Collision Coffee Talk

What if one of the biggest truths in collision repair was said out loud by someone on the inside? In this episode of Collision Coffee Talk, we break down a stunning admission from a regional manager at one of the nation’s largest MSOs: across 54 DRP locations, not one would be held out as an example of performing proper repairs to OE standards. Let that sink in. Why does that matter? Because insur...

In this episode of Collision Coffee Talk, we’re diving straight into the issues everyone in collision repair, insurance, and claims should be talking about right now. We break down more Tesla lawsuits, why some industry messaging is really an insult, and how AI estimating subtraction is quietly reshaping repair conversations in ways shops cannot afford to ignore. We also look at why Gerber’s finan...

Just when you thought it could not get worse for Carstar Maaco, Fix Auto and ATI.... A new filing asking for time with creditors had AI calling it a 'Death Spiral' and sure failure for the company.  We also throw in a good old fashioned Claims Committee discussing deducting shop total loss fees from customer ACV settlements.  Lots more in this weeks episode of Collision Coffee Talk  If you operate...

In this episode of Collision Coffee Talk, we break down some of the biggest stories shaping the collision repair and auto insurance world right now. From legal battles and industry secrets to financial pressures affecting shops and consumers, this episode connects the dots between claims handling, repair economics, and insurer behavior. Here’s what we’re discussing this week: ☕ The Secret of the...

In this episode of Collision Coffee Talk, we unpack several major developments that could significantly impact insurers, adjusters, and collision repair shops right now. We start with State Farm’s $4.6 billion dividend refund to policyholders and why the timing matters. We connect the announcement to the long shadow of the Avery v. State Farm litigation and discuss how historical court findings, o...

This week we’re covering some of the biggest conversations happening right now between body shops, insurers, and regulators — and why they actually matter to YOU! We break down a developing bad-faith discussion involving a major insurer, what “certified collision” really means from a legal liability standpoint, and why OEM repair procedures are becoming one of the most important — and most misunde...

It actually was a busy week of making people angry and starting fights online. We'll break down how the MN Department Of Insurance is handing out fines moving STP to STFU. State Farm has a few days left on the discovery mandate in Oklahoma. While we wait to see what new delay tactic they will use, let's talk about how they denied their own employees claim who was dying of Cancer.  Pour a cup........

Stop me if you've heard this one. A judge is really angry at State Farm and IA was arrested and booked over his email in a Right To Appraisal Umpire decision.  This is a really good episode!  The REAL National Association , ASA and why it has to be our focus in 2026 Bodyshop ICE  Judge Orders State Farm To Produce  Paint Sales Are DOWN IA’s Arrested!  LKQ Is On the Block The Wage Crash of 2025  Wh...

Put on your tin foil hat and pour a cup of coffee. For this episode we're going down the rabbit hole. Learn how the legal battle in Oklahoma with State Farm actually points to a far deeper intent and problem(s) for collision repair shops. We'll also talk about some scams and ICE problems. 

You take one week off and things get crazy!  On Monday Opus and asTech officially announced their intent to merge the companies after the story had broke back in November during SEMA. Why wait so long? Well the Department of Justice (DOJ) seems to be interviewing half the industry stating they are doing an anti-trust investigation on the merger. Then for some reason..... last week during CIC, asTe...

Sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction and the latest statements from Progressive are out there.  Can you imagine the field adjuster 4 weeks on the job that can not change a flat tire is now in charge of the inspections after a collision and customer safety?  Don't worry, they send you a picture. 

We took a week off and came back to a new year and new problems within the Collision Repair Industry.  Let's kick this year off right:  German Car Manufactures opposite repair strategies  How Can Propaganda Help Shops With Short Pay  Tesla Keeps Taking Hits  What's the greatest lie told to shops? 

