Used to Go to Andres Auto Body in Palmdale? Here's What to Do Next

We’ve had a number of Antelope Valley drivers reach out lately, looking for a new home for their collision repair after Andres Auto Body & Paint in Palmdale closed. Whatever your situation, changing shops mid-claim or just shopping around for the first time, here’s a straightforward guide to keeping things moving.

Quick Answer

Your claim number and estimate stay with you, not the shop, so switching is one phone call to your adjuster. California Insurance Code Section 758.5 means you, not your insurance company, choose which licensed shop does the repair, and that right doesn’t change just because your old shop is unavailable.

→ send us photos: free written estimate, usually same day.

Visit Us Serving Lancaster & Palmdale

We’re at 118 W Nugent St., Lancaster, CA 93534, serving Lancaster, Palmdale, and the greater Antelope Valley. Mon–Fri: 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM · Sat: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM. Get directions.

If You Were Just a Regular Customer, Looking for a New Shop

You don’t need anything from your old shop to get started somewhere new. If you have a fresh accident (or a repair you’ve been putting off), here’s what to look for:

A lifetime workmanship warranty. Ask directly. If a shop only warranties 90 days or a year, that tells you something about how confident they are in their own work.
OEM parts on structural and safety components. Frame rails, airbags, and sensors should be genuine manufacturer parts, not aftermarket.
ADAS recalibration. If your car has lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise, or automatic emergency braking, it needs to be recalibrated after a collision repair. Ask directly whether the shop handles this in-house or coordinates it.
A real answer on timeline. Not a guess, a specific range based on your actual damage.
A named point of contact. One person who knows your repair from drop-off to pickup.

We wrote a full checklist with all 8 questions to ask any shop if you want the long version.

Remember: You Choose the Shop, Not Your Insurance Company

California Insurance Code Section 758.5 gives you the right to choose any licensed body shop. Your insurer can recommend one, but they cannot require it, and using a non-DRP shop does not affect your premiums. That right doesn’t change if your original shop becomes unavailable, you’re free to pick wherever you trust most.

Switching shops mid-claim?

Bring whatever paperwork you have. We'll pick up right where things left off and handle the rest directly with your adjuster.

Get a Photo Estimate or call 661-951-6000

How We Can Help

Executive Auto Body & Paint has served Lancaster, Palmdale, and the greater Antelope Valley for over a decade, with a lifetime workmanship warranty, OEM parts on every structural repair, in-house ADAS calibration, and a dedicated service advisor for every vehicle. We work with all major insurers, including Mercury, USAA, State Farm, Progressive, GEICO, Safeco, and Nationwide, handle the claim paperwork directly with your adjuster, and can usually get your repair started fast.

If your vehicle needs a new shop, whether it’s currently mid-repair somewhere else or you’re just starting a claim, we’re glad to help. Submit photos for a free virtual estimate, usually back within a few minutes, or book an appointment directly.

FAQs from This Post

My car is currently at another shop and I need to switch. Will I lose my claim?

No. Your claim number and estimate stay with you, not the shop. Call your adjuster, tell them you're switching shops, and they'll update their records. Most adjusters handle this in a single phone call.

Do I need my old estimate and photos to get a new estimate?

It helps but isn't required. Bring whatever paperwork you have (original estimate, supplements, photos) and a new shop can use it to move faster, but they'll still do their own walk-around and write their own estimate, which insurance companies expect anyway.

Does my insurance company get to pick my shop?

No. California Insurance Code Section 758.5 gives you the right to choose any licensed body shop. Your insurer can recommend a shop, but they cannot require you to use one, and choosing a non-DRP shop does not affect your premiums.