Insurance, approved garages, and a novice claimant!

[mikeyr]

So, someone I work with kindly reversed into my GTV whilst turning round in our work carpark. No biggie I thought (although it is a bit of a mess!). But I've only ever made one claim and that was almost 20 years ago when I kindly rid the world of one blue Nova saloon by duelling with a lamp post.

So I'm hunting around to find a decent bodyshop in Hampshire (see thread below) and it got me wondering about whether bodyshops have any form of "insurer approved" status.
Presumably it needs to be agreed by her insurance company and not mine?
Am I obliged to use their own paint shop or can I make my own choice?
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

One last question...as the door will need respraying does this mean they are likely to have to blend it in to the rest of the wing (it's a metallic burgundy colour)?

[BIGDAI]

From (my wife's) experience last year, steer well clear of anyone "approved" by the insurance company - they are working to very tight margins & throughputs. Find a bodyshop you are happy with & go with them - the choice is yours not that of the insurance company.

[BMWBen]

mikeyr said:

So, someone I work with kindly reversed into my GTV whilst turning round in our work carpark. No biggie I thought (although it is a bit of a mess!). But I've only ever made one claim and that was almost 20 years ago when I kindly rid the world of one blue Nova saloon by duelling with a lamp post.

So I'm hunting around to find a decent bodyshop in Hampshire (see thread below) and it got me wondering about whether bodyshops have any form of "insurer approved" status.
Presumably it needs to be agreed by her insurance company and not mine?
Am I obliged to use their own paint shop or can I make my own choice?
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

One last question...as the door will need respraying does this mean they are likely to have to blend it in to the rest of the wing (it's a metallic burgundy colour)?

I've only used an "insurance approved" bodyshop once, and there's a very good reason why it's only once.