review of the estimate, repair plan, parts, supplements, communication process, and applicable warranty terms.
Lankford Paint & Body provides collision, paint, dent, glass, RV/camper, and commercial body-repair services from its Prairieville location. The current website states that estimates are free and that no appointment is required for estimates during business hours. The shop also works with major insurance carriers and handles estimate and supplement communication.
Lankford Paint & Body
38173 Post Office Rd
Prairieville, LA 70769
Call (225) 241-8904 to discuss the collision damage or arrange a free estimate.
FAQs
Can I choose my own body shop in Louisiana if my insurer already wrote an estimate?
Yes. Louisiana law prohibits an insurer from requiring you to use a particular repair facility as a condition of claim payment. You should tell the adjuster which repair facility you selected before repairs begin.
Do I have to use the insurance body shop to get my claim paid?
Louisiana law does not allow an insurer to require repairs at a particular shop as a condition of payment. However, choosing your own shop does not automatically determine every coverage, cost, deductible, or repair-scope issue associated with the claim.
What is insurance steering in a body shop claim?
In this context, insurance steering body shop concerns generally involve efforts to influence where a claimant has the vehicle repaired. Current Louisiana law allows recommendations but requires the claimant to be told there is no obligation to use the recommended service or network, and it prohibits intimidation, coercion, or threats.
Can the repair estimate change after my vehicle is taken apart?
Yes. Additional collision damage can sometimes become visible only after damaged exterior components are removed. A supplemental estimate can document those newly identified repair needs. Lankford’s website states that it handles the estimate and supplement process with insurers.