Insurance Paperwork, Handled

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# Work Authorization & Direction to Pay Form

This is the work authorization. Signing it does two things: it lets us start your repair, and the direction to pay inside it tells your insurance company to pay the shop directly instead of mailing you the check to forward. If someone at the shop told you to sign the work authorization, this is the page. If you are still deciding where to take the car, here is [how we work with your insurer](https://www.exclusivebodyshop.com/auto-body-shop-that-works-with-insurance-brooklyn/) from the first call to the final invoice. Fill out the five short steps below and sign at the end. It takes a couple of minutes, and we take it from there. Questions? Call [(929) 267-9940](tel:9292679940).

1

Your Info

2

Vehicle

3

Insurance

4

Authorize

5

Sign

About the Form

## What is a Direction to Pay form?

It's a short document that tells your insurance company to send the repair check straight to us instead of to you first. That's really all it is, and it's a routine part of any New York collision claim. Every major insurer accepts it.

Signing it doesn't sign away any of your rights. You're just deciding where the payment lands once the claim is approved. It keeps things clean and cuts out the slow back-and-forth that tends to hold repairs up.

![Front-end collision damage on a black GMC Sierra brought in to Exclusive Collision & Repair, an auto body shop in Brooklyn, NY that handles the insurance claim directly](https://www.exclusivebodyshop.com/images/gmc-collision-damage-brooklyn-ny.webp)

### Why we use it

Plainly, it's the fastest way to get your car fixed and get you back behind the wheel. Without it, you wait for a check to show up, deposit it, then pass it along to the shop. With it, the insurer pays us directly the moment the work is approved, so we start sooner and you have one less errand after a rough week.

It also keeps you out of the money side of things. No large checks to babysit, no wondering whether a payment reached the right place. We deal with your insurer from the first call to the last, so you're not chasing anyone.

### How it works

It usually starts the second you call. A lot of the time, Charlie heads to the scene and brings the car in himself. Once it's at the shop on 28 Marginal St W, we sit down with you and fill this out together: your details, the vehicle, the insurance info, and your signature to authorize payment.

After that, it's on us. We file with your insurer, send over the documentation, and put together a supplemental estimate if we find more damage once we're into the repair. When the work is done, the insurer pays the shop directly, you look over the finished car, grab your keys, and you're set.

### 10+ years. Over 20,000 vehicles repaired. Every one returned to its owner looking the way it did before the accident.

## Do I have to sign one?

No, it isn't required by law. It's just the standard way shops and insurers in New York keep payment moving. Skip it and the insurer mails the check to you, which means you're the one forwarding it to the shop. Most people sign because it's simpler, and you keep every right that matters: you pick the shop, you see every estimate, and nothing gets repaired until you say go.

### What's on the form?

The basics: your name, address, date of birth, and phone. Your vehicle's year, make, model, and VIN. And your insurer, policy number, and claim number. We may ask for a photo of your license to confirm it's really you. The last step is the work authorization, where your signature confirms the details are right and gives us the green light to start. Nothing is locked in until you hit submit, so look it over first.

![Blue BMW 5 Series finished and restored to pre-accident condition after collision repair at Exclusive Collision & Repair, an auto body shop in Brooklyn, NY](https://www.exclusivebodyshop.com/images/bmw-finished-repair-brooklyn-ny.webp)

### What happens after I hit submit?

It lands with us right away and we get to work with your insurer. We review the claim, document the damage, and send our estimate over for approval, which usually comes back within a few business days. Once it's approved the repair starts, and we settle the bill with the insurer directly, so you're not stuck chasing reimbursements or invoices.

### Is my information safe?

Yes. Everything you enter is sent securely and comes straight to us at Exclusive Collision & Repair. We don't pass your personal or insurance details to anyone beyond what your claim actually requires. Rather do it in person? Come by 28 Marginal St W, Brooklyn, NY 11207 during business hours and we'll handle the paperwork at the counter.

Service Area

## Serving Brooklyn & the surrounding boroughs

We're in the Cypress Hills neighborhood of Brooklyn, and we cover the whole borough for towing, collision repair, and insurance claims. Wrecked somewhere and can't drive it in? Call us for [24/7 towing in Brooklyn](https://www.exclusivebodyshop.com/towing-service-brooklyn-ny/) and we'll take it from there, right through to final delivery.

Cypress HillsEast New YorkBrownsvilleCanarsie BushwickBed-StuyCrown HeightsFlatbush

**Outside Brooklyn?** We also take drivers from Queens, Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island, and we tow to our shop. Give us a call and we will come to you.

Common Questions

## Direction to Pay, answered

What is a direction to pay form used for in an auto body shop?

A direction to pay form tells your insurance company to send the repair payment straight to the shop instead of to you. It's standard on collision claims, and it's what lets us start the work without waiting for a check to change hands.

Is the direction to pay form legally binding?

Yes. Once you sign, it directs your insurer to pay us for the repairs covered under your claim. Give the claim and repair details a careful read first so you know everything lines up before you sign.

Do all insurance companies accept a direction to pay form?

Every major insurer in New York does. We work with all of them and submit it for you, so you're not stuck hunting down the right adjuster or department.

Can I choose my own body shop if I sign a direction to pay form?

Absolutely. Signing doesn't tie you to anyone. New York law lets you pick your own shop no matter what your insurer suggests, and the form just points the payment to the shop you chose.

What happens if my insurance company disputes the repair estimate?

If they push back or underpay, we handle the supplemental claim ourselves. We document the extra damage, send a revised estimate, and go back and forth with your adjuster so the payout matches what the repair actually costs. You stay out of the negotiation.

Can I fill out the direction to pay form before my car is at the shop?

Yep. You can do it online before the car even arrives, which helps a lot when Charlie is picking it up after an accident. The sooner it's in, the sooner we can start talking to your insurer.

How long does it take for the insurance company to process payment after I sign?

Insurance payment processing time depends on the insurer and how complex the claim is, but most straightforward collision claims get approved within a few business days of seeing our estimate. If it stalls, we follow up and keep you posted.

What if I made a mistake on the form?

No problem. If you already submitted, call us at (929) 267-9940 and we'll fix it before it goes to your insurer. Still filling it out? Just edit the field before you submit. The claim number and policy info are the ones to double-check.

Is a direction to pay form the same as a repair authorization?

Close, but not quite. The direction to pay sends the payment to us; the work authorization, which is the last step here, gives us the okay to actually do the repairs. You need both to get rolling, and this form covers them together.

What if I don't have my claim number yet?

Fill out what you can and add the claim number once your insurer gives it to you. Haven't called them yet, or not sure how to get it? Ring us at (929) 267-9940 and we'll walk you through it.

Does signing this form affect my insurance rates?

No. It's just an administrative step inside a claim you already have. It doesn't open a new claim or change your coverage. Anything that moves your rate comes from the accident itself, not from signing this.

Can I cancel the direction to pay authorization after signing?

If we haven't started the repair, usually yes, just reach out to us and your insurer. Once parts are ordered and work is underway it gets trickier, since the costs are already in motion. If you're unsure about anything, call before we begin and we'll talk it through.

## Been in an accident? *Let's get you back on the road.*

Call or text and we'll walk you through the claim, arrange towing if you need it, and get your repair moving. No pressure, no runaround.

[Call (929) 267-9940](tel:9292679940) [Get a Free Estimate](https://www.exclusivebodyshop.com/contact-body-shop-customer-service/)

28 Marginal St W, Brooklyn, NY 11207 · Mon-Sat 8AM-10PM · Sun Closed · Towing available 24/7