Auto Insurance Claim Checks: Can They be Paid to You Rather than the Repair Shop?

The short answer to your question is yes.  But my question to you would be why?  If you are planning to have your car repaired, then it makes sense to have the insurance company just pay the repair shop.  If you are planning to have it repaired by other than a repair shop, perhaps fix it yourself or have a friend do it, then sure, you can ask the insurer to pay you directly.  In fact, you don’t have to repair your car at all if you don’t want to.  That’s entirely up to you.  If it’s your own insurer, though, why make a claim if you’re not going to repair your car.  I know you may want the money, but it could hurt you in the long run to make a claim because your insurance rates may go up eventually as a result, especially if you were at fault for the accident.  If your claim is with the other driver’s insurer, however, then it makes more sense. All you would need to do is give the adjuster one or two (if required) written estimates for repair, and tell him or her to make the check out to you.  That’s it.