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Auto & Insurance
Do I have to take my car back to the dealer after a wreck?
No. Texas law lets you choose where your car gets repaired, and your insurance company can't require you to use a particular shop, including the dealer.
What the law says
Section 1952.301 of the Texas Insurance Code bars insurers from requiring you to use a specific repair shop as a condition of paying your claim. Your insurer can recommend shops it works with, but the choice is yours.
Read it yourself: Texas Insurance Code § 1952.301 · Texas Department of Insurance bulletin
Dealer, recommended shop, or your own pick
A dealer body shop, a shop your insurer suggests, and an independent or franchise shop can all repair your car. What matters is that you're comfortable with the shop's work, its warranty, and how it handles communication with your adjuster.
How to make it go smoothly
- Tell your insurer which shop you've chosen when you open the claim.
- Get a written estimate from that shop and share it with your adjuster.
- Ask the shop how it works with insurance companies, and what happens if more damage turns up once the car is taken apart.
- Ask what warranty comes with the repair and the paint.
If something about your claim doesn't seem right, the Texas Department of Insurance takes questions and complaints from consumers.