If you’ve filed a collision claim, you’ve probably heard the term DRP — short for Direct Repair Program. It’s the network of auto body shops and dealerships that your insurance company has pre-approved and vetted, and it’s what’s behind phrases like “preferred shop” or “in-network repair facility.”

How a DRP actually works

Insurers set up DRPs to streamline the claims process for their policyholders. In a typical DRP arrangement, you drop your car off, an adjuster affiliated with the program handles the claim details directly with the shop, the repair happens, and in many cases a rental car is coordinated as part of the same visit. The shops in the network are vetted by the insurer and often come with a workmanship guarantee backed by that insurer, not just the shop itself.

The upside

For a lot of people, a DRP shop is genuinely the path of least resistance: less back-and-forth between you and the adjuster, a faster claims process because the shop and insurer already have a working relationship, and — because DRP participation is competitive for shops — generally consistent quality standards.

What to keep in mind

Using a DRP shop is optional, not required — as covered in our guide to your right to choose a repair shop, California law is explicit that an insurer cannot force you into a specific shop. It’s also worth knowing that DRP shops work closely with insurers on cost control, which can mean a preference for aftermarket or reconditioned parts over new OEM parts on some repairs. If that distinction matters to you — for a newer car, a leased vehicle, or one you plan to keep long-term — it’s a fair question to ask any shop, DRP or not, before repairs start: what parts will actually be used, and can you get OEM parts instead if you’re willing to cover the difference.

Bottom line

A DRP shop isn’t automatically better or worse than an independent shop you choose yourself — it’s a convenience tradeoff. If you already have a body shop you trust, you’re allowed to use it and have your insurer work with that shop directly. If you don’t have a preference, a DRP shop is a reasonable, low-friction default. Either way, get an itemized estimate before authorizing any work.

Every business in this directory tagged under insurance collision repair has told us they work with insurance claims directly, DRP or not — worth a look either way.