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Who should fix
your car?
What is an approved repairer?
The short answer
An approved repairer is a body shop that belongs to a network. Insurer-approved repairers work for an insurance company at agreed rates. Manufacturer-approved repairers are authorised by a car brand to repair its vehicles to its standards. After an accident that wasn’t your fault, you aren’t obliged to use the other driver’s insurer’s approved repairer. What matters is that your vehicle is put back to its pre-accident condition at a reasonable cost.
What are the two types of approved repairer?
| Insurer-approved repairer | Manufacturer-approved repairer | |
|---|---|---|
| Who approves them | An insurance company | A vehicle manufacturer |
| What approval means | The garage has agreed rates, timescales and standards with that insurer | The garage is trained, equipped and authorised to repair that brand |
| Who it mainly suits | The insurer, which controls cost and process | Owners of newer, high-tech or specialist vehicles |
| Typical repair guarantee | Set by the insurer’s scheme | Set by the garage or manufacturer |
A garage can be both. Some body shops are approved by several insurers and one or more manufacturers.
Do I have to use the other driver’s insurer’s approved repairer?
No. When an accident wasn’t your fault, you’re claiming against the other driver, so their insurer’s network isn’t your only option. Their insurer may contact you soon after the accident and offer to arrange repairs through their own approved garages. You can accept, but you don’t have to.
One point to bear in mind: repair costs must be reasonable. The at-fault insurer can question costs it thinks are excessive, so the repair needs to be what your vehicle genuinely needs to get it back to how it was.
What about my own insurer’s approved repairer?
If you claim on your own policy instead, your policy terms apply. Many policies let the insurer choose the repairer, or set conditions if you use your own garage, such as no courtesy car or an extra excess. Check your policy wording.
Our guide to whether you have to claim through your own insurer explains the difference between telling your insurer and claiming on your policy.
When does a manufacturer-approved repairer matter?
For some vehicles, who repairs them can make a real difference. A manufacturer-approved repairer may be worth asking about if:
- Your car is still under the manufacturer’s warranty, and you want to avoid any question over the warranty’s terms
- Your car is leased or on finance, as some agreements set standards for how damage must be repaired. Check your agreement
- Your car has driver-assistance systems, such as lane-keeping cameras or radar sensors, which may need recalibrating after repairs
- Your car is electric, hybrid or built with materials like aluminium, which need specialist equipment and training
What should I ask any repairer?
Whoever repairs your vehicle, these questions are worth asking:
- Will you use genuine manufacturer parts, or equivalent-quality parts?
- What guarantee do you give on the work, and is it in writing?
- Can you recalibrate cameras and sensors if they’re affected?
- Are you approved by the manufacturer for my make?
- How long will the repair take?
How does Back on the Road UK handle repairs?
We arrange repairs to put your vehicle back to its pre-accident condition, and recover the cost from the at-fault driver’s insurer. Repairs may be carried out by independent companies we work with. We’ll tell you who they are, and about any arrangement we have with them, before you agree to anything. If you have a garage in mind, tell us and we’ll explain how that would work.
Read more about car repairs after a non-fault accident and choosing your own garage.
Frequently asked questions
Will my warranty be affected if I don’t use a manufacturer-approved repairer?
It depends on your warranty’s terms, so check them or ask the manufacturer. Using a manufacturer-approved repairer, with genuine parts, avoids the question.
Can I get a replacement vehicle while mine is being repaired?
If the accident wasn’t your fault and you need a vehicle, a comparable replacement may be provided while yours is off the road. See replacement vehicles.
Why does the other driver’s insurer want to repair my car?
Insurers usually have agreed rates with their own networks, so managing repairs themselves helps them control costs. That’s their reason, not yours. You can choose what suits you.
What if I’m unhappy with the repairs?
Tell the repairer straight away and give them the chance to put it right. Take photos and keep all paperwork. If someone is handling your claim, let them know too.
Is an approved repairer more expensive?
Not necessarily. After a non-fault accident, reasonable repair costs are recovered from the at-fault insurer, whichever suitable garage does the work.
Need your car repaired after an accident that wasn’t your fault?
We’ll arrange the repair and recover the cost from the other driver’s insurer. There’s no obligation to go ahead.
This guide provides general information for England and Wales only and is not legal advice. Every claim is different. Back on the Road UK is a trading style of NJS Law Limited, authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA No. 8006550). Repairs and replacement vehicles may be provided by independent third-party companies.