Your insurance. Your choice.

After an accident, fixing the car is only half the job. The other half is the claim: photos, phone calls, an adjuster and a lot of waiting. At Tejas Paint & Body Shop, we help drivers with auto insurance claims in Dallas, and we know how the process works from the shop side. You get your car repaired right, and you don’t have to manage the paperwork alone.

Texas law lets you choose your repair shop (Texas Insurance Code §1952.302). Your insurer can’t require you to use a specific shop. Pick the one you trust and we’ll work with them. We work with your insurer and handle the paperwork with you.

We are a family-owned body shop at 615 Fort Worth Ave, on the same street in Oak Cliff since 1981. Drivers from Oak Cliff, West Dallas and across North Texas bring their claims to us because they want one person to talk to from start to finish. Here, that person is Xavier.

What’s included

Free estimate*: We document the damage and write up your estimate. We photograph every damaged area, list the parts and labor the repair needs and walk you through what we found.

Adjuster communication: We talk to the adjuster so you don’t have to chase calls. We send our photos and estimate, answer their questions about the repair and explain any differences between their numbers and ours.

Hidden damage reports: When we take a panel apart and find damage no one could see from the outside, we document it and send it to your insurer for approval before we go further.

Rental car help: If your policy includes rental coverage, we’ll help you arrange a rental car with your insurer.

Updates until pickup: We keep you posted from drop-off to pickup. Xavier calls you when something changes, so you never have to guess where your car is in the process.

How it works

1. Send photos: Text or upload a few photos of the damage. No visit needed to get started. Xavier looks at them and tells you what the next step should be.

2. Report the claim: If you haven’t already, contact your insurer to open a claim and write down your claim number. Tell them you want Tejas Paint & Body Shop to do the repair. That choice is yours.

3. We call your insurer: We talk to the adjuster and handle the paperwork with you. Some adjusters inspect the car at the shop, while others review photos and our estimate. Either way, we make sure they see all of the damage.

4. Teardown and approval: Once the repair is approved, we take apart the damaged area. This is when hidden damage often shows up, like a cracked bracket behind a bumper. We photograph it, write it up and send it to the adjuster.

5. Repair + updates: We fix your car and keep you posted until it’s ready. Body work, panel repair and paint all happen here, and Xavier lets you know if anything changes the plan.

6. Inspection under the lights: Before we call you, we check every repaired panel and the paint finish in our inspection area, which is lit by hexagonal LED panels. That bright, even light shows small waves, dust or color differences that are easy to miss in a normal garage.

7. Pick up: Drive away with a repair backed by our Limited Lifetime Warranty. We walk you through what we fixed and answer your questions before you leave.

Common claim situations in Dallas

Many claims start close to home: a rear-end tap at a red light, a sideswipe while changing lanes on I-30 or a scrape in a crowded parking lot. Each one is different, but most auto insurance claims in Dallas raise the same questions. Who pays, where should the car go and what happens next?

Another driver hit you

If the other driver was at fault, you can usually file with their insurer. This is called a third-party claim. If you have collision coverage, you can also file with your own insurer, which may then try to recover the cost from the other driver’s company.

You were at fault or no one else was involved

In this case the repair usually goes through your own collision coverage, if you have it. Your deductible applies, and we’ll help you understand what the insurer approves.

Hail or a falling branch

Damage that doesn’t come from a crash usually falls under comprehensive coverage. North Texas sees hail most often in the spring, and a single storm can leave dents across the roof, hood and trunk.

A hit-and-run or an uninsured driver

Call the police and get a report number, then call your insurer. Depending on your policy, uninsured motorist coverage or collision coverage may help with the repair.

What to photograph after an accident

Good photos help your claim move forward and protect you if questions come up later. If you are safe and it is legal to stay where you are, take these before the cars are moved:

The scene: Wide shots that show both cars, the lanes, street signs and traffic lights.

Your damage: Every damaged area on your car, once from a few feet away and once up close.

The other car: Its damage and its license plate.

Documents: The other driver’s insurance card and license, plus the officer’s name and report number if police come.

Your dashboard: The mileage and any warning lights that came on.

Later, take a few more photos in daylight. Damage that looked small at night can look very different the next morning. These are the same photos you can send us to start your estimate.

The adjuster’s role in your claim

An adjuster works for the insurance company. Their job is to look at the damage, decide what your policy covers and approve an amount for the repair. Their first estimate is often based only on what they can see from the outside.

