Florida body shop laws: what insurers and shops must do

What it means in Florida

No rule in our Florida collection bars an insurer from requiring or recommending a shop. But an insurer that chooses to repair and requires a particular shop must restore the car's performance and appearance to pre-loss condition at no extra cost beyond the policy, for an insured or third-party claimant. It may point a third-party claimant to repair options. An adjuster can't steer your customer to anyone the adjuster has an undisclosed financial stake in or is paid by for the referral.

No rule in our Florida collection bars an insurer from requiring or recommending a shop. The adjuster rule took effect April 21, 2025; a breach is an unfair claims settlement practice.

The law's own words

“An insurer that elects to repair a motor vehicle and specifically requires a particular repair shop for vehicle repairs shall cause the damaged vehicle to be restored to its physical condition as to performance and appearance immediately prior to the loss at no additional cost to the insured or third-party claimant other than as stated in the policy.”

Fla. Stat. 626.9743, 2026 edition

“However, the insurer may identify options to a third-party claimant relative to the repair of his or her vehicle.”

Fla. Stat. 626.9743, 2026 edition

“An adjuster shall not directly or indirectly refer or steer any claimant needing repairs or other services in connection with a loss to any person with whom the adjuster has an undisclosed financial interest, or who will or is reasonably anticipated to provide the adjuster any direct or indirect compensation for the referral or for any resulting business.”

Fla. Admin. Code 69B-220.201, effective 4/21/2025

What it means in Florida

Before the insurer stops paying storage it already authorized, it must give your customer, the insured, notice and 72 hours to move the car. On jobs over $150, your estimate must state the daily storage charge, and storage can't start until 3 working days after you tell the customer the car is done. If you enforce a lien by sale, notify the owner, customer and lienholders within 7 business days after storage starts, or you can charge an unnotified lienholder for only 7 days.

The estimate rule applies to repair work over $150; the lien-notice rows apply to a shop enforcing a repair lien by sale. Tow-yard storage is governed separately by Fla. Stat. 713.78.

The law's own words

Insurer

“Every insurer shall provide notice to an insured before termination of payment for previously authorized storage charges, and the notice shall provide 72 hours for the insured to remove the vehicle from storage before terminating payment of the storage charges.”

Fla. Stat. 626.9743, 2026 edition

Shop

“A statement indicating the daily charge for storing the customer’s motor vehicle after the customer has been notified that the repair work has been completed. However, storage charges may not accrue or be due and payable for a period of 3 working days from the date after such notification.”

Fla. Stat. 559.905, 2026 edition

Shop

“Be sent to the registered owner, the customer, and all other persons claiming an interest therein or lien thereon within 7 business days, excluding Saturday and Sunday, after the date on which storage charges begin to accrue on the vehicle.”

Fla. Stat. 713.585, 2026 edition

Shop

“If a lienor fails to provide notice to any person claiming a lien on a vehicle under subsection (1) within 7 business days after the date of storage of the vehicle, the lienor may not charge the person for more than 7 days of storage”

Fla. Stat. 713.585, 2026 edition

What it means in Florida

You can hold the car or enforce the lien only if you've substantially complied with Florida's Motor Vehicle Repair Act. To sell, send a notice of lien to the registered owner, your customer and every lender on record within 7 business days after storage charges start and at least 30 days before the sale; no sale can happen sooner than 60 days after the repairs are done. For work under a written estimate, your customer can get the car back by posting a bond with the court clerk; you then have 60 days to sue on it.

A shop that has not substantially complied with the Motor Vehicle Repair Act may not hold or enforce a lien (559.919). The bond release under 559.917 covers repair work done under a written repair estimate.

The law's own words

Keep the car

“(1) In favor of persons performing labor or services for any other person, upon the personal property of the latter upon which the labor or services is performed, or which is used in the business, occupation, or employment in which the labor or services is performed.”

Fla. Stat. 713.58, 2026 edition

Limit

“No motor vehicle repair shop may refuse to return a customer’s motor vehicle by virtue of any miscellaneous lien, nor may it enforce such a lien in any other fashion if it has failed to substantially comply with the provisions of this part.”

