Oregon insurance repair rights — you pick the shop, not the insurer

The short version

After a collision in Oregon, you have the legal right to choose the auto body shop that repairs your vehicle. Your insurance company can suggest a "preferred" or "direct repair" shop — but they can't require you to use one, and they can't refuse to pay a fair claim because you picked somewhere else.

Oregon Revised Statute 746.292 makes it an unlawful claims-settlement practice for an insurer to require that repairs be made at a specific shop, or to condition payment on you using a shop the insurer chose. The statute is part of the Insurance Code — it applies to every carrier writing auto policies in Oregon, and it applies whether you're the policyholder or a third-party claimant.

In plain English: the insurance company owes you a fair repair. Where that repair happens is your call.

Steering is when an insurer nudges you — subtly or not — toward a specific shop. It's usually well-intentioned and framed as convenience, but it's the exact behavior ORS 746.292 was written to limit. Common phrasing:

• "We only guarantee the work if you use one of our network shops."
• "That shop isn't approved — we can't cover the rental if you take it there."
• "You'll pay the difference if their estimate is higher than ours."

You don't have to argue with any of it. A simple "I've already chosen my shop — please open the claim there" is enough.

1. Pick the shop first. Choose an I-CAR trained collision shop you trust before you call the insurance company. That way there's no ambiguity when you open the claim.
2. File the claim and name your shop. Give the adjuster the shop's name, address, and phone. In Oregon they must open the claim there — that's ORS 746.292 in practice.
3. Let the shop and insurer talk directly. A good body shop handles supplements, photos, and negotiations on your behalf. You should not be a courier between them.
4. Ask for OEM procedures in writing. Modern vehicles have ADAS sensors, high-strength steel, and structural adhesives. Manufacturer-recommended procedures are how a repair stays safe.
5. Get a lifetime workmanship guarantee. A reputable Portland shop will warranty its work for as long as you own the vehicle. Get it in writing before you sign anything.

ORS 746.292 protects your choice of shop; it doesn't erase every other part of your policy. Insurers can still write their own estimate, dispute line items, use aftermarket or LKQ parts where the policy allows, and negotiate labor rates with the shop. What they can't do is condition the repair — or your rental, or their guarantee — on you picking a specific facility.

If you feel an insurer crossed that line, the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation takes consumer complaints at dfr.oregon.gov.