Insurance company approved repairer vs non-approved repairer
Discussion
What are the pros and cons of using a body shop/repairer which is not on your insurance company's approved list?
The only one I can think of is a protracted claims process.
Anything else I am missing?
I've chosen to go with a non-approved repairer but all the conversations and correspondence with my insurance company are discouraging me away from this and steering me towards their approved repairers.
My one and only reason for going with this repairer is their consistently high reviews.
The only one I can think of is a protracted claims process.
Anything else I am missing?
I've chosen to go with a non-approved repairer but all the conversations and correspondence with my insurance company are discouraging me away from this and steering me towards their approved repairers.
My one and only reason for going with this repairer is their consistently high reviews.
The 'approved' repairer is on their approved list, not because they do a top job but rather because they do it on the cheap in return for getting loads of business.
We had my Wife's car repaired by one and the job they did was shocking; paint didn't match properly and they'd even missed a bit on the sill, they also didn't replace the damaged alloy that they had said they would.
I sent it back and they put it right but was not impressed.
When I had a bus hit my car a year or so later I went with a 'non approved' as I knew the place and that they would do a quality repair, the insurance company weren't happy although agreed, but then wouldn't supply a courtesy car. Fortunately the body shop supplied their own car.
We had my Wife's car repaired by one and the job they did was shocking; paint didn't match properly and they'd even missed a bit on the sill, they also didn't replace the damaged alloy that they had said they would.
I sent it back and they put it right but was not impressed.
When I had a bus hit my car a year or so later I went with a 'non approved' as I knew the place and that they would do a quality repair, the insurance company weren't happy although agreed, but then wouldn't supply a courtesy car. Fortunately the body shop supplied their own car.
Insurance company approved repairers are really a scam, they give the insurance company a kick back/hidden discount to get the work. You are entitled to have the vehicle repaired properly and returned to its pre-accident state. It is pretty easy to make the case, you will only get that with a main dealer for the marque. I've got a good dealer which I use for all my servicing, repairs and MOTs. I trust them and they charge fairly. On the couple of occasions I've had push back from my insurance for no-fault dings, I held my ground and they've folded.
Insurance approved simply means that that have worked out a contract with the insurance company to offer discounted service. The pros are that if they do something you don't like (poor blend job etc) ,you can probably get the insurance company involved on your behalf as they recommended them. They may honor a warranty over what you would get from a regular body shop for the same reason.
Cons are that they will also likely do whatever the adjuster says even if it means cutting corners.
Cons are that they will also likely do whatever the adjuster says even if it means cutting corners.
The only issue I had in the past when using a non approved repairer was if something goes wrong or your not happy the the job then you are on your own. I chose to use a Ford dealer for the repair on our Puma, apart from some tape lines inside the boot which was easily resolved they chipped the paint on the lip of the rear arch, they argued and said it was already there (it wasn't) so i asked why didn't they call and say they are going to paint the panel there is a chip do you want it sorting, to which i would have said yes.
I called the insurance company they sent an assessor who looked agreed that it shouldn't be there but the rest of the work was fine (and it was) but as i had chosen not to use there approved bodyshop ( who we did use later on a different car ) we were on our own.
I called the insurance company they sent an assessor who looked agreed that it shouldn't be there but the rest of the work was fine (and it was) but as i had chosen not to use there approved bodyshop ( who we did use later on a different car ) we were on our own.
If it’s a lease car you may find you have to use a manufacturers approved rather than insurance approved.
Someone hit my Merc a while ago and I politely refused the insurance body shop and pointed out it was in my lease T&C’s that I had to use an official garage.
Insurance company didn’t bat an eyelid about it.
Just meant I got no courtesy car from them.
Someone hit my Merc a while ago and I politely refused the insurance body shop and pointed out it was in my lease T&C’s that I had to use an official garage.
Insurance company didn’t bat an eyelid about it.
Just meant I got no courtesy car from them.
I think the choice is easy, ask yourself this: Is what's in your best interest also in the insurance companies best interest?
Any business's priority should be to look after the people who give them work; in the case of insurance approved repairer they will have the insurance companies interests at heart, your interests are a distant second, if you use your own repairer your interests will be the priority and you are far more likely to receive a high standard of service.
