Insurance / bodywork thing...

[Big Giant Head]

Need to make an insurance claim for a (big) dent that some happy shopper put in the side of my XK8.
(why are the blind and mad allowed to drive vans) ?

I've heard that insurance companies will direct you to their 'preferred' body shop local to you
and will insist that you use them - I live only a few miles from the Jaguar body shop in Birmingham and
minutes from where my car was actually born.

I'm going to lose my 'no claims' anyway so I'm happy to make a fuss - does anyone know if I can insist that
the work is done by Jaguar and not by some independent workshop who might not even be able to match the paint?

[absolutely]

Big Giant Head said:

I've heard that insurance companies will direct you to their 'preferred' body shop local to you
and will insist that you use them - I live only a few miles from the Jaguar body shop in Birmingham and minutes from where my car was actually born.

I had this when some eejit ran into the back of my car. I could name a dozen good bodyshops around where I live, but no, the insurance company sent me to a bodyshop 20 miles away! When the same company has one branch in the next town and another in the nearest big town about 10 miles away.

[Triple7]

Read your policy document but as a guide, it generally says by going to a bodyshop of your choosing you will forgo the courtesy car they provide. I am sure the Jag bodyshop will give you one instead.

The insurance company cannot force you to go somewhere, although they may drag their feet. I would only go to a Jag bodyshop as they will guarantee the corrosion warranty and only use Jaguar paint and parts.

G

[Jeggers]

Hi Big Giant Head

Had a dent myself sometime ago (im with Admiral)

They stated to me that they have a preferred body
shop that they use but, if I wanted to get it done
through a jaguar body shop I would have to get 2
quotes' from different body shops.

When it was pointed that 2 quotes' from the same
company was a bit silly they agreed and let me go
with just the one and once assessed let the work
go ahead.

Don't give up

Jeremy

[GR1FF1F]

Had someone reverse into my XKR a few months back, but he very kindly left me his details. When his insurance company contacted me I told them I would only entertain having the work done by Jaguar. They accepted this without so much as a raised eyebrow.

Dig your heels in.

[Big Giant Head]

Thanks chaps...

hearing your experiences gives me a little more confidence when arguing with the insurance bod.

Best wishes
Tony