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If you’re ever in a fender bender, you probably expect your car insurance to cover the repairs. You pay your deductible, and the rest gets handled. But body shops across the country say the process isn’t working like it used to.

“Donna,” who runs a small shop in Kansas and told Bankrate not to use her real name, sees it all the time. A car comes in after a crash. The manufacturer says it needs certain safety inspections to ensure it’s roadworthy again, even if the airbags didn’t deploy. 

But when she sends the estimate to the insurance company, they deny those steps as unnecessary. Her choices aren’t all that great. Skip the inspection, bill the customer directly, or eat the cost herself.

That might not seem like your problem…until it’s your car in the shop.

According to a nationwide survey, only 36% of repair shops say car insurance providers routinely pay for required post-collision safety checks

Every automaker includes them in their official repair guidelines.

So what happens when the insurer won’t pay? Many shops quietly cover the cost. Others skip steps they know are important. In some cases, that could mean critical systems like airbags or driver-assist tech aren’t properly inspected or recalibrated. You get your car back looking fine. But it may have hidden safety risks that show up in the next accident or factory scheduled inspection.

Car insurance companies argue that many of these procedures are vague or excessive

They say fully covering them would raise premiums. Shop owners like Donna push back. They say it’s not about padding the bill. It’s about making sure your vehicle works the way it’s supposed to when it matters most.

Meanwhile, drivers are stuck in the middle. If your car insurance refuses to pay for something your repair shop says is essential, you may get hit with a surprise bill. And if you balk, it’s often the shop, not the insurer, that takes the blame. Donna says she’s even lost customers who were angry about being charged for work their insurance wouldn’t cover.

Modern cars are safer than ever. But they’re also more complex

Repairs often involve sensors, cameras, and recalibrations that didn’t exist a decade ago. Skipping one step in the process can mean a lane departure system or emergency braking feature doesn’t function properly. You may not find out until it’s too late.

This tension has been growing since the pandemic. Parts shortages, inflation, and volatile driving habits forced insurers to tighten their belts. The result, according to shop owners, is a repair system that’s getting harder to trust.

If you’re wondering what this means for you, the short answer is more homework

Read your car insurance policy carefully. Ask your shop to explain what repairs are covered and what aren’t. If you’re unhappy with how a claim is handled, look into your state’s appraisal rights. When shopping for insurance, don’t just look at the price. Look at the company’s reputation for handling claims fairly.

All told, it’s not just about fixing dents. It’s about making sure the car you’re driving is as safe as the one you bought.