Do you remember the excitement you felt when you first passed your test? The thrill of being able to get behind the wheel and just drive. It felt good, right? The last thing you probably thought about as you celebrated your newfound freedom was what you’d do if you were ever in an accident.
For some lucky people, they never have to think about it at all, but unfortunately, accidents do happen, and if you find yourself the victim of a shunt, it’s important you know your rights.
When it comes to accident car repairs, you might naturally assume your insurer is your first port of call and they’ll dictate where your vehicle goes to be fixed. But that doesn’t have to be the case. In fact, you have a legal right to choose your own repairer to do the job instead.
It’s a common misconception that you must use whoever your insurer tells you to after a crash. But you don’t. They might try to steer you towards an approved repairer, but if you own your vehicle, you ultimately have the right to decide ; they can’t legally force you to use their choice.
There’s a good chance your insurer will try to persuade you to use one of their approved repairers for several reasons. Typically, insurers have agreements with approved repair shops to get discounted rates. They also regularly audit the repairers, so they know the work is up to scratch.
But if their approved repairer doesn’t suit your needs, you’re perfectly within your rights to pick your own.
Like a lot of things in life, we’re comfortable with what we know, and you may have a regular garage that knows your car well and offers great customer service. It’s not unreasonable for you to want them to repair it instead of a stranger.
Similarly, you may have a very specific make and model of car and the company you already use is familiar with that. An approved repairer, whilst being adept at car accident repair, may not have the specific knowledge to deal with your type of vehicle.
And of course, there’s the convenience factor. Insurers will have a network of approved repairers dotted around the country, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll be close to you. If the approved repairer is a 45-minute drive away while your own garage is a mere five minutes, it’s not surprising you’d rather go there instead.
Whilst it’s true you can choose whoever you like to repair your vehicle, and if your claim is approved, your insurance company will still pay out, there are some pitfalls to be aware of before you make your choice.
The easiest way to find out what your limitations are is to check your policy document carefully or speak directly to your insurer.
If you’ve been in an accident and aren’t sure where to go for repairs, get in touch with EvolveArc. All it takes is one call, and we’ll sort the rest, giving you peace of mind and getting you back on the road in no time.
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