Guide Collision
Collision claims in Florida, straightened out.
An accident is stressful enough without decoding the claims process on the fly. Here’s what to do, what you’re entitled to, and how the repair actually gets paid for.
The first hour
- Safety and documentation. Get to a safe spot, check on everyone involved, and call police if there are injuries or significant damage. Photograph everything — vehicles, positions, plates, the scene.
- Exchange information. Names, insurance carriers, policy numbers, and contact details for drivers and witnesses.
- Report the claim. Notify your insurer promptly. Most carriers let you open a claim from their app before you leave the scene.
- Choose your shop. Decide where the car goes for repair — and know that this choice is yours.
You choose the shop. Not the insurer.
In Florida, you have the right to have your vehicle repaired at the facility of your choice. Insurers may recommend their “preferred” or “direct repair” shops, and those recommendations can be fine — but you are not required to use them. A quality independent shop can work with any insurance carrier.
Why it matters: the shop works for you, not the insurance company. Your repairer’s job is to put the car back to pre-accident condition — and to document any damage the initial estimate missed.
Estimates, supplements, and parts
The insurer’s initial estimate is written from visible damage — often before the car is disassembled. It’s normal for teardown to reveal more. When that happens, the shop files a supplement with photos and documentation, and the insurer approves the additional repair. This is routine, not a red flag.
On parts: estimates may specify OEM, aftermarket, or recycled parts depending on your policy. Florida law requires disclosure when non-OEM crash parts are used. If OEM parts matter to you, raise it with your adjuster early — some policies offer OEM endorsements.
What you pay
Your deductible applies no matter which shop you choose — choosing an independent shop does not cost you more. The insurer pays the covered repair amount; you pay the deductible and any non-covered extras you elect.
Where we fit in
1320Motorsport handles collision repairs with paint, body, and chassis work in house — one facility accountable for the whole repair, working with your insurer’s process in accordance with policy guidelines. Bring us the claim number and we handle the documentation from there.