Auto Insurance Claims: Auto Insurance Claim, auto insurance claim, leinholder

Question
If you were in an auto accident that was the other party's fault, do you have to agree to have your vehicle repaired or can you simply request to be paid the repair amount?

Answer
Hi Damian,

There is no law that says that you have to repair your vehicle. However there are some states that require the insurance company to protect a leinholder. So if your vehicle is financed or leased they may have to make any check payable to both you and the leinholder. It would then be up to you to negotiate with the leinholder if they would be willing to sign the check and return it to you or if they would require that you fix the car before they do so.

I hope this helps
Richard Hixenbaugh