Under the Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulations, you have the legal right to choose any repairer or body shop you trust to carry out repairs to your vehicle.
Your Right to Choose Your Repairer
It’s your car. The choice is yours.
Despite this, insurers often try to “steer” customers towards their own approved repair networks, usually by suggesting it will be quicker or more convenient. While insurers must handle claims fairly and transparently under the FCA’s Consumer Duty, the decision about who repairs your vehicle remains yours.
Common misconceptions after an accident
Many drivers believe they must use the repairer recommended by their insurer. This is one of the most common misconceptions following an accident — and it simply isn’t true.
You legally own your vehicle, that means:
✖ Not the insurer
✖ Not the manufacturer
✖ Not a third party
✔ You gets to decide where it is repaired.
Why do insurers push “approved” repairers?
Insurers often have commercial agreements with so-called approved repairers, allowing them to negotiate lower repair costs, control parts, labour rates and timescales, and reduce their overall claim spend.
This steering is about cost control, not necessarily the quality of the repair or what’s best for you.
What this means for you?
You are completely free to choose any repairer you want — including a trusted local Bodyshop that puts workmanship, safety, and customer care first.
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