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Being involved in a motor incident is extremely distressing and your concerns will lie with ensuring everyone is safe. Following the incident your insurer will most likely be your first port of call. But do you know your rights? Here we explain things simply for you.
Yes. Remember it is your vehicle and you can choose who repairs it.
Many insurers have networks of "approved" repairers, which they will advise you to use at your repairer. However, it is within your rights to choose who you go to when having your vehicle repaired. The "approved repairer" scheme operates for your insurers convenience and not yours and you should retain control over the choice of who repairs your vehicle– after all car ownership is the second biggest expense that you are likely to have.
Do not feel influenced by insurers suggestions of delays and extra costs if you don't do what they say. You are entitled to consider the benefits of dealing with the repairer of your choice. Remember you are not obliged to have your vehicle repaired at an insurance company nominated repairer. Should your insurer try to stop you from using us as your preferred repairer choice, please contact us immediately and we will take action on your behalf to stop this happening.
Your insurer may request their approved repairer to use non-original equipment manufacturer parts (non-OEM) or second hand ‘recycled/green’ parts when fixing your vehicle. These are not recommended by your vehicle's manufacturer and may not be of the same quality, which could therefore invalidate your car’s warranty or affect its structural integrity leaving it in a less safe condition. The combined effect of this is that it could also reduce the value of your vehicle. Using us as your repairer, we work for you. We will engage with your insurer on your behalf to ensure your vehicle is repaired using the correct manufacturer approved repair methods using only manufacturer's parts unless you request us to do otherwise.
When you buy an insurance policy you are entering into a contract. The importance of this is that the insurer has agreed to cover you based on what you have told them. Insurance policies are complicated in every case and not always easy to understand fully. We will guide you through this terminology and what it means to you. You may well find that your policy does not cover you under certain circumstances which are listed as part of the "exclusions".
When making a claim, you will need to fully understand your policy and the way its is worded; we can help clarify anything you are unsure on.
The principle of indemnity is the section of insurance which covers what the company promises to cover for you. It is important to cover this section when making a claim to ensure you know what you are covered for. Your insurance policy will also include a section where you are indemnified "up to" the market value - this is if you are dealing with a total loss vehicle, or if you do not want your car as a total loss.
This does not cover you for any damage to your vehicle other than by way of fire, theft, or vandalism. But it does cover you for any damage to peoples property or injury that may have been caused.
This covers your for accidental damage to your vehicle whether caused by yourself, as long as not "willfully done" i.e. you caused the damage on purpose, and also covers damage by a third party "another person".
This may cover you for damage from weather, i.e. flood, hailstone, wind, etc - unless excluded from your policy. Most insurance companies will exclude on your policy what the perceive as "acts of God", therefore it is up to their discretion.
This cover does not cover you for an alternative vehicle or other losses you may have as a result of the incident. These are called "uninsured losses", and you would need either legal cover on your policy, or have a solicitor pursue these losses on your behalf. As with third party fire and theft, it does cover you for any claim against you.
