Accident repair: you might have more options than you think

Accident repair: you might have more options open than you think

A survey carried out on behalf of a major UK car manufacturer has found that most motorists are unaware that it is their right to choose where their vehicle is repaired if they are involved in an accident. They often assume that they are required to go with their insurers’ choice of repairer.

Of 1,000 people surveyed, only 47% of 18 to 24 year-olds and, worse still, 39% of 25 to 34 year-olds were aware that it isn’t just a case of sending your vehicle to where the insurance company wants it to go. Instead, you can choose a local garage or manufacturers’ site without invalidating your insurance policy – unless the policy holder has signed away their rights within the small print of their policy documentation. It was only older and more experienced motorists aged 55+ who seemed to have read the small print, with the majority (65%) saying they knew they had a choice when making a claim.  Interestingly, when asked where they would ideally like to take their vehicle to get repaired, far more people said they would rather go to the original manufacturer than their insurers’ choice of repairer. 

In fact, only 21% said they would choose to go where the insurance company sent them, saying that specialist knowledge of their vehicle brand and the ability to source and fit original parts were the main reasons why they would rather use an original manufacturer.