Choice of Repairer in Car Insurance

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What is choice of repairer?

Why would I need choice of repairer in my car insurance policy?

Is it more expensive to choose my own repairer?

Pros and cons of choosing a repairer

Which car insurers offer choice of repairer?

Frequently asked questions

Where can I compare car insurance policies with choice of repairer?

Long story short

Choice of repairer lets you pick who fixes your car

Instead of being confined to your insurer’s repairer network, you can choose a repair shop that suits you.

Choice of repairer can be a standard feature or an optional extra

Adding it can bump up your premium, but it gives you more control over quality, timing, and who handles your pride and joy.

Choosing your own repairer has perks and trade-offs

It might mean more convenience and peace of mind for you, but possibly higher premiums.

What is choice of repairer?

Choice of repairer is a car insurance feature that allows you to request a preferred repairer to handle repairs following an accident. It is usually offered as an optional extra, but can also be included as a standard feature on higher-tier policies, such as comprehensive car insurance. It’s not a separate product like, say, roadside assistance that you can sometimes buy through an insurer or from an independent provider. Rather, it’s a handy add-on that helps personalise your policy.

Why would I need choice of repairer in my car insurance policy?

Having a car insurance policy that includes a choice of repairer option allows you to pick the repairer, giving you more of a say in how your car is repaired. If your policy doesn’t include choice of repairer, then when it’s time to make an insurance claim, your insurer will require damage repairs be carried out at a repair shop within its approved network.

Fictional scenario: How choice of repairer works 

Sammi’s beloved Kombi has taken a beating from a prang. A mechanic friend who’s dealt with their fair share of car repairs recommends a smash shop that does a great job on Vee Dubs and is closer to home. Sammi checks with her insurance company but, unfortunately, the smash repairer is not in their repairer network.

Luckily, Sammi added choice of repairer to her policy as an optional extra! This potentially sets her up to claim for repairs by her chosen repairer. She runs it past her insurer, quotes and all, and her insurer approves the repairer and her claim. Her retro ride is restored to its former glory and Sammi can get back on the road!

Note: Your insurer may reject your preferred repairer’s quote, due to differences in repair standards and costs. It’s a good idea to check whether your repairer uses original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts and if it provides a warranty on its repairs. If your insurer does reject the quote, it may negotiate a cash settlement, which can be then used at your preferred repairer.

Is it more expensive to choose my own repairer?

Yes. As choice of repairer is usually an optional extra, adding it to your policy is likely going to bump up your premium. Even if choice of repairer is a standard feature on your policy, it’s possible that your insurer would’ve considered the extra cost when calculating your car insurance premium.

Helpful tip

Besides choice of repairer, a comprehensive policy can offer a lot more features or optional extras that could cover much more than just vehicle repairs for accidental damage. Think agreed value cover, new-for-old car replacement, personal effects, and a hire car after an accident – nifty features that could potentially save you heaps if the unexpected happens.

Adrian Bennett

General Manager for General Insurance

Pros and cons of choosing a repairer

Pros

• You get to pick a repairer based on their workmanship, how comfortable you are working with them, and how familiar they are with your car.
• Your chosen repairer may be able to fix your car quicker than one from your insurer’s network, which might have longer waiting periods or a backlog.
• You could communicate better with a repairer you’re familiar with and be more on top of where your car is with the repair process.
• Choosing your own repairer allows you to pick a more convenient location to drop off or pick up your car.

Cons

• If you’ve already got a lot on your plate, co-ordinating the repair process with a repairer might add to your lengthy to-do list.
• You can expect higher premiums if you get a policy with choice of repairer, either as a standard feature or optional extra.
• Some insurers may not cover the entire cost of the repairs quoted by your preferred repairer and you might need to pay the difference.
• You may miss out on an insurer’s lifetime guarantee on repairs if you pick a repairer that is not part of your insurer’s preferred network.

Which car insurers offer choice of repairer?

Here are some of the car insurance providers in Australia that offer choice of repairer either as a standard feature or as an add-on at an extra cost.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I compare car insurance policies with choice of repairer?

With so many insurers offering policies with choice of repairer and other extras, you’re pretty much spoiled for choice. That said, comparing so many different policies one-by-one can quickly become overwhelming.

For a simpler way to compare cover, use our car insurance comparison tool to find and compare policies from a range of well-known insurers in Australia, all in one place. And because choice of repairer often comes with higher levels of cover, you can also filter your search by the type of policy you’re after.