Approved garages

You need your car fixed. Does your insurer decide where?

What is an approved repairer?

Insurers have a network of approved repairers they use to carry out repairs on vehicles they cover. So, if you have an accident in your car or it gets damaged, your insurer can arrange for the repairs to be done at one of these approved garages.

Most insurers have a network of approved repairers across the country. So there should be one within a convenient distance of you.

All repairs usually come with at least a three-year guarantee for the work undertaken.

Your insurance company prefers that you use one of its approved repairers so it can access discounted rates from the garages.

The repairers will also have been vetted and will regularly undergo checks and audits of their work, so you can trust them to do a good job.

Do you have to use insurance approved garages?

No. Although your insurer may prefer that you use one of its approved garages, you have no legal obligation to do so when making a claim. You’re protected by the Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulation, enabling you to choose your own repairer if you wish to.

Your insurer can’t force you to use a certain repairer and it’ll still pay out for the repairs if your claim is accepted.

So, if you want to, you can choose to use a garage you know and trust to do a good job. And it could also save you travelling out of your way to your insurer’s chosen repairer.

Be aware, though, that if you do decide to go down this route, your insurance provider may apply a non-repairer excess to your claim, which can be costly. This is payable in addition to any other excess (voluntary and compulsory) on your policy.

Also, your provider may limit the repair costs it will pay out for and may not give you a courtesy car while yours is being repaired - though your own garage may provide you with one.

Before any work starts, you must contact your motor insurer to let it know you want to use your own garage.

It’ll usually ask that you send an estimate of the repairs to approve. And it may want to inspect the car too, just to be sure your garage isn’t overcharging.

If you take your car for repairs before it’s been assessed, your insurer could refuse to pay out.

What are the benefits and disadvantages of an insurance provider’s approved repairer?

Advantages

• Providers often only work with approved British Standard or Kitemark approved garages.
• With a large network, there’s usually an approved repairer local to you.
• You don’t need to organise estimates and submit them to your insurer, so the process can be quicker.
• Approved repairers often offer a collection and delivery service free of charge.
• A courtesy car may be included as standard with a comprehensive car insurance policy.
• Some providers offer access to an online tracking tool so you can see the progress of your car repairs.
• Repairs may be guaranteed for three or more years, and some providers offer a lifetime guarantee for work done.

Disadvantages

• Depending on where you live, there may not be an approved repairer particularly close to you.
• An approved repairer may not specialise in repairing your make and model of vehicle.

How to find an approved garage near you

Your insurance claim handler can find the nearest approved garage. They can then book in your car for the repair, so there’s no need for you to get any estimates for work.

Free collection of your vehicle and delivery back to you is usually available too.

Your provider can also organise a courtesy car while yours is being repaired, as long as it’s included in your policy. This will usually be delivered when your car is collected for repairs.

Many providers offer an online tracking tool you can access to keep track of the progress of your car’s repairs, giving you a better idea of when you can expect to get your car back.