If you are dealing with a claim, Nova Body Shop is a body shop that works with insurance in Austin every day: we work with all major insurance companies, and with drivers who would rather pay directly. This page explains your rights in Texas and what we do during a claim. It is general information, not legal advice.
Texas law: you choose where your car is repaired
Whether the claim is with your insurance or the other driver's insurance, the insurance company cannot require you to use its shop. You can bring your car to Nova, or to any shop you trust.
Can my insurance company choose my body shop in Texas?
No. Texas Insurance Code section 1952.301 says an insurer may not limit your right to choose the shop that repairs your car, and section 1952.302 says it may not require, or suggest that you must use, a specific or preferred shop. The same protection applies when you claim against the other driver's insurer (section 1952.301(b)).
There is one caveat, and your insurer must tell you about it (28 TAC section 5.501): the insurer is not required to pay more than a reasonable amount for the repairs and parts. We walk you through how that applies to your estimate.
What Nova handles in a claim
- A written estimate you can send to your insurer.
- Talking with your adjuster about the repair.
- Supplements: when teardown reveals hidden damage, we document it and send it to the insurer before doing extra work.
- Keeping you updated until the car is ready.
Your claim, step by step
- Report the claim to your insurer, or to the other driver's insurer if they caused it.
- Get your estimate at Nova, in person. Most estimates take 5 to 15 minutes (bigger damage takes longer).
- Tell the insurer you chose Nova. On a claim under your own policy, Texas Insurance Code section 542.055 generally gives the insurer 15 days from notice of the claim to acknowledge it, begin investigating and request what it needs.
- Repair and updates. We repair the car and handle any supplement with the insurer.
- Pickup. You pay your deductible if the claim is under your own collision or comprehensive coverage.
Parts, rentals and deductibles
Your insurer has to pay for parts of like kind and quality, not necessarily original manufacturer parts, and the law lets the shop tell you which parts were used and what the insurer was charged for them (section 1952.304). Our guide to OEM versus aftermarket parts in Texas explains the difference. Rental reimbursement depends on your policy, or on the other driver's policy if they were at fault.
You pay a deductible on claims under your own collision or comprehensive coverage, not when the other driver's insurer pays. Not sure a claim is worth it? Read should you file a claim for minor damage.
Frequently asked questions
Do you work with my insurance company?
Nova Body Shop is a body shop that works with insurance in Austin and accepts all major insurance companies. We write the estimate, talk with your adjuster about the repair and handle supplements for hidden damage.
My adjuster said I have to use their shop. Is that true?
No. Under Texas Insurance Code sections 1952.301 and 1952.302, an insurer cannot require you to use a specific or preferred shop. It can suggest one, and it only has to pay a reasonable amount for the repair.
Do I pay a deductible if the other driver hit me?
Not when the other driver's insurer pays your claim. You pay your deductible when the claim goes through your own collision or comprehensive coverage.
Does insurance pay me or the body shop?
It depends on the insurer and the claim. Some send the payment to you, some to the shop, and some make the check out to both. Ask your adjuster how your payment will be issued.
What if the insurance estimate is lower than yours?
Hidden damage often appears after teardown. We document it and send a supplement to the insurer before doing the extra work, and we keep you informed. If the insurer still won't pay part of our estimate, we'll tell you the difference in writing before we do that work, and you decide whether to go ahead. You are responsible for any amount the insurer doesn't pay, plus your deductible if it's your own coverage.