When the adjuster’s estimate and ours don’t match, we go through the photos, the parts and the repair steps with them. Most differences come down to details, such as whether a part should be repaired or replaced, or whether paint needs to be blended into the next panel. We explain it to you in plain terms, too.

Supplements: when hidden damage shows up

A supplement is an added request sent to the insurer after the first estimate. It is common and doesn’t mean anyone made a mistake. A bumper cover can look fine with a broken mount behind it, and a door can close normally with a bent inner panel.

When we find hidden damage, we document it with photos and send a supplement to the adjuster. We wait for approval before we do that part of the work, and Xavier tells you what we found and how it may affect your timeline.

Your right to choose your body shop in Texas

Under Texas Insurance Code §1952.302, your insurer cannot require you to use a particular repair shop, and it cannot suggest that you must. An insurer may tell you about shops it works with, but the final decision belongs to you. If someone tells you that you have to go somewhere else, you can simply say you have already chosen your shop.

This information is general and not legal advice. For questions about your own policy, read your policy documents or contact your agent.

Deductibles and costs, explained honestly

Your deductible is the amount you agreed to pay toward a covered repair when you bought your policy. The insurer pays the approved amount above it, up to your coverage limits. If you file with the at-fault driver’s insurer and they accept the claim, you usually don’t pay a deductible on that claim.

Every policy is different, so we can’t promise what your insurer will pay. Some items may not be covered, like old damage that wasn’t part of the accident. What we can promise is a clear, written estimate and a heads-up before any cost that comes out of your pocket.

If you decide not to file a claim, we can still write you an estimate and repair your car. We’ll give you the same honest look at the damage and a price that respects your budget.

How Xavier keeps you updated

Xavier is your point of contact from the first photo to the day you pick up your car. He reviews your photos, talks with your insurer and follows your car through every step of the repair.

You’ll hear from him when the adjuster approves the estimate, when a supplement goes out and when your car is ready. If you call while he is with a customer, he will get back to you. We reply the same business day, Monday to Friday.

Why Oak Cliff drivers bring their claims to Tejas

Family-owned, right here in Oak Cliff: We’ve been on Fort Worth Ave since 1981, serving the same neighborhood. We want every car to leave in a condition we’re proud of.

One person to call: You don’t get passed between departments. Xavier knows your car, your claim and your adjuster.

Honest estimates: We write up what your car needs to be repaired correctly, and we explain each line so you understand it.

A careful final check: Every repair is inspected under our hexagonal LED lights before it goes back to you, so problems get caught in our shop instead of your driveway.

Auto insurance claims in Dallas: FAQ

Do I have to use the shop my insurance company recommends?

No. In Texas, your insurer cannot require you to use a specific shop or suggest that you must. You can bring your car to Tejas Paint & Body Shop and we will work with your insurer.

Should I call my insurer or the shop first?

Either order works. Report the accident to your insurer as soon as you can, since most policies ask for prompt notice. At the same time, send us your photos so we can start looking at the damage.

Do I need an appointment for an estimate?

You can start by sending photos by text or email. If you’d rather come by, we’re open Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM, and closed on weekends.

What if the adjuster’s estimate is lower than yours?

That happens often, especially before the car is taken apart. We review the differences with the adjuster, share our photos and request a supplement when more work is needed.

Will my insurance pay for the whole repair?

It depends on your coverage, your deductible and who was at fault. We can’t promise what an insurer will approve, but we will explain their decision and tell you about any out-of-pocket cost before we do the work.

Can you help me get a rental car?

We don’t provide rentals, but we’ll help you arrange a rental car with your insurer if your policy includes it.

What if more damage is found during the repair?

We stop, photograph it and send a supplement to your insurer. You’ll hear from Xavier before that extra work begins.

Can I get an estimate if I’m not filing a claim?

Yes. Many drivers want to know the cost before deciding whether to file. We’ll give you an estimate either way.

Get your free estimate*

Call (214) 698-0369 or send us a few photos to get your free estimate*. Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–5:30 PM, 615 Fort Worth Ave, Dallas, TX 75208.

You can also email your photos to tejaspaintandbody@hotmail.com with your name, phone number and claim number if you have one. Xavier will review them and reach out to talk about next steps. If you need help with auto insurance claims in Dallas, new or already stuck, Xavier is ready when you are.