Fla. Stat. 559.919, 2026 edition

Sell or title it

From a list that begins: “Such notice must:”

“(a) Be sent to the registered owner, the customer, and all other persons claiming an interest therein or lien thereon within 7 business days, excluding Saturday and Sunday, after the date on which storage charges begin to accrue on the vehicle. However, in no event shall the notice of lien be sent less than 30 days before the sale of the motor vehicle.”

Fla. Stat. 713.585, 2026 edition

Sell or title it

“(3) A vehicle may not be sold earlier than 60 days after completion of the repair work. If the date of the sale was not included in the notice of lien required in subsection (1), notice of the sale must be sent by certified mail at least 15 days before the date of sale”

Fla. Stat. 713.585, 2026 edition

Get it back

“(1)(a) A customer or a person of record claiming a lien against a motor vehicle may obtain the release of the motor vehicle from any lien claimed under part II of chapter 713 by a motor vehicle repair shop for repair work performed under a written repair estimate by filing with the clerk of the court in the circuit in which the disputed transaction occurred a cash or surety bond,”

Fla. Stat. 559.917, 2026 edition

What it means in Florida

In Florida, the insurer can't require replacement parts that aren't at least equal in kind and quality to the damaged parts in fit, appearance and performance. Any estimate with non-OEM aftermarket crash parts, the insurer's or yours, must identify each one and carry a 10-point warranty notice; a violation is an unfair insurance practice for the insurer and a deceptive trade practice for you. You can't swap used, rebuilt or salvaged parts for new without telling the owner and, on a claim, the insurer.

Fla. Stat. 626.9743 applies to personal and commercial motor vehicle insurance claims. You must tell the insurer about a used or rebuilt part only when the repair is paid under a policy and the insurer or its adjuster has been identified to you; your invoice must also identify any used, rebuilt or reconditioned replacement part.

The law's own words

Parts standard

“(4) An insurer may not require the use of replacement parts in the repair of a motor vehicle which are not at least equivalent in kind and quality to the damaged parts prior to the loss in terms of fit, appearance, and performance.”

Fla. Stat. 626.9743, 2026 edition

Insurer

“In all instances where nonoriginal equipment manufacturer aftermarket crash parts are used in preparing an estimate for repairs, the written estimate prepared by the insurer or the repair facility, or both, shall clearly identify each such part.”

Fla. Stat. 501.33, 2026 edition

Parts standard

“THIS ESTIMATE HAS BEEN PREPARED BASED ON THE USE OF CRASH PARTS SUPPLIED BY A SOURCE OTHER THAN THE MANUFACTURER OF YOUR MOTOR VEHICLE. THE AFTERMARKET CRASH PARTS USED IN THE PREPARATION OF THIS ESTIMATE ARE WARRANTED BY THE MANUFACTURER OR DISTRIBUTOR OF SUCH PARTS RATHER THAN THE MANUFACTURER OF YOUR VEHICLE.”

Fla. Stat. 501.33, 2026 edition

Shop

From a list that begins: “It is a violation of this act for any motor vehicle repair shop or employee thereof to do any of the following:”

“(10) Substitute used, rebuilt, salvaged, or straightened parts for new replacement parts without notice to the motor vehicle owner and to her or his insurer if the cost of repair is to be paid pursuant to an insurance policy and the identity of the insurer or its claims adjuster is disclosed to the motor vehicle repair shop.”

Fla. Stat. 559.920, 2026 edition

Insurer

“(1) Any violation of this part by an insurer shall be deemed a violation of the Unfair Insurance Trade Practices Act, part IX, chapter 626. (2) Any violation of this part by a repair facility shall be deemed a violation of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, part II, this chapter.”

Fla. Stat. 501.34, 2026 edition

What it means in Florida

Florida has no law requiring an appraisal clause in auto policies, and its auto claims statute neither authorizes nor blocks enforcing a policy's settlement-dispute terms. The appraisal rules in its bad-faith statute are for residential property claims, not auto. If the insurer requires a particular shop, it must restore the car to pre-loss condition at no extra cost beyond the policy. Your customer may be able to sue their own insurer for bad-faith failure to settle, after 60 days' written notice.

