A body shop working with an insurance company will not pay off or discount your deductible amount. It would be unethical.
If you read through your insurance policy, you will see that it says that you are responsible for paying the first portion of a repair bill as a deductible. If the cost of repairs comes in less than the estimate, you are still responsible for the deductible amount. Any savings legitimately belongs to the insurance carrier.
Repair shops should not try to hide or pay your deductible for you. This would be considered insurance fraud and penalties for insurance fraud are usually quite severe.
To find out about a specific situation and your state’s insurance laws regarding this topic, contact your state’s insurance regulator.
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Laura Longero
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Laura Longero is an insurance expert and Executive Editor at CarInsurance.com, where she specializes in helping consumers navigate the complexities of the financial and insurance industries. She has 15 years of experience educating people about finance and car insurance. Prior to joining CarInsurance.com, she worked as a reporter and editor at the USA Today Network. Her expertise provides readers with practical guidance, helping them make informed choices about their financial and insurance needs.
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