Contrary to popular belief, when you make a claim on your insurance policy for damage to your vehicle you do NOT have to have the repairs done where your insurance company recommend.

Why Not Let The Other Persons Insurance Company Handle It All?

If you allow the other persons (3rd party) insurance company to take your car away for repair, you are reliant on them completing the repairs to the correct standard when you are not their customer and their main interest is keeping the cost of the accident as low as possible. As you are not their customer, the service you receive is not of high importance, nor is your satisfaction with the process.

So How Do I Ensure I Get A Good Repair To My Car?

Over the years our customers and ourselves have become increasingly frustrated with insurance companies trying to control where a vehicle is repaired and to what standard the work is completed. Bourne out of this frustration, Good As New started working with reputable accident management companies to redress the balance and ensure our customers get what they are entitled to without having to fight every step of the way.

As with a fault accident, you are legally entitled to choose where your vehicle is repaired and it should be returned to the same condition as before the accident happened with minimal inconvenience to you. This is where an accident management company can help.

What Is An Accident Management Company And How Much Will It Cost Me To Use One?

If an accident is not your fault an accident management company can provide you with any or all of the following services, all of which will not cost you a penny.

• Full accident repair to high standard
• no expensive insurance excess to pay
• no claim to your own policy so no loss of no-claims bonus
• 5 year warranty on all work completed
• only genuine parts fitted to your vehicle with full manufacturer warranty
• like for like replacement vehicle during repairs (including motorcycles)
• 24hour recovery of your vehicle if unroadworthy
• immediate replacement vehicle on acceptance of the claim if your vehicle is considered unroadworthy
• the reclaim of any out of pocket expenses you may incur
• full personal injury compensation

The accident management company will act on your behalf and deal with the 3rd party insurance company to ensure you get a fair deal, are not inconvenienced and make sure you receive any compensation you may be entitled to. As they are acting on your behalf and not working for the insurer, your best interests are the main concern. For more information on how accident management can work for you without costing you anything, please give the office a call.

What Is An Insurance Approved Repairer?

Insurance companies have a network of "approved repairers" who will carry out a volume of vehicle repairs for the insurance company. In return for sending the garage a volume of repairs, the insurance company secures a cheaper rate for completing repairs.

Why Is Good As New Not On My Insurance Companies List Of Approved Repairers?

At Good As New we understand that it is in our customers best interest to charge a fair rate to complete the repairs and to ensure we do not have to cut corners due to an unrealistic price for the job and for this reason, although we will work carry out work for all major insurance companies, we will not enter into a contract as we believe our customers deserve a quality repair not a “quick, cheap job”. That being said, most major insurance companies have pre agreed rates with Good As New for customers who want to choose their own repairer and those rates are considered fair in comparison with current market averages.

Will It Affect My Insurance Claim If I Choose My Own Repair Centre Rather Than My Insurance Companies Repairer?

Choosing your own repair centre rather than letting your insurance company control where your vehicle is repaired will not make any difference to your finished claim. All insurance companies will deal with independent garages to agree the cost of repairs before any work is carried out and most major insurance ???.

Initially you will need to telephone and notify the insurer of your accident, advise that you want to choose your own local repair centre and request a claim reference number which identifies your claim. Then call the office (01254 682600) and let us know your insurance company name and claim reference number and we will do the rest.

What Are The Benefits Of Choosing My Own Repairer?

Choosing where your vehicle is repaired keeps you in control in a number of ways.

• You can ensure that your vehicle is repaired locally which makes it much easier for you to make any warranty claim on the completed work if needed.
• It allows you to have a look at the facilities and make sure the work will be done to a good standard.
• You can discuss length of warranty on the work which varies from garage to garage (ours is 5 years on paintwork and 3 years on parts fitted) and check if any non-genuine parts are going to be fitted to your vehicle (Good As New only use genuine manufacturer parts but many insurers insist their approved repairers fit non genuine parts to vehicles over 3 years old).
• You can also discuss your need for a courtesy car (free of charge from Good As New).
• You can arrange a booking in date and time which fits in with you (not waiting in for hours for your vehicle to be collected) and ask for your vehicle to be collected from home or a work address.