Choice of repairer: what to check in your policy

After a claim, your insurer may send your car to a repairer it works with. Some policies leave the decision with the insurer. Others let you choose, sometimes only if you paid for that option when you took out the policy.

This is general information, not advice about your cover. Your policy documents have the final word, and your insurer can confirm what applies to you.

Where to find the answer

Look in your Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and your certificate of insurance. Search for "choice of repairer", "authorised repairer" or "our repairer". The section on how claims are settled is usually the place to start.

Questions to ask your insurer

• Can I nominate my own repairer on this policy?
• Is that included, or an optional extra I would have needed to add?
• Do you need a quote from my repairer first, or a second quote from one of yours?
• Can you decline my choice, and on what grounds?
• Who stands behind the repair if something goes wrong later?

That last question matters. A warranty can depend on who carried out the work, so ask before you decide.

How to request Jack Hillermans

Where your policy allows, tell your insurer when you lodge the claim that you would like Jack Hillermans Smash Repairs, 32 Whiting Street, Artarmon, to repair your car. Doing this early is easier than changing repairers later.

We also handle repairs allocated by insurers, so you may end up with us either way. See how insurance repairs work with us, or call us on (02) 9439 4414 and we will help you work out what your cover allows.

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