Approved garages

You've had an accident and filed a claim to your car insurance provider. Now, you're ready to get your car repaired and back on the road.

Your insurer will want you to take your car to one of their handpicked, approved garages. But, do you have to use one? And, what happens if you don't?

We'll breakdown your options below, so you can make the best choice for your car and what works best for you.

What are approved garages?

Approved garages are repair centres that have been carefully selected and vetted by your car insurance provider to meet their high standards. These garages are trusted to provide top-quality repairs for your vehicle and often offer a minimum 3-year guarantee.

The majority of car insurers have a collection of approved garages across the country. So, no matter where you might be in the UK, there's a good chance you'll have at least one near you.

Do I have to use my insurer’s approved garages?

Not at all, you're free to choose any garage or repairer you like. It's your car, after all!

Generally speaking, car insurers prefer you to use an approved garage for claims. So, opting to go with one often comes with added perks, like access to a courtesy car while yours is in for repairs.

But, if you choose a garage that isn't on your insurer's list, certain conditions may apply. For example, you might miss out on benefits—like that handy courtesy car we just mentioned. Or, have to pay an extra fee on top of your excess. Insurers can enforce these conditions under The Competition Act 1998.

Approved garages often make the process smoother. But, if you have a trusted repairer in mind, you might find going with them works best for you. So, while you're not obligated to stick to their list, it's worth weighing the pros and cons before making a decision. More on that below!

What are the pros and cons of approved garages?

An approved garage might be the preferred option for your insurer. But, is it the right option for you?

Let's have a closer look:

Pros

• Peace of mind: The majority of insurers work with British Standard or Kitemark approved garages, giving you peace of mind your car is in good hands.
• Wide network: There's a huge network of approved garages around the UK. So chances are, you'll find one near you.
• Courtesy car:If you've got a comprehensive car insurance policy, you might qualify for a courtesy car!
• Online tracking You could be provided with an online tracking service to see how your car is doing.
• Repair guarantees: Some insurers guarantee repairs for 3 years or longer. In some cases, they might even offer you a lifetime guarantee for any repair work done.

Cons

• Distance The approved garages your insurer recommends might be far away or difficult to get to.
• Specialisation: You might be sent to an approved garage that doesn't specialise in your particular vehicle, which could impact the quality of the repair.

What are the pros and cons of choosing your own garage?

As we've said, you've got the freedom to go to a non-approved garage or repairer if you wish. Let's take a look at the pros and cons of this option:

Pros

• Convenience: Your chosen garage might be closer or easier to get to than the approved garages.
• Specialist repair: You can take your car to a specialist repairer that's used to working on your particular car model. Useful if you have a performance car or classic car.
• Trust You can go to a garage that you trust. For example, a repairer you and your family have been going to for many years.

Cons

• No courtesy car: It's unlikely that your insurer will offer you a courtesy car while your car is undergoing repairs.
• Additional costs: You might be charged an additional excess for choosing to not visit an approved garage.
• Limited repair coverage Your insurer might flat-out refuse to pay the cost of repairs. They could argue the repairs are cheaper at one of their approved garages.
• Approval delays: You'll need to get an estimated time of how long the garage is going to take to do the repairs. Your insurer then needs to approve this. This can take a while!

What if you’re unhappy with the repairs done at an approved garage?

If there's an issue with your car after it's been repaired, get in touch with your insurer and let them know. In most cases, they'll send the car back to their approved garage to sort it out. Alternatively, they might let you take the car to a garage of your choice, depending on the situation.

If you're unhappy with how your insurer has handled your claim, you can raise a complaint. It's a good idea to keep all correspondence, like letters, emails, and anything else relevant. That way, you'll have everything on hand if needed. And, if things aren't resolved to your satisfaction, you can escalate the matter by contacting the Financial Ombudsman Service for help.

How do I find garages approved by my insurer?

Your claims handler is the go-to person for this. Just let them know you're looking for an approved garage, and they'll typically find one nearby and book your car in for the repair.

Your insurer might even arrange free collection and delivery of your car, and like we mentioned, offer a courtesy car. Generally, the courtesy car is delivered when yours is collected, but this can vary depending on your insurer. It's worth double-checking how it works with yours to be sure.