The way I understand it is if you outright own your vehicle (no financing, etc), the insurance co. can make the check out in your name and send it directly to you. If there is a lien on the vehicle through any type of bank financing, they will only send the payment to the body shop doing the repairs.

 

They said they'd send it to me, but I'd have to get the lien holder to sign it. Well...i guess I could send it to the body shop....but if they rip me off I'm gonna pick that truck apart.

 

Have you checked with another body shop that doesnt seem so shady? When I got rear ended, I took it to the shop of my choice. The insurance company sent me a check for the estimated $1500 in damage, it ended up costing over $3400 and I only had to pay $100 of my $500 deductable. Find a better shop, IMO. If I had any doubts that a shop was going to screw me over, I would take it somewhere else.