Dealing with the aftermath of a car accident is highly stressful, and you may find yourself trying to juggle pressure from your insurance company to allow them to repair your vehicle with finding the right garage for you.
Many people don’t realise that relying on your insurance company isn’t your only legal option when it comes to vehicle repair, and that you can actually choose an insurance-approved body-repair shop.
This guide tells you all you need to know about using an insurance approved body shop, including how car insurance and bodywork work together, what an ‘insurance approved repairer’ is, and how to find out which repairers are approved by your insurer.
How car insurance and bodywork work together
Following an incident, you’ll usually rely on car insurance to cover the costs of repairs. The process usually works in the following way:
Report the damage - following a crash, you’ll need to report the damage to your insurance provider alongside incident details and a thorough description of the damage.
Damage assessment - the insurer might require images of the damage to understand the extent of repairs required.
Claim analysis/approval - your insurer will determine and update you as to whether the damage is covered under your policy.
Repairs - you have the right to choose the repairer you want. An insurance approved repairer like ST Accident Repair keeps your best interests at the heart whilst delivering high quality body work.
We would always recommend understanding fully the advantages and disadvantages associated with both insurance approved, and independent repair work, before making a decision. Whilst we’re committed to delivering the best repairs possible, we’d still encourage a fully informed decision to be made.
What is an ‘insurance approved’ repairer?
An insurance approved repairer is one which is certified by insurance companies to carry out a high standard of repairs in the event of a claim. Insurance companies set standards regarding the quality of repairs, and regularly inspect the repair work of these body shops to ensure consistent high standards are being maintained.
As an insurance approved repairer, ST Accident Repair Centre can manage the whole process for you. Our specialist team will take charge of your vehicle start to finish, helping you submit insurance claims too.
How to find out which repairers are approved by your insurer
To find out which repairers are approved by your insurer, you can speak to your claim handler for a list of appropriate body shops. Equally, an online search with your insurer, usually using a postcode based tool, will tell you the best local approved repair shops.
ST Accident Repair Centre is approved by many top insurers. As Hastings Direct - Insurance Approved Repairers, Aviva - Insurance Approved Repairers, and much more, we guarantee that we’ll go above and beyond to deliver the quality of repairs you expect.
Should you use an insurance approved body shop?
In most cases, it is a good idea to use an insurance approved body shop. There are a number of benefits which come with using an insurance approved garage:
Convenience - Insurance approved body shops are often the most convenient choice. With fast and effective services, during which your insurance company should manage the claim internally, reducing stress for yourself.
Guaranteed quality - Insurers approve body shops based on certain quality standards. This means that you can expect a high quality repair job at a bare minimum.
End-to-end service - Approved body shops can manage the repair and insurance process from start to finish.
No hidden costs - Non-approved repairers often advertise themselves as cheaper, but without an insurance company holding these garages to certain standards, this ‘lower price’ can actually be at the expense of incorrect parts and hidden costs.
Insurance approved repairs with ST Accident Repair
ST Accident Repair offers high quality insurance approved repair work for your vehicle following an accident. Our team are experts with all vehicle types and brands, ensuring top body work for all our customers. Get in contact today to find out more.