Personally I'd go with an independent over a main dealer bodyshop as independents trade almost entirely on reputation whereas dealers have a built-in customer base so upsetting the odd customer can be seen as less of an issue.
Getting a customer into the approved network insurances companies saves money and there are all kinds of kick backs going on which can provide plenty of encouragement for staff to make customers feel steered or even forced into the network.
Any business's priority should be to look after the people who give them work; in the case of insurance approved repairer they will have the insurance companies interests at heart, your interests are a distant second, if you use your own repairer your interests will be the priority and you are far more likely to receive a high standard of service.
Personally I'd go with an independent over a main dealer bodyshop as independents trade almost entirely on reputation whereas dealers have a built-in customer base so upsetting the odd customer can be seen as less of an issue.
Getting a customer into the approved network insurances companies saves money and there are all kinds of kick backs going on which can provide plenty of encouragement for staff to make customers feel steered or even forced into the network.
Edited by Dark85 on Monday 21st May 19:43
Always go none approved if you can and find a good place you trust.
Insurance Co's use whoever they can get cheapest to save cash. Approved repairers get lots and lots of business. Win win for them. Corners are often cut to get the work done so cheaply, and 80% of punters won't notice or care.
Con is you'll probably forfeit a hire car/courtesy car and if the work done by your firm is not up to par you're on your own - so find a good one.
Insurance Co's use whoever they can get cheapest to save cash. Approved repairers get lots and lots of business. Win win for them. Corners are often cut to get the work done so cheaply, and 80% of punters won't notice or care.
Con is you'll probably forfeit a hire car/courtesy car and if the work done by your firm is not up to par you're on your own - so find a good one.
I recently went with a manufacturer approved repairer rather than the insurance company one for a non-fault claim.
No extra excess (and hire car may have been trickier if I hadn't got a manufacturer insurance claims policy) as the other insurer admitted liability but the car did have to go back twice after the repair for some minor issues I wasn't happy with.
So not perfect even going with a manufacturer body shop but I still have slightly more peace of mind that the right parts were used and it's warrantied etc than if the insurer repairers had done it.
In future I'd go highly rated independent I think.
I did not have to fight hard to go elsewhere, just be firm - they may try and dissuade you but stick to your guns.
No extra excess (and hire car may have been trickier if I hadn't got a manufacturer insurance claims policy) as the other insurer admitted liability but the car did have to go back twice after the repair for some minor issues I wasn't happy with.
So not perfect even going with a manufacturer body shop but I still have slightly more peace of mind that the right parts were used and it's warrantied etc than if the insurer repairers had done it.
In future I'd go highly rated independent I think.
I did not have to fight hard to go elsewhere, just be firm - they may try and dissuade you but stick to your guns.
Edited by vrsmxtb on Monday 21st May 21:23
I have had two repairs over the years that were put through the insurers.
The first returned a returned a red Ford Escort with a new front wing in orange.
The second on a C-Max took five goes to repair a rear wing and get the moon dust silver paint work correct, 1. sand under the paint. 2. blotches under the clear coat. 3. scratches 4. orange peel.
Both times it was Howard Bashford and I have promised myself never again.
The only good news was that I had to be satisfied with the work before my insurer would pay them.
The first returned a returned a red Ford Escort with a new front wing in orange.
The second on a C-Max took five goes to repair a rear wing and get the moon dust silver paint work correct, 1. sand under the paint. 2. blotches under the clear coat. 3. scratches 4. orange peel.
Both times it was Howard Bashford and I have promised myself never again.
The only good news was that I had to be satisfied with the work before my insurer would pay them.
The main advantage is that if you use the approved repaired the repairs are guaranteed by the insurer. So if the garage does a bad job you can complain to the insurer - and then to the Financial Ombudsman which is free (to you) if you're still not satisfied. This also gives you protection if the garage goes bust. Whereas if a non-approved repairer does a bad job it's not your insurer's problem - you can only complain to the garage like any other customer. This may or may not be a major problem for you, depending on how much faith you have in your chosen garage.
Some insurers will also charge a higher excess if you insist on a non-approved repairer, so check the terms of your policy.
Some insurers will also charge a higher excess if you insist on a non-approved repairer, so check the terms of your policy.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff