We believe that most people, given the choice, would prefer to have their car repaired at a workshop which meets international industry benchmarks of quality and safety. They’d choose experienced, highly qualified technicians who are able to assess and fix any mechanical damage and will ensure their car is repaired to the manufacturer’s standard. Prompt, honest service and follow-up would be essential, including a three-year guarantee on workmanship. This is why Como Panel & Paint are Motor Trade Association (MTA) members with ICAR Platinum-certified technicians – in a very competitive industry, we are constantly striving to be the sort of repairer people would want to come to, given the choice.

And that’s why we believe it’s incredibly important that people are in fact given the choice! Choice of repairer is one of the most common things people query about their car insurance, and with good reason. Your repairer is responsible for all of the things that matter to you, not to your insurer:

• the quality of the repairs
• how conveniently located they are for you
• how long they will take
• vehicle safety

Without the freedom to choose your repairer, you’ll be left with your insurance company’s preferred smash repairer, who is normally selected based purely on price. While this is a logical business model for insurers, it can leave you in the position of having to settle for inconvenient, slow or sub-standard repairs – just to save your insurance company a few hundred dollars.

So when deciding on your car insurance you should always make sure you’re choosing an insurer who gives you choice. The insurers below will allow you to choose your own repairer when making a claim:

• Allianz Insurance
• Calliden Insurance
• CGU Insurance
• Dawes Insurance
• Lumley Insurance
• Lumley Special Vehicle
• MB Insurance
• RAA Insurance
• Shannons Insurance
• Youi Insurance
• Zurich Insurance
• HBF Insurance
• RAC Insurance
• Vero Insurance
• Wesfarmers Insurance
• Other insurers will allow you to choose your own repairer, but may request a second quote if you decide not to go with their preferred repairer:
• Ansvar Insurance
• Budget Direct Insurance
• Coles Insurance
• Comminsure
• NRMA
• Real Insurance
• SGIC
• Toyota Insurance
• Virgin Money Insurance

Then there are those who will not allow you to choose at all. These insurers will often offer cheaper, no-frills policies, but in our experience the trade-off is seldom worth it. When you’re dealing with the stressful, frustrating reality of trying to get your car fixed at a cheap workshop on the other side of town, you won’t be thankful for the tiny amount you saved on your premium!

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