After an accident, one of the first things your insurer will often say is, “We will send your car to one of our garages.” Many drivers think that means they have no say in the matter. In most cases, that is not true. You can usually choose which bodyshop repairs your car, but the rules change depending on who caused the accident and what your policy says.
This guide explains your choices in plain terms, what you might gain or lose by picking your own bodyshop, and the simple questions to ask before you agree to anything.
The short answer
Yes, in most cases you can choose which bodyshop repairs your car. Your insurer may prefer you to use a garage from its own network, but it cannot normally force you to. What it can do is change what it offers you if you go elsewhere, such as the courtesy car, the repair guarantee or how much of the bill it will pay.
That is why it helps to understand the difference between an insurer’s own network garage and an independent insurance-approved repairer before you decide.
What is an insurer’s “approved” garage?
Most insurance companies have a list of garages they send customers to. These garages have agreed set prices and ways of working with that insurer. Using one of them is the easiest option for the insurer, because the price is already agreed and the paperwork is simple.
That does not mean it is always the best option for you. A network garage is chosen by the insurer partly because it is cheap for them. It might be a long way from your home, it might be very busy, or it might not have experience with your make of car.
An independent insurance approved repairer like Infiniti Motor Group works with all the leading insurance companies, but you choose us. We deal with the insurer on your behalf, so you get the same smooth claim with a bodyshop you actually picked.
Does it matter who caused the accident?
Yes. This is the biggest thing that decides how much choice you have.
If the accident was not your fault, you have the most freedom. You do not have to claim through your own insurer at all. You can ask a bodyshop or claims management company to claim the cost back from the other driver’s insurer. The other driver’s insurer may contact you and offer to repair your car through its own garages, but you do not have to accept. You are free to pick the bodyshop you trust.
If the accident was your fault, or nobody else is to blame, you will usually claim on your own policy. You can still ask to use your own choice of bodyshop, but your insurer has more say over the terms. Some policies add an extra excess, limit the courtesy car or only pay what their own garage would have charged.
Network garage or your own choice: how they compare
Here is a simple side-by-side look at what usually changes depending on who you choose.
| What matters to you | Insurer’s network garage | Your own choice of bodyshop |
|---|---|---|
| Who picks the garage | Your insurer | You |
| Location | Wherever the insurer has a partner, which may be miles away | Somewhere close to home or work |
| Who guarantees the repair | Usually your insurer | Usually the bodyshop that did the work |
| Courtesy car | Often included, but may be a small basic car | Depends on your policy, or provided free on a non-fault claim through a claims service |
| Extra excess | Not normally | Some policies charge more if you go elsewhere, so check yours |
| Paperwork | Handled by the insurer | A good bodyshop will handle it for you |
| Experience with your car | Not guaranteed | You can pick a bodyshop that knows your make and model |
Who is responsible if the repair goes wrong?
This is something many drivers do not think about until it is too late. The Financial Ombudsman Service explains that if your insurer told you to use a particular garage, your insurer is responsible for the quality of that repair. If you arrange the repair yourself at a garage of your choice, your insurer may not be responsible if something goes wrong, as long as it made this clear to you first.
That does not mean you should avoid choosing your own bodyshop. It simply means you should pick one that offers its own proper warranty. At Infiniti Motor Group, all our repairs come with a manufacturer-approved warranty, and if there is ever an issue with our work, we put it right free of charge.
What about the courtesy car?
Courtesy cars are one of the main reasons insurers push drivers towards their own garages. Many policies only include a courtesy car if you use the insurer’s network. If you choose a different bodyshop on a fault claim, you might lose it.
On a non-fault claim, things are different. A claims management service can arrange a like-for-like replacement and recover the cost from the at-fault driver’s insurer. We explain this in more detail in our guide to what you are entitled to with a courtesy car.
How to choose the right bodyshop
If you are typing “bodyshop near me” into Google after an accident, it is easy to just pick the first result. Taking a few minutes to check a bodyshop properly can save you a lot of hassle later. Our guide to finding the right bodyshop near me goes through this in full, but these are the main things to look for.
Does it work with insurers? A bodyshop that deals with insurers every day will know how to handle the claim, photos and forms, so you are not stuck in the middle.
Does it use the right parts and methods? Look for a bodyshop that follows manufacturer-approved repair methods and uses genuine parts. This matters for safety as well as looks.
Does it give a written warranty? As we explained above, if you choose the bodyshop, the warranty from that bodyshop is what protects you.
Is it easy to get to? A bodyshop close to home makes dropping off, collecting, and any follow-up checks much simpler.
Can it help with the claim and a courtesy car? The best bodyshops do more than fix the car. They take care of the insurance side too, so you only need to make one phone call.
Questions to ask your insurer before you decide
Before you agree to use the insurer’s garage, or tell them you want your own, it is worth asking a few simple questions. Will I pay a higher excess if I use my own bodyshop? Will I still get a courtesy car? Will you pay the full cost of the repair? Who will guarantee the work? Write down the answers, or ask for them by email, so you have a record if there is any confusion later.
Frequently asked questions
Can my insurer refuse to let me use my own bodyshop?
Your insurer cannot normally stop you from choosing your own bodyshop, but it can set conditions. It may only pay what its own garage would have charged, or it may charge a higher excess. Always check your policy documents.
Do I have to use the other driver’s insurer’s garage?
No. If the accident was not your fault, you do not have to accept repairs arranged by the other driver’s insurer. You can choose your own bodyshop and have the costs claimed back.
Will choosing my own bodyshop affect my no claims bonus?
The bodyshop you choose does not decide this. What matters is who was at fault and whether the costs are recovered from the other driver’s insurer.
Can I get a quote before I decide?
Yes. A good bodyshop will check the damage and give you a clear estimate before any work starts. We offer free, detailed estimates for all accident damage.
Choose a bodyshop you can trust
You have more say in who repairs your car than most people realise. If you would like a bodyshop that deals with your insurer for you, uses manufacturer-approved methods and backs its work with a proper warranty, call Infiniti Motor Group on 020 8798 2590. You can also visit us at Unit 12 Barking Industrial Park, Alfred’s Way, Barking, London IG11 0TJ. We repair cars for drivers across East London and Essex, and we will talk you through your options from the very first call.