It's the Christmas episode. Well really it's just the last episode before Christmas and the industry is taking no time off for the Holiday  In this episode:  State Farm Faces Raketeering Lawsuit in Oklahoma  Copart Uses AI To Call Bodyshops... and fails  asTech Circus Expands With Roadtrips  Progressive Adjuster Qualifications Testing  Claims Fraud and Adjuster Bias With Bodyshops and AI 

It seems things are not going to slow down as we enter the last weeks of 2025.  Florida is taking steps to end the way insurers use AI in claims  State Farm Has Comments On AI and How Adjusters Should Adjust  Why are adjusters terrifed of making decisions  Total Loss Strategy or Settlement Negotiation?  Hyundai Paint ADAS Recall Is More Important Than You Think 

This industry seems to think that shops will never connect the dots. That has most of the sport coat mafia thinking the answer to every question is to just deny and deflect.  Maybe some of that is starting to catch up to Attorney Generals and Judges.  In this epiosde:  3M FINALLY admits to Amazon Store  State Farm Attorney Makes HUGE Mistake In North Carolina Court Filing  There Is A Reason For Mi...

It's another jam packed episode as the world turns in the drama of Collision Repair  State Farm Singles Out Gerber  Cancel All Your Trade Publications In Protest  Do You Know Your Tools: Estimating Systems Ford and Amazon Make a Deal  State Farm Says It's Only 96 Hours  Problems With Honda and Aftermarket Headlamps  OEM Safety Inspections and Lawsuits  Insurers Waive Rights In Subrogation  Another...

Happy Thanksgiving Week.  On this episode of Collision Coffee Talk we talk about:  The reasons Progressive Insurance says they will not pay for paint and material expenses proven with invoice  Why do we really do this job of Collision Repair  General Motors Dealers across the USA are revolting over Caliber Collision locations inclusion in certified shop locators  Hyundai makes deal with Crash Cham...

It's another rant filled episode of Collision Coffee Talk and this time she's not holding back.  We'll talk about the VERY disturbing press release that came out from Boyd Gerber that provides some chilling insights to the future of repair.  Insurance companies continue to make errors with policy application and it's presenting some slam dunk Bad Faith suits  There is a new bully in town around to...

The best part of any industry event is the amount of gossip and drama that unfolds. In the middle of everything, some interesting information was released. But the desert of Las Vegas was not the only place the industry gathered. The insurers were in Orlando, FL to discuss claims technology and process.  In this episode of Collision Coffee Talk:  Tesla Insurance Fails in Claims again  Insurance Cl...

It's industry tradeshow week so we're going to throw some shade and talk about some news in this weeks episode.  State of Illinois Files Suits Against State Farm  Bodyshops of Oklahoma sue the Department of Insurance and Governor  Voice Activated Measuring  Should Insurers Be Kicked Out of Industry Meetings  The Bankruptcy Disrupting the Auto Industry  Michigan Towing Laws Hit The House  Are Insur...

A trucking company, Waffle House, and the collision industry are connected in surprising ways, including a potential warning for the industry.  We discuss concerns over specific terms in the State Farm Select Service agreement that have many worried.  An insurer lost three lawsuits to a bodyshop due to their attorney’s reliance on ChatGPT for drafting documents, which proved incorrect.  Additional...

We spent last week up in the Northeast visiting New York and New Jersey, but there was a few things of intrest and a claims conferecne to review.  In this weeks episode we'll discuss:  Liberty Mututal and Pre-Meditated Bad Faith?  State Farm and Elitek Pricing Agreements  Insurer Tech Conference 2025  Alcohol and Collision Repair?  We Launch a New Service That Is 100% Guaranteed To Get Us Sued!  A...

We have a lot to cover this morning in the industry! It was only a matter of time, but State Farm is facing multiple class action lawsuits over their use of AI in claims handling. How will this effect shops that also use AI tools to complete estimates and look up procedures?  Tesla total loss issues and problems created with how they handle vehicles damaged and use of their owned charging stations...

It's been a busy week for our industry. Lets talk about a few growing stories  Automomous Car Gets Traffic Ticket  AirPro Takes Another Court Loss  Tesla Is Slapped By The California DOI  State Farm Drops Labor Rates Across The USA  Is ADAS a Financial Cliff For Investors

It's a long episode be we have some exciting things to talk about!  Understanding "Sticker Shock" in Collision Repair  DRP's Are Bad Faith  Toby Chess is BACK!  Rules and Regulations for RTA  Claim Volume Takes HUGE Dip  Shops Cross The Line In Supplement Handling  We're Going on the Road!