Yes — if you live in Indiana and have been in an accident, you have the legal right to choose any licensed collision repair shop you want. Your insurance company cannot force you to use a specific shop. They can suggest one, recommend one, or even pressure you toward one (a practice called “steering”), but the final decision is always yours.
This is a question we hear from customers every single week at Bob Rohrman Collision Repair Center in Lafayette. After more than 50 years in this business, we have watched the insurance industry get more aggressive about steering customers toward their preferred shops — and we've watched plenty of well-meaning Hoosiers get talked into shops they didn't actually pick. Here's what your rights really are, what to watch for, and how to push back when you feel the pressure.
Indiana Law: The Right to Choose Your Own Shop
Under Indiana state law, the customer chooses the body shop. Period. This is true whether you're filing a claim on your own policy (a first-party claim) or against the at-fault driver's policy (a third-party claim). It's true whether your insurance company has a Direct Repair Program (DRP) or not. It's true regardless of how the adjuster phrases their recommendation.
The Indiana Department of Insurance enforces this right. Insurers in Indiana are required to inform consumers in writing that they have the right to select their own repair facility. If your insurance company tries to deny coverage, charge you extra, or otherwise penalize you for using a non-preferred shop, that's a violation you can report.
What Insurance Steering Actually Sounds Like
Steering rarely sounds aggressive on the phone. It usually comes wrapped in helpful-sounding language. Here are the most common steering tactics we hear from Lafayette-area customers:
- “We have a network shop right next to your house — would you like me to schedule there?” The adjuster makes the decision easier by booking it for you. You haven't picked the shop, the adjuster has.
- “If you go to that shop, we can't guarantee the work.” This is misleading. Insurance companies don't warranty repair work to begin with — the body shop does. Bob Rohrman Collision Repair Center backs every repair with a lifetime warranty on workmanship, regardless of who's paying the claim.
- “Repairs at our preferred shop will be faster.” Sometimes true. DRP (Direct Repair Program) shops do have streamlined paperwork because the estimate, supplement, and billing processes are pre-approved with the insurer. That's a real time-saver. But “faster” is only meaningful if the shop also does the work right — which is a property of the individual shop, not of DRP status. Plenty of DRP shops (including ours) hold OEM standards, and plenty of non-DRP shops do too. Don't let speed alone make the choice for you.
- “We can't direct-bill if you go elsewhere — you'll have to pay upfront.” Almost always false. Most reputable non-DRP shops can still bill the insurance company directly. We do.
- “Going to a non-preferred shop will increase your out-of-pocket costs.” The deductible is the deductible. Coverage is coverage. If a non-DRP shop writes a higher estimate, the insurer is required to pay for a proper repair — the shop just has to negotiate it through what's called the “supplement” process.
If you hear any of these phrases, the adjuster is steering you. That doesn't make them a bad person — it usually means their employer measures them on placement metrics, and the path of least resistance is the network shop on the screen in front of them. The point isn't that network shops are bad. The point is that the choice should be yours, not theirs.
How to Tell Your Insurance Company You're Going Elsewhere
This is simpler than most people expect. When the adjuster asks where you'd like the vehicle towed or where you'll be getting the estimate, just say:
“I'm taking it to Bob Rohrman Collision Repair Center in Lafayette. Please direct the estimate and any communication there. Their phone number is (765) 448-1100.”
That's it. You don't owe an explanation. If the adjuster pushes back — and sometimes they will — you can say:
“I understand. My decision is final. Please direct the claim to my chosen shop.”
Most adjusters will accept this immediately and move on. The minority who don't are crossing into territory the Indiana Department of Insurance regulates — and at that point you have the right to file a complaint.
The Real Issue Isn't DRP Status — It's Steering
A common misconception is that “preferred shops” or DRP shops do worse work than independent shops. That's not the right way to think about it. The real issue isn't whether a shop has a Direct Repair Program agreement — plenty of excellent shops do, and we're one of them. The real issue is whether the customer got to choose freely, and whether the shop they end up at puts repair quality first.