626.9743 covers personal and commercial motor vehicle claims. 624.155's appraisal provisions (tolling, and no bad-faith notice within 60 days after appraisal is invoked) apply to residential property insurance claims, not auto. The bad-faith suit needs 60 days' written notice to the Department and the insurer, and no action lies if the insurer pays or fixes the problem within those 60 days.

The law's own words

Other dispute rules

“(10) Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize or preclude enforcement of policy provisions relating to settlement disputes.”

Fla. Stat. 626.9743, 2026 edition

Other dispute rules

“(3) An insurer that elects to repair a motor vehicle and specifically requires a particular repair shop for vehicle repairs shall cause the damaged vehicle to be restored to its physical condition as to performance and appearance immediately prior to the loss at no additional cost to the insured or third-party claimant other than as stated in the policy.”

Fla. Stat. 626.9743, 2026 edition

Other dispute rules

“(7) Every insurer shall, if partial losses are settled on the basis of a written estimate prepared by or for the insurer, supply the insured a copy of the estimate upon which the settlement is based.”

Fla. Stat. 626.9743, 2026 edition

Other dispute rules

From a list that begins: “(1) Any person may bring a civil action against an insurer when such person is damaged:”

“(b) By the commission of any of the following acts by the insurer: 1. Not attempting in good faith to settle claims when, under all the circumstances, it could and should have done so, had it acted fairly and honestly toward its insured and with due regard for her or his interests;”

Fla. Stat. 624.155, 2026 edition

Other dispute rules

“(j) An adjuster shall not knowingly fail to advise a claimant of the claimant's claim options in accordance with the terms and conditions of the insurance contract.”

Fla. Admin. Code 69B-220.201, effective 4/21/2025

What it means in Florida

Florida has no labor rate or survey law. If the insurer settles on its own estimate it must give the insured a copy, and it can't make material misrepresentations to settle for less than the policy provides. As a general business practice, it can't fail to explain in writing the policy basis for a compromise offer. A person harmed by these practices, or an insured hurt by bad faith, can sue, but only after 60 days' written notice to the Department and the insurer.

Section 626.9743 covers personal and commercial motor vehicle claims. Section 624.155 lets any damaged person sue over a 626.9541(1)(i) violation without proving a general business practice, and lets an insured sue over the insurer's bad faith, but the Department and the insurer must first get 60 days' written notice, and no action lies if the insurer pays the damages or corrects the violation within those 60 days. The adjuster rule requiring market-price data in electronic estimates (69B-220.201(3)(m)) applies only to residential coverage.

The law's own words

Related claim rule

“Every insurer shall, if partial losses are settled on the basis of a written estimate prepared by or for the insurer, supply the insured a copy of the estimate upon which the settlement is based.”

Fla. Stat. 626.9743, 2026 edition

Related claim rule

“A material misrepresentation made to an insured or any other person having an interest in the proceeds payable under such contract or policy, for the purpose and with the intent of effecting settlement of such claims, loss, or damage under such contract or policy on less favorable terms than those provided in, and contemplated by, such contract or policy;”

Fla. Stat. 626.9541, 2026 edition

Related claim rule

From a list that begins: “Committing or performing with such frequency as to indicate a general business practice any of the following:”

“Failing to promptly provide a reasonable explanation in writing to the insured of the basis in the insurance policy, in relation to the facts or applicable law, for denial of a claim or for the offer of a compromise settlement;”

Fla. Stat. 626.9541, 2026 edition

Related claim rule

From a list that begins: “By the commission of any of the following acts by the insurer:”

“Not attempting in good faith to settle claims when, under all the circumstances, it could and should have done so, had it acted fairly and honestly toward its insured and with due regard for her or his interests;”

Fla. Stat. 624.155, 2026 edition

What it means in Florida

Florida has no rule on paint and materials caps. If the insurer settles from its own estimate, it must give the insured a copy; if it requires a particular shop, it must restore the car at no extra cost beyond the policy. Changing an adjuster's report to lower the estimate without a detailed explanation is an unfair claim practice, and a person harmed can sue after 60 days' written notice. Whether a materials cut qualifies is for the Department of Insurance or a lawyer.

