Yes – car insurance covers auto body repair, but which coverage applies depends on what caused the damage. The three coverage types relevant to auto body repair are collision coverage, comprehensive coverage, and liability coverage. Each covers different damage scenarios, and all are subject to your deductible.
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Collision coverage pays for damage to your vehicle caused by a collision with another vehicle, a fixed object (guardrail, pole, parking structure), or a rollover. This is the coverage that applies after a typical car accident.
Collision coverage applies to:
You pay: Your collision deductible (typically $500–$1,000)
Your insurer pays: The balance of the approved repair cost
If the other driver was at fault: You can file against their liability policy instead of your own collision coverage — this avoids using your deductible if their insurer accepts liability. If their insurer disputes liability, filing under your own collision and letting your insurer pursue subrogation is often the faster path to getting your car repaired.
Comprehensive coverage pays for damage not caused by a collision — including hail, vandalism, fallen trees, animal strikes, theft, and fire. This is the coverage that applies to weather damage, parking lot vandalism, and other non-accident events.
Comprehensive coverage applies to:
You pay: Your comprehensive deductible (typically $250–$500 — often lower than collision)
Your insurer pays: The balance of the approved repair cost.
Comprehensive claims generally have less impact on your insurance premium at renewal than at-fault collision claims in Massachusetts — the damage is not attributed to driver behavior.
Yes - Massachusetts law gives vehicle owners the right to choose their own repair facility, regardless of insurance company recommendations. Your insurer may suggest their preferred shops (Direct Repair Program or DRP network shops), but you are not required to use them. The insurer must pay the reasonable cost of correct repair at any licensed shop you choose.
A shop that handles insurance claims professionally - submitting estimates directly, communicating with adjusters, and managing the supplement process - removes the friction of using a non-DRP shop entirely. At Invisible Touch, we handle the complete insurance process for every collision repair and insurance claim.
Only if the scratch resulted from a covered event. A scratch from a collision is covered under collision. Vandalism scratches are covered under comprehensive. A scratch from a parking lot door ding that was not a filed accident event is not covered — it is wear and tear. Filing a claim for a small scratch is usually not financially sensible anyway, as the claim may increase your premium by more than the repair cost over time.
At-fault collision claims typically increase your premium at renewal. Comprehensive claims (hail, vandalism, weather) generally have less impact on rates than at-fault collision claims in Massachusetts — but this varies by insurer and policy. Not-at-fault collision claims (when you file against the other driver’s policy) typically do not affect your rate. Consult your specific policy or agent before filing a small claim.
Your deductible is the portion of the repair cost you pay directly - your insurer pays the balance. You pay the deductible to the body shop at pickup, not to your insurer. If the repair cost is less than your deductible, insurance does not pay anything - you pay the full repair cost out of pocket. For example, a $400 repair with a $500 deductible means you pay $400 with no insurance involvement.
