Call your insurance company as soon as it’s safe, then call Estes Collision for your estimate. Neither call has to happen at the scene, and doing both promptly keeps your repair moving.
Key Takeaways:
- Calling your insurer starts your claim number and coverage confirmation.
- Calling the auto body repair shop starts your free estimate and repair timeline.
- You don’t need your insurer’s approval to schedule an estimate.
- The order of these two calls doesn’t change your deductible or coverage.
What Happens When You Call Your Insurance Company First?
Calling your insurer opens your claim. It also gives you a claim number to reference later. Your insurer may recommend a shop from its own preferred list, but choosing Estes Collision instead is a separate decision from opening your claim.
The Oklahoma Insurance Department outlines a clear process for what happens next, depending on fault.
What the Oklahoma Insurance Department Recommends
| If You Are | What to Do First | What Happens Next |
| Not at fault | Notify your own carrier | File a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurer |
| At fault | File a claim with your own carrier | Provide repair estimates to your adjuster |
Visit the Oklahoma Insurance Department website for details.
Your insurer will also confirm your coverage details and deductible amount. That amount is due after repairs are complete, not before. Either way, the repair itself still has to happen at an auto body shop, and that’s exactly where we come in.
What Happens When You Call a Body Shop First?
Calling a body shop first can get your vehicle inspected sooner. At Estes Collision, our free estimate typically takes 15 to 30 minutes. It gives you a written, itemized look at the damage before you file anything. This documentation is useful even if you haven’t contacted your insurer yet, since it gives you your own record of the damage.
Calling Insurance First vs. Calling a Body Shop First
| What You Do First | What Happens Next | What to Keep in Mind |
| Call your insurer | Claim number issued, coverage confirmed | You aren’t required to use their recommended shop |
| Call an auto body shop | Free estimate scheduled, damage documented | You can still call your insurer right after |
Steps to Take Right After an Accident
Here’s a simple order to follow, regardless of whether you call your insurer or Estes Collision first:
- Confirm everyone is safe and move to a secure location if possible.
- Contact the police if the accident requires a report.
- Take photos of the damage from multiple angles.
- Call your insurance company to open your claim.
- Call an auto body shop to schedule your free estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need your insurer’s approval before visiting a body shop?
No. You don’t need prior approval from your insurer to schedule a free estimate with us. Having your claim number ready can still help move things along.
Will calling a body shop before your insurer delay your claim?
No. A written estimate from us gives your insurer useful documentation to work with, regardless of which call happened first.
Does the order of these calls change your deductible?
No. Your deductible amount comes from your policy terms, due once the vehicle is repaired and ready for pickup. Call order has no effect on it.
Ready for Your Call, Whichever Comes First
Whether you call us first or your insurer first, we’re ready to help with a free estimate and direct coordination with most major insurance carriers. That’s what drivers usually mean when comparing insurance-approved auto body repair shops in the area. If you’re searching for a body shop near Miami, Oklahoma, we also serve drivers in Grove, Vinita, OK, and Baxter Springs, KS. Reach us at (918) 542-6699 or [email protected], Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.