For most people, their car is the most important asset after their home. If their car is involved in an accident, they care about how it is repaired and they care about who repairs it.
Some Insurance Companies say you are able to choose your repairer, but effectively exclude you from the repair process. They dictate who repairs your car. They dictate how it will be repaired, where it will be repaired, when it will be repaired and the price.
Did you know some Insurers require that your damaged vehicle be towed to an Assessment Centre far removed from your premises for competitive tendering? Thereafter the Insurer allocates the job to a repairer of their choice.
These Insurers have taken away your control over what happens to your car.
Other Insurance Companies allow you the opportunity to choose the repairer you wish to deal with. They are prepared to negotiate a fair price for a quality job by a repairer of your choice.
These Insurers respect the fact that you paid the premium and give you the opportunity to decide the fate of your car.
There is often only a relatively small difference between the premiums of different Insurers. There can, however, be a very large difference between the way your car is repaired.
The Accredited Body Repairers who are members of the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce can assist you with information on Insurance Companies who will give you the freedom to choose your repairer.
You may find an Insurer will say that you have not lost the freedom to choose your Repairer.
