In an effort to get their customers back on the road faster and retain more consumer dollars, GEICO has introduced their ARX - Auto Repair Express - program to Chester County, Pennsylvania.

Shawn Burklin, vice president of claims for GEICO says, "The Auto Repair Xpress program is GEICO's unique, pain-free approach to collision repair. Our Auto Repair Xpress program was designed with the customer in mind."

He went on to outline how the program works, telling reporters, "This is a simple, convenient process that allows the customer to drop off their vehicle at an ARX shop, meet a GEICO auto damage adjuster there to evaluate the repairs needed and drive away in a rental car as long as the appropriate coverage has been purchased. The GEICO adjuster will oversee the entire repair process, provide repair updates to the customer and perform a quality assurance inspection when the repair is complete. After that quality assurance inspection, the customer will return the rental car to the Auto Repair Xpress shop and drive away in her or his repaired vehicle."

The GEICO program represents just one such program, and rather than opening their own shops the insurer is forming relationships with dealers in areas where they have high customer counts. Other insurance companies are funding apprenticeships for auto body workers, and opening their own affiliated shops as well.

While using a repair shop attached to your insurance provider may be faster, however, it isn't necessarily cheaper, and consumers should remember that your insurer cannot require you to use their mechanic. As well, if you feel the rates being charged are too high, you should question them.

Nancy Pierce, vice president of GEICO's mid-Atlantic region, reiterates this, stating, "GEICO policyholders, of course, are welcome to have their vehicles repaired at any facility of their choice. GEICO offers ARX repair shops as a convenience to customers who are seeking out repair facility recommendations. And the best part is that GEICO and the repair shop also guarantee the work for as long as you own that vehicle."