Choice of repairer car insurance
The table below shows comprehensive car insurance policies with choice of repairer, from our Online Partners.
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The initial results in the table above are sorted by Star Rating (High-Low), then Provider Name (Alphabetical). Additional filters may have been applied, see top of table for details.
Choice of repairer car insurance
When your vehicle is damaged in an insured event but can be repaired, your car insurance provider will generally send it to a smash repairer in its preferred network of repairers. Some providers, however, may offer you the choice of who carries out this repair work. A policy feature like this may be important to you, especially if you already have a relationship with a smash repairer or you care about who does work on your vehicle.
What is ‘choice of repairer’ in car insurance?
If your car insurance policy provides you with the ‘choice of repairer’ this generally means that you can choose who to send your vehicle to for repairs if it’s damaged in an insured event. Your policy’s claim excess will apply regardless of who the vehicle is sent to and you may have to pay the difference if your repairer charges more than what the insurer assesses the cost of the damages are.
Choice of repairer is generally only offered in comprehensive policies and may be included as a standard feature or an optional extra at an additional cost.
Who offers a choice of repairer in Australia?
The option for choice of repairer is only offered by a select few car insurance providers in Australia. These providers are listed below, current at the time of writing:
Providers offering choice of repairer
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| Provider | Choice of repairer |
|---|---|
| Allianz Australia | Standard |
| ANZ | Optional |
| AON | Standard |
| Bank of Melbourne | Standard |
| BankSA | Standard |
| Bendigo Bank | Standard |
| Budget Direct | Optional |
| BUPA Insurance | Standard* |
| CGU | Standard |
| GIO | Standard |
| GMCU | Standard |
| HSBC | Standard |
| Huddle Insurance | Standard* |
| Hume Bank | Standard |
| ING | Optional |
| Kogan Insurance | Optional |
| NAB | Standard |
| National Seniors | Standard |
| NRMA Insurance | Optional |
| Over Fifty Insurance | Standard |
| Ozicare | Optional |
| People’s Choice | Standard |
| QANTAS | Optional |
| QBE | Optional |
| RAA | Standard |
| RAC | Standard |
| RACQ | Standard |
| RACV | Standard* |
| Shannons Insurance | Standard |
| St.George Bank | Standard |
| Suncorp Insurance | Standard |
| Territory Insurance Office NT | Standard |
| Virgin Money | Optional |
| Westpac | Standard |
Source: www.canstar.com – 14/07/2025. Based on car insurance providers on Canstar’s database. Standard* denotes providers who offer choice of repairer as standard, but not on all policies. Check with these providers directly for more details.
You can also use the comparison table above to see which of our Online Partners offer choice of repairer as a policy feature. Changing the table’s filters may also help better suit your policy requirements.
Pros and cons of having your choice of repairer
Pros
- Transporting your vehicle to your chosen repairer may be more convenient for you than if you were to take it to a repairer in your insurer’s network
- There may be a shorter waiting period at your chosen repairer than at one in your insurer’s network, meaning your vehicle may be fixed more quickly. This can be the case especially if your insurer’s network of repairers have a large backlog of repairs that they need to attend to
- You’re able to choose a specialist repairer that you trust to fix your vehicle. This may be of particular importance if you have a modified vehicle or a classic or vintage car.
Cons
- By choosing your own repairer, you typically need to be more involved in the process. This can include liaising with both your chosen repairer and your insurance provider, negotiating on a price for the repairs and then reporting to your provider about how much the vehicle will cost to fix
- Depending on the repairer you choose, you may not receive a lifetime guarantee on the repairs, meaning that if there’s issues down the line associated with the repairs you typically won’t be covered. Generally speaking, repairers in your insurer’s network will provide you with a lifetime guarantee on the work that they do—but you should confirm this with them before they begin work
- On top of your standard policy excess, you may need to pay the difference between what your chosen repairer charges for the repairs and what the insurer deems that the repairs should reasonably cost.
Frequently Asked Questions about ‘choice of repairer’ car insurance
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Nick is Canstar's Insurances Writer, providing assistance to Canstar's Editorial Team in its mission to empower consumers to take control of their finances. He has written hundreds of articles for Canstar across all key finance topics. Coming from a screenwriting background, Nick completed a Bachelor of Film, Television and New Media Production from Queensland University of Technology. Nick has also completed RG 146 (Tier 1), making him compliant to provide general advice for general insurance products like car, home, travel and health insurance, as well as giving him knowledge of investment options such as shares, derivatives, futures, managed investments, currencies and commodities.
Nick’s role at Canstar allows him to combine his love of the written word with his interest in finance, having learned the art of share trading from his late grandfather. Nick strives to deliver clear and straightforward content that helps the everyday consumer navigating the world of finance. Nick is also working on a TV series in his spare time. You can connect with Nick on LinkedIn.
Joshua Sale is responsible for developing the methodology and delivering Canstar’s flagship Star Ratings, as part of Canstar’s Research Team. With tertiary qualifications in economics and finance, he enjoys helping Australians find more suitable financial products by transforming complex calculations into a consumer-friendly Star Rating that explains the