Auto Insurance Claims: Insurance Claim Checks, lienholder, insurance claim

Question
Are they normally made out to the auto shop or paid to the claimant? I am willing not to report the accident to their Insurance Company and they asked that I get an estimate which I did and they are agreeable to pay for  repairs with car rental...but they want to pay directly to the auto shop.   I have reconsidered getting my car repaired and would like to keep the money as my car is getting old and I probably will  trade it in soon.   Thank you.

Answer
I think I follow your question. . . .

Insurance claim checks are most often made out in the name of financially interested parties.  You are under no requirement to repair your vehicle unless there is still a lien on the vehicle.  If you have settled with an individual for a stated amount, and they want to force you to repair the vehicle by attempting to make the payment out to you and the shop, then you just need to tell them it is not happening because you don't know if you are going to repair the vehicle or not.  They owe you for damages, period.  

If you don't have a lienholder, an insurance company will likely just make payment to you directly for an agreed amount normally determined by their adjuster.  I hope this helps, but if not, feel free to follow up!