626.9743 applies to personal and commercial motor vehicle claims. Before suing under 624.155, the Department and the insurer must get 60 days' written notice, and no action lies if the insurer pays or fixes the problem within those 60 days. The 2025 estimate rules in Fla. Admin. Code 69B-220.201(3)(m) apply only to residential coverage, not auto.

The law's own words

Related claim rule

“(7) Every insurer shall, if partial losses are settled on the basis of a written estimate prepared by or for the insurer, supply the insured a copy of the estimate upon which the settlement is based.”

Fla. Stat. 626.9743, 2026 edition

Related claim rule

“(3) An insurer that elects to repair a motor vehicle and specifically requires a particular repair shop for vehicle repairs shall cause the damaged vehicle to be restored to its physical condition as to performance and appearance immediately prior to the loss at no additional cost to the insured or third-party claimant other than as stated in the policy.”

Fla. Stat. 626.9743, 2026 edition

Related claim rule

From a list that begins: “3. Committing or performing with such frequency as to indicate a general business practice any of the following:”

“j. Altering or amending an insurance adjuster’s report without: (I) Providing a detailed explanation as to why any change that has the effect of reducing the estimate of the loss was made; and”

Fla. Stat. 626.9541, 2026 edition

Related claim rule

“(1) Any person may bring a civil action against an insurer when such person is damaged: (a) By a violation of any of the following provisions by the insurer: 1. Section 626.9541(1)(i), (o), or (x);”

Fla. Stat. 624.155, 2026 edition

What it means in Florida

Once a written settlement is agreed, the insurer must pay within 20 days, or the payment earns 12% yearly interest from the agreement date (from when a signed release is returned, if payment depends on one). The insurer must also acknowledge claim communications within 14 calendar days and start investigating within 10 working days of proof of loss. If the insured asks in writing, it must confirm or deny coverage, or say it's investigating, within 30 days of proof of loss.

The 20-day rule in 627.4265 applies to any person who has agreed in writing with an insurer to settle, so it can reach third-party claimants as well as insureds, and the agreement can set a different date. The 14-day acknowledgment rule does not apply to claimants represented by counsel beyond forms and instructions. The 30-day coverage answer in 626.9541 is owed to the insured on written request, and that list applies to acts frequent enough to show a general business practice.

The law's own words

Accept or deny

From a list that begins: “Committing or performing with such frequency as to indicate a general business practice any of the following:”

“e. Failing to affirm or deny full or partial coverage of claims, and, as to partial coverage, the dollar amount or extent of coverage, or failing to provide a written statement that the claim is being investigated, upon the written request of the insured within 30 days after proof-of-loss statements have been completed;”

Fla. Stat. 626.9541, 2026 edition

Pay

“In any case in which a person and an insurer have agreed in writing to the settlement of a claim, the insurer shall tender payment according to the terms of the agreement no later than 20 days after such settlement is reached.”

Fla. Stat. 627.4265, 2026 edition

If late

“but if the payment is not tendered within 20 days, or such other date as the agreement may provide, it shall bear interest at a rate of 12 percent per year from the date of the agreement;”

Fla. Stat. 627.4265, 2026 edition

Respond

“Upon the insurer's receiving a communication with respect to a claim, it shall, within 14 calendar days, review and acknowledge receipt of such communication unless payment is made within that period of time”

Fla. Admin. Code 69O-166.024, effective 11/2/1992

Accept or deny

“Unless otherwise provided by the policy of insurance or by statutes, such insurer shall within 10 working days of its receipt of proof of loss statements begin such investigation as is reasonably necessary,”

Fla. Admin. Code 69O-166.024, effective 11/2/1992