Insurance approved repairers list

JAMCT

I am about to renew my car insurance with LV= having the most competitive quote.
However, they, for the first time, have added a written clause to my policy viz:-

"Not using an LV= recommended repairer* - you'll pay an extra £200 Excess".

*Applies to accidental damage, fire & theft & glass replacement excess if you use a repairer/garage not recommended by LV=. I can choose a repairer from a LV= list of approved companies.


As I have a new VW T-Roc with 3 year warranty and have signed up for "VW Ensurance Accident Management's" services whom employ their own repairers using VW OEM [Original Equipment Manufacturer] parts.

If I needed to make an insurance claim, I would prefer to "Ring VW Ensurance first" and they would liaise with my insurance company, manage my repairs and provide courtesy car etc.

LV= would then charge me an extra £200 excess in addition to the contractual and voluntary excesses if the VW Ensuance repairer in not on the LV= approved repairer list, which is highly unlikely!

Is this legal under the "The Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999"? since Volkswagen's warranty T&Cs state the recommend OEMs be used including quality repainting etc.

We all know, insurance companies contract their own repairers to do the least expensive repair possible but in law, my vehicle has to be returned to me in the best possible condition.

AdrianC

JAMCT wrote: »

Is this legal under the "The Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999"?

Yes, absolutely.

If you don't like it, choose a different insurer - one whose terms meet your preferences.

...but in law, my vehicle has to be returned to me in the best possible condition.

Care to point us to that law?

In fact, care to point us to anything anywhere that says that "not VAG authorised" is somehow inherently inferior? Any particular insurer having their own list of approved repairers is no different to VAG having theirs.

uknick

The approved repairer excess clause has been in insurance policies for years and years. That's why I try to avoid such policies. Luckily with my premiums, those that allow me to use main dealer body shops with no additional excess are never that much more expensive.

Plus, you might well find the VW approved repairer is in fact on the the LV= list as lots of main dealers sub contract the repair work as they don't have in house body shop facilities.

JAMCT

Comments noted.


I highlighted the fact that it was the first time a sum [£200] was actually quoted in writing as previously the use of the insurer's repairer clause never stated a specific sum of money.


Ref to 'the Law' more of a figure of speech. I would hope the quality of LV='s approved repairer would match that of the VW repairer.


Re uknick's comments I did enquire to both LV+ and VW Ensurance about their approved repairers, specifically in my location but only VW gave me a list. I would then if I needed repairs, ask LV if the VW named repairer was on their approved list so only then would LV say yes or no.


All this is hypothetical...I hope I do not need to make a claim as at the moment, I have 27 years NCB.

AdrianC

JAMCT wrote: »

I would hope the quality of LV='s approved repairer would match that of the VW repairer.

So there y'go - no grounds to complain on quality.

I have 27 years NCB.

No, you have your old insurer's maximum recognised NCB - which is probably about 6-8yrs, depending on the insurer you're moving away from.

JAMCT

27 years accident/claims free motoring.:cool:
Renewing existing LV= policy with max 9 years NCB
NB:
LV= being my existing insurer, topped 2 comparison website's best-buys listings which I researched 21 days before my renewal date (As recommended by our consumer hero Martin Lewis.)**

However, surprisingly when I then rang LV= direct they quoted a premium a further £20 less than the better of the two internet comp' sites.

** NOTE: The nearer to your insurance renewal date you seek your quote, the dearer renewal becomes. Approximately 21 days before, is statisticaly the best time to renew.:money:

Mrsn

As others have said yep it’s perfectly legal. I was involved in an accident last year and I took the car to the garage in my village as was closest to where I’d had my accident. Aviva I believe charged me around the £200 possibly £300 mark to use this garage. I trust my local garage and have used them for years so although it was a ball ache and financially a strain I paid up because they had offered me the alternative and I’d refused it.