It’s a common misconception that your insurer has the final say in where your car is repaired after an accident. When you're feeling stressed or shaken, it’s easy to go along with whatever they suggest without questioning it.
But the truth is, you have the right to choose who repairs your vehicle. You’re under no obligation to use your insurer’s preferred repairer. In fact, choosing a trusted and independent repair specialist like EvolveArc can offer significant advantages, including potentially better service and craftsmanship.
Here’s why that choice matters:
Yes - you absolutely can. In the UK, you have a legal right to choose your own repairer. Thanks to the Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulations, you’re free to select who carries out your vehicle repairs without risking your warranty. That means neither manufacturers nor insurers can insist you use their approved garages.
Most insurers work with a network of approved repairers who are vetted and regularly audited. These partnerships often come with negotiated discounts, which is why insurers encourage you to use them. While that can offer convenience, choosing an independent repairer, free from restrictive discount agreements, can often result in better quality workmanship and more personalised customer service.
Choosing your own repairer gives you the opportunity to pick a bodyshop that is a specialist in your make and model. It could also be as simple as convenience – your chosen repairer may be nearer to you than the insurer-approved one.
Choosing your own repairer, and in particular, opting to go through an accident management company rather than your insurer, can streamline the entire process and get you a better result.
Accident management companies, like EvolveArc, bridge the gap between insurers, rental car companies and garages so you have one point of contact who deals with it all. At Evolve, we do it all in-house with our dedicated team, approved body shops and fleet of courtesy cars to make the entire process as easy and painless as possible.
Choosing your own repairer gives you much greater control over any replacement parts, including the option to request original manufacturer parts. This helps maintain your vehicle’s integrity, performance, and resale value.
Some insurer-approved repairers may opt to use non-original, generic parts to cut costs if they’re on fixed or discounted contracts with the insurer. And whilst generic parts do the job, they may be of a different quality or slightly different fit, which could affect performance and increase wear and tear.
Choosing a local or independent repairer means you get one point of contact to deal with and direct communication. There’s no need to go through layers of bureaucracy each time you need to find out what’s happening to your car.
Accident repair companies are likely to be far more responsive, transparent and open to communicating with you at every stage because it’s their role to make the process as easy as possible for you.
At EvolveArc we put you at the front of everything we do. We manage your claim, speak to the insurers on your behalf, make sure your vehicle is repaired to manufacturer standards with approved parts and provide you with a like-for-like courtesy car for the duration of the repairs.
Get in contact with the team at EvolveArc today!
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