Do You Have to Use the Insurance Company's Preferred Body Shop?
Do I have to use my insurance company's preferred body shop?
Not in Alberta, British Columbia or Manitoba. In Alberta, an insurer can recommend a shop but cannot require one; the rare exception is its right to repair the car itself, with written notice within 7 days after it receives your completed proof of loss form. British Columbia drivers can use a shop outside the ICBC Repair Network, and Manitoba drivers any MPI-accredited shop. Elsewhere, ask your provincial insurance regulator.
Sources and scope, as of 2026
The rules here come from the Government of Alberta, ICBC (British Columbia's public auto insurer), Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI), the standard Ontario Automobile Policy (OAP 1) published by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario, and the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada. Each rule applies only in its own province, and these sources give no shop-choice rule for Ontario, Saskatchewan, Quebec or the Atlantic provinces.
What a preferred body shop means in Canada
A preferred body shop is a shop that your insurer recommends. Two public insurers run named programs: the ICBC Repair Network in British Columbia, and Direct Repair at Manitoba Public Insurance. In Alberta, an insurer can also recommend a shop. Whether you must use the recommended shop depends on the rules of your province, set out in the table below.
Body shop choice after a collision, by province
| Province | Your choice of shop | Limit to know |
|---|---|---|
| Alberta | Any body shop, for both the estimate and the repair | None, except the insurer's rare right to repair the car itself. |
| British Columbia (ICBC) | A shop inside or outside the ICBC Repair Network | A shop that ICBC does not accredit may not offer a warranty for its repairs. |
| Manitoba (MPI) | The accredited repair shop of your choice, after the estimate | MPI advises against a repair at a shop that is not MPI-accredited for the work. |
What a network or recommended shop gives you
- British Columbia: an ICBC Repair Network shop gives limited repair warranties.
- Manitoba: if you qualified for and took part in MPI Direct Repair, the same shop does both the damage estimate and the repair.
- Alberta: when your insurer recommends a shop, the insurer's guarantee is often the shop's own guarantee.
Who pays the body shop?
Who answers for the repair quality in Alberta
In Alberta, the choice of shop also moves the risk. If you pick the shop yourself, you carry the risk of an unsatisfactory repair, not the insurer. If the insurer uses its right to repair the vehicle itself, the final responsibility for the repair quality moves to the insurer. When the insurer only recommends a shop, the quality of the repair stays a matter of your contract with the shop.
Related guides
- Right to Appraisal in Auto Insurance Disputes: What Canadian Drivers Should Know
Read this when you and your insurer cannot agree on the amount of the damage.
- How to Spot a Bad Collision Repair Shop Before You Hand Over the Keys
Use it to check a shop that you pick yourself, outside your insurer's network.
- Should You Pay for Collision Repair Yourself or File an Insurance Claim?
Helps you decide if a small repair should go through insurance at all.
Key takeaways
- In British Columbia, if you are unhappy with a repair, your first step is to speak with the shop that did the work.
- In Manitoba, take a repair concern to your repair shop first. If you are still not satisfied, contact the MPI estimator assigned to your claim.
- Ask a collision repair shop near you for a written estimate and the terms of its repair warranty before you sign the work order.
Frequently asked questions
Do I pay my deductible to the body shop?
In Manitoba, yes: the deductible goes to the repair shop, which then sends MPI the bill for the rest of the cost. In British Columbia, an ICBC Repair Network shop may ask you for your deductible once it finishes the repairs.
Do I need more than one repair estimate?
In Alberta, only one estimate is required. You may get more than one to compare prices and opinions about how much repair the car needs. When two estimates differ, ask why before you choose. To understand a quote that changes after the work starts, see how repair supplements work.
Can an Ontario insurer fix my car itself instead of paying for the damage?
Yes. The standard Ontario owner's policy (OAP 1) lets the insurer choose to repair, replace or rebuild your vehicle instead of paying you for the damage. It must tell you in writing within 7 days after it receives notice of the claim.
What can I do if my insurer denies or delays my claim?
Anywhere in Canada, if your car insurer turns down your claim or delays payment, you can contact the Insurance Bureau of Canada, file a formal complaint, or look for legal help.
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