Making a motor insurance claim can feel stressful and confusing, particularly if you are dealing with repairs after an accident.
Many drivers are unaware of their legal rights and may feel pressured into decisions that are not in their best interests. Understanding your rights when making a motor insurance claim can help you stay in control, avoid unnecessary delays, and ensure your vehicle is repaired to a high standard.
Key Takeaways
- You have a legal right to choose where your vehicle is repaired after an accident, and you are not required to use your insurer’s approved repairer.
- Taking the correct steps immediately after a motor accident can protect your safety, strengthen your insurance claim, and reduce delays.
- Understanding the motor insurance claims process helps you stay informed, ask the right questions, and avoid being pressured into unsuitable decisions.
- Choosing a trusted, manufacturer-approved, and BSI-accredited repairer can improve repair quality, convenience, and overall peace of mind.
What to Do After a Motor Accident
Being involved in a motor accident can be unsettling, but taking the right steps immediately afterwards can help protect your safety, support your insurance claim, and reduce unnecessary stress later on. Once it is safe to do so, try to remain calm and focus on the following actions:
- Check for injuries and ensure safety: Make sure everyone involved is safe. If there are any injuries or the situation is dangerous, contact the emergency services straight away.
- Move to a safe location if possible: If vehicles can be moved and it is safe to do so, move them out of the flow of traffic and switch on hazard lights.
- Exchange details with other parties: Collect names, contact details, vehicle registration numbers, and insurance information from all drivers involved.
- Gather evidence at the scene: Take clear photographs of vehicle damage, the accident location, road conditions, signage, and any relevant markings. This can be valuable when supporting your claim.
- Speak to witnesses: If there are any witnesses, ask for their contact details, as their statements may help clarify what happened.
- Notify the police if required: Contact the police if there are injuries, disputes over responsibility, or if the other party fails to stop or provide details.
- Inform your insurance company: Report the accident to your insurer as soon as reasonably possible, even if you are unsure whether you intend to make a claim.
Following these steps can help ensure the claims process runs more smoothly and puts you in a stronger position when arranging repairs and exercising your right to choose a repairer.
Understanding the Motor Insurance Claims Process
Understanding how the motor insurance claims process works can help you feel more confident and in control during what is often a stressful time. While the exact steps may vary slightly depending on your insurer and policy, the overall process is broadly the same for most UK drivers.
Once you notify your insurer of an accident, they will assess the circumstances of the claim and explain the next steps. At this stage, it is important to remember that you are entitled to ask questions, take your time, and make informed choices about repairs.
The typical motor insurance claims process includes the following steps:
- Reporting the accident: Contact your insurer as soon as possible to report the incident. You will be asked to provide details of what happened, along with any evidence such as photographs, witness information, and police reference numbers if applicable.
- Claim assessment: Your insurer will review the information provided to determine liability and confirm whether the claim is covered under your policy terms.
- Vehicle inspection and repair options: The insurer may arrange for your vehicle to be inspected and will often recommend an approved repairer. At this point, you should be aware that you have the legal right to choose your own repairer.
- Authorisation of repairs: Once a repairer has been selected, the insurer will authorise the repairs and confirm any excess that applies under your policy.
- Vehicle repairs and courtesy car: Your vehicle is repaired, while you may be provided with a courtesy vehicle, depending on your policy and repairer choice.
- Completion and return of your vehicle: After repairs are completed, your vehicle is returned to you, and the claim is finalised.
Being familiar with this process can help prevent misunderstandings and ensure you are not pressured into decisions that are not in your best interests. Choosing a trusted, manufacturer-approved, and BSI-accredited repairer can make the entire experience smoother and give you confidence in the quality of the repair.
Do You Have to Use Your Insurer’s Approved Repairer?
One of the most common issues drivers face when making a claim is being directed by their insurance company to use an approved or recommended repairer. While insurers may suggest this option as the simplest route, it is not always the best choice for you.
Insurer-appointed repairers may be located some distance from your home or workplace, leading to inconvenience and added travel time. You may also experience long waiting periods before repairs can begin. In some cases, the repairer may not be manufacturer-approved or hold a BSI Kitemark, which is the recognised British Standard for quality and safety. Poor online reviews can also raise concerns about the standard of workmanship.
The key point to remember is that you do not have to accept the repairer suggested by your insurer. You have the legal right to choose where your vehicle is repaired.
Your Legal Right to Choose a Repairer in the UK
Your insurance company cannot force you to use a specific repair centre, even if they suggest it will speed up the process or reduce costs. You are entitled to select a repairer you trust, whether that is based on location, reputation, manufacturer approval, or quality standards such as BSI accreditation.
Choosing your own repairer can help ensure that repairs are carried out to the standard you expect, using appropriate methods and parts. It can also offer greater convenience, particularly if the insurer’s recommended repairer is far from your home or has long waiting times.
Some policies may attempt to apply an additional excess if you do not use the insurer’s preferred repairer. While this can be challenged depending on the policy wording, it is important to review your terms carefully and understand your rights before agreeing to any repairs.
Being informed and confident in your choices helps you stay in control throughout the claims process, ensuring your vehicle receives the care it deserves.
Miles Better Vehicle Solutions in Surrey
If you are looking for a trusted accident repair centre in Surrey following a motor insurance claim, Miles Better Vehicle Solutions is here to help. We specialise in body, mechanical, and insurance repairs, offering a high standard of workmanship alongside a customer-focused service.
Our team can work directly with your insurance company to help manage the repair process on your behalf, reducing stress and saving you time. We aim to make your experience as straightforward as possible, from arranging repairs to keeping you mobile while your vehicle is out of action.
How We Work With Your Insurance Company on Your Behalf
Once you appoint us as your chosen repairer, we can liaise directly with your insurance company to manage the repair process from start to finish. This includes discussing repair methods, providing estimates, arranging authorisation, and keeping the claim moving without delays.
We ensure that all repairs are carried out to the required standards and communicate clearly with your insurer to avoid misunderstandings. If issues arise, such as questions around repair approval or excess charges, we can help guide you through the options available and offer practical support where possible.
By acting as a point of contact between you and your insurer, we help make the claims process smoother, allowing you to focus on getting back on the road with confidence in the quality of the repair.
To find out more about how Miles Better Vehicle Solutions, body shop Woking, can support you after an accident, or to discuss your repair options, contact our team today.