Car Repairs After a Non-fault Accident: Are You Required to Use Your Insurer’s Chosen Repair Shop?

When you’ve been involved in a car accident, getting repairs completed quickly is essential to avoid disrupting your daily routine and helps you prevent further damage to your car. Regardless of who is at fault in the accident, contacting your insurance provider is important as it impacts your deductible and premium. 

Your insurer may try to recommend a particular repair shop in their network during the claims process, but it’s essential to know that you do not need to use their chosen repair shop. It’s a common misconception that you must use the repair centre your insurer suggests after an accident, but you can select where you want to take your car for repairs.

Your Right To Choose

After an accident, you have the right to choose where you take your car for repairs. Your insurer can only require you to use their preferred repair shop if it is explicitly stated in the details of your insurance policy.

Opting to choose a repair shop should not affect your insurance coverage. You may, however, lose certain policy benefits, like a courtesy car, if you decide to go against using the recommended shop. Insurers also may require an inspection to verify the repair costs, so it’s essential to clarify this to your insurer beforehand.

Why Do Insurers Have Preferred Repair Shops?

Insurers usually encourage you to choose their preferred repair shop for a few reasons. 

• Certain repair shops often have agreements with insurers that allow them to keep expenses to a minimum and cut repair costs.
• Referring multiple clients to the same shop may mean the insurer gets substantial discounts due to the repeat business they provide, maximising their profits.
• Preferred shops may offer faster service due to more streamlined processes and direct communication with the insurer.

Insurance companies typically seek to cut costs and usually do not have your best interest in mind. You may not receive the highest quality repairs when you choose the insurance company’s recommended shop. They often prioritise speed over quality.

Choosing your own trusted repair shop means better quality control, original parts, and repairs that meet your standards. These benefits often outweigh missing out on some of the conveniences offered by the insurer by using their repair shop.

Choosing a Repair Shop After a Non-Fault Accident

It’s easy to be influenced by your insurance provider when they suggest that going to the repairer of your choice can cause delays and extra costs, but don’t be swayed. When you are choosing where to take your car for repairs, make sure to consider:

• The total cost of the repairs
• Convenience and location of the repair shop
• Quality of service you’ll receive

Choosing a repair shop you know and trust gives you more control over the repair process and can save you from travelling long distances to the recommended shop by the insurer. Not all repair shops are the same and do not offer the same level or quality of service. There are a few different things to pay attention to when looking for an auto body repair shop, like:

• Their customer service
• Experience with repairs
• If they provide warranty-backed service.

It’s important to find out if your repairer uses OEM (original equipment manufacturer) or aftermarket parts. While aftermarket parts may be required when repairing older vehicles where new parts aren’t readily available, they can cause issues with newer cars.

Aftermarket parts don’t meet the same quality standards as OEM parts. Failing to use OEM parts on newer vehicles can invalidate your car’s warranty or even lead to performance issues. 

Trust Caversham Coachworks for Auto Body Repairs After a Non-Fault Car Accident 

Finding a reputable auto body repair shop is crucial. A trustworthy shop will ensure that original, high-quality parts are used and that they have a higher standard for repairs. You want a shop that cares about maintaining your car’s performance and the warranty. Delaying repairs after an accident, even if you consider the damages minor, can lead to significant issues in the future. 

At Caversham Coachworks, your vehicle is in good hands. We have experience negotiating and dealing with insurance companies to help move the repairs process along quickly, whether you were at fault or not. We offer services like alloy wheel refurbishment, cooling systems and air-conditioning maintenance, paintless dent removal, swift same-day repairs, steering component repairs, the use of genuine parts, and electrical system maintenance and refurbishment. 

We have convenient locations in Caversham and Abingdon and are here to help with traditional, modern, hybrid, and EV vehicles with our state-of-the-art equipment. Contact us today or use our free and easy estimator tool.