SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — South Side Auto Body has announced the launch of a new consumer-focused service called “Wreck Check,” a post-repair inspection program designed to help drivers determine whether their vehicle was properly repaired following a collision insurance claim.

According to the shop, the new service was created in response to a growing number of South Lake Tahoe residents who report being directed by insurance companies to repair facilities outside the Tahoe Basin, including shops in Reno and Carson City. In some cases, vehicle owners later return to South Side Auto Body after noticing ongoing mechanical, cosmetic, alignment, or safety-related concerns following repairs completed elsewhere.

The Wreck Check program provides independent inspections of previously repaired vehicles to identify potential issues involving bodywork, paint, frame alignment, structural repairs, safety systems, calibrations, and other collision-related concerns.

Under California law, consumers have the legal right to choose where their vehicle is repaired following an accident. Insurance companies may recommend repair facilities, but they cannot require customers to use a specific shop or refuse to work with a repair facility chosen by the vehicle owner.

“We’ve seen situations where customers come back because something still doesn’t feel right with the vehicle after repairs were completed elsewhere,” said Ryan Feliciano, owner of South Side Auto Body. “Sometimes the issue is cosmetic, but other times there are concerns involving safety systems, panel alignment, or incomplete repairs. We wanted to offer a service that helps people better understand the condition of their vehicle and what options may still be available to them.”

One of the biggest misconceptions, according to Feliciano, is that customers believe they will have to pay out of pocket if a repair was not completed the first time correctly.

“In many cases, that’s simply not true,” Feliciano said. “If a repair facility acknowledges that repairs were not performed properly, they may be responsible for correcting the issue. We’ve worked with customers where the original repair facility agreed to cover the cost of corrective repairs rather than requiring the customer to pay again.”

According to South Side Auto Body, when issues are identified during a Wreck Check inspection, corrective repairs may be addressed through supplemental insurance claims, warranty obligations, or coordination with the original repair facility, depending on the circumstances. The shop says many customers are surprised to learn they may have options available without incurring additional repair costs themselves.

South Side Auto Body recently assisted a customer whose vehicle required substantial corrective repairs after collision work performed elsewhere was determined to be incomplete.

According to the shop, the original repair facility reviewed the concerns and agreed to cover the cost of the corrective work, allowing the customer to have the vehicle repaired properly without paying for the same repairs twice.

California’s Auto Body Repair Consumer Bill of Rights also gives consumers the right to obtain an independent repair estimate from a registered collision repair facility. South Side Auto Body says the Wreck Check program is intended to help educate local drivers about these rights while providing an additional layer of confidence following collision repairs.

“Our goal is not to criticize other repair shops,” Feliciano said. “We simply want local drivers to understand their rights and have access to a trusted local inspection option if they have concerns about the quality or safety of a repair. Every driver deserves to know their vehicle was repaired correctly.”

South Side Auto Body says the program is also intended to educate consumers about insurance steering practices and help drivers make informed decisions about where and how their vehicle is repaired after an accident.