Car insurances that do not insist on using approved repairers?

reallydismayed

Does anyone have a list of car insurers that do not insist on using approved repairers? Or can point me to a comparison site which deals with this topic?

I ask because over the last year three of my friends have had accidents with minor damage, the insurers have pointed them to approved repairers, the repair quotes have been breathtakingly large, the insurer has said the car is not worth repairing and has offered a cash amount well below Glass guide value. (Oh, and no replacement car because of obscure small print.)

Any other advice you can offer about a system that on the face of it seems intrinsically fraudulent would be welcome. Flames from pro-insurance company fans welcome.

Wishing you a prosperous new year.:EasterBun

LandyAndy

I thought you were entitled to have your car repaired at the repairer of your choice.

If you don't use an approved repairer you may miss out on some of the fringe benefits like a hire car.

mikey72

I know Sainsburys didn't three years ago.
They tried, but we insisted on a dealer to maintain the bodywork warranty, and they agreed we could, subject to two quotes, (both from main dealers). Took a few days to sort out, then no problems with getting the work done.

mikey72

LandyAndy wrote: »

I thought you were entitled to have your car repaired at the repairer of your choice.

If you don't use an approved repairer you may miss out on some of the fringe benefits like a hire car.

Tesco value insist on approved repairers only I think, as part of the contract.

We got a free courtesy car from the dealer instead, and they collected and delivered.

reallydismayed

So that's
* Sainsbury's
* Tesco
for the blacklist so far then?

mikey72

reallydismayed wrote: »

So that's
* Sainsbury's
* Tesco
for the blacklist so far then?

No Sainsburys were ok, and only Tesco Value insurance don't let you

dacouch

Chubb let you choose whoever you want and will give a like for like courtesy car, the only problem is they are well out of the price range of about 95% of the UK public

raskazz

dacouch wrote: »

Chubb let you choose whoever you want and will give a like for like courtesy car, the only problem is they are well out of the price range of about 95% of the UK public

The Chubb cover is amazing. Anyone with a a serious prestige vehicle should have a look at it.

Wig

mikey72 wrote: »

No Sainsburys were ok, and only Tesco Value insurance don't let you

* But only after being pushed and with the excuse of a vehicle body warranty which not all punters are going to be able to claim will be affected.

mikey72

Wig wrote: »

* But only after being pushed and with the excuse of a vehicle body warranty which not all punters are going to be able to claim will be affected.

No, I told them I wanted to use a main dealer, they pointed out we couldn't have a hire car, and agreed providing we got two quotes. They then dealt with the garage directly.
I didn't mention the bodywork warranty to them.

Wig

mikey72 wrote: »

No, I told them I wanted to use a main dealer, they pointed out we couldn't have a hire car, and agreed providing we got two quotes. They then dealt with the garage directly.
I didn't mention the bodywork warranty to them.

Fair enough, this is what I actually would expect of any insurer, except maybe "Tesco value" as presumably they say so in their policy document.


I think OPs friends don't realise the rip off quotes which are all part and parcel of the insurance industry these days, and did not think to ask if it was possible to be repaired elsewhere.