Direct Repair Program agreements are simply faster claim handling: the insurer and the shop have pre-approved processes for estimates, supplements, and direct billing. Done well, that's a real benefit to customers — less paperwork, fewer phone calls, faster turnaround. Done poorly, it can become a vehicle for cost-cutting at the expense of repair quality. The DRP itself is neutral; what matters is the shop's standards.
For transparency: Bob Rohrman Collision Repair Center is a Direct Repair Program shop for seven major carriers — State Farm, Allstate, Liberty Mutual, Safeco, Indiana Farm Bureau, Erie, and Auto-Owners. We earned that status by consistently delivering OEM-procedure repairs and standing behind every job with a lifetime warranty. The DRP relationship means faster estimate approvals and direct billing for those policies. It does not mean we cut corners. We follow the same I-CAR Gold Class standards on every repair, regardless of which insurance is paying. That's how a DRP relationship is supposed to work.
What you actually want to evaluate is the shop, not the relationship. The next section covers exactly what to look for.
What If the Other Driver Was at Fault?
You still get to choose the shop. When the at-fault driver's insurance is paying (a third-party claim), they may suggest one of their preferred shops — but you are not obligated to use it. Indiana's right-to-choose law applies to first-party and third-party claims equally.
If you're filing a third-party claim and the other driver's insurance is dragging their feet, you can also file the claim against your own collision coverage and let the two insurers sort out subrogation. We can help you figure out which approach makes more sense in your situation. Just call us at (765) 448-1100 and we'll walk you through it.
What About the Quality of Work?
The single best protection against a bad repair is choosing a shop that publishes its credentials, warranty terms, and customer reviews. Look for:
- I-CAR Gold Class certification. Held by only about 10–20% of shops nationwide. Means the technicians complete ongoing training in current repair methods, materials, and ADAS calibration.
- A written lifetime warranty on workmanship. Reputable shops back their work in writing for as long as you own the vehicle.
- Verifiable customer reviews — ideally from a third-party platform like Carwise (4.7 stars across 1,952 reviews in our case), not just the shop's own website.
- Years of community presence. A shop that's been doing this for decades can't fake a track record.
If a shop checks all four boxes, the insurance steering becomes irrelevant — you've already picked a place that does the job right. Read more about how to choose the right auto body shop if you want a deeper guide.
What to Do Right Now If You're Mid-Claim
If you're reading this article because you're currently on the phone with an adjuster who's steering you toward a shop you don't want:
- Pause. You don't have to decide on the call. Tell the adjuster you'll call back with the shop information.
- Choose your shop. Confirm credentials, reviews, and warranty in writing if you can.
- Call the adjuster back and tell them where you're going. Use the language above.
- Document the conversation. If the adjuster pressured you, write down what was said and who said it. You may need this if you file a complaint later.
- Have the chosen shop contact the adjuster directly. Most shops will handle the rest of the claim communication for you. We do.
That's it. The whole process should take 10 minutes. If it takes longer because the adjuster is pushing back, that itself is data — the more pressure they apply, the more clearly they understand they're losing the steering attempt.
The Bottom Line
You picked the make and model of the car you drive. You picked the dealership you bought it from. You pick the gas station, the oil change shop, and the place that washes it. Indiana law says you also pick the shop that fixes it after a collision — and your insurance company, regardless of how they phrase it, doesn't have the authority to override that choice.
If you're in or around Lafayette, West Lafayette, Frankfort, Crawfordsville, or anywhere else in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, we'd be honored to be on your shortlist. Bob Rohrman Collision Repair Center is I-CAR Gold Class certified, holds DRP status with seven major insurers (which means we know the steering tactics from both sides of the table), and backs every repair with a lifetime warranty.
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Need an estimate from a shop you actually picked? Serving Lafayette, West Lafayette, and all of Tippecanoe County, Indiana. Get a free 24/7 photo estimate, schedule an in-person appointment online, or call us directly at (765) 448-1100. Bob Rohrman Collision Repair Center is at 3400 National Drive, Lafayette, IN 47905. Lifetime warranty, I-CAR Gold Class certified, 4.7★ from 1,952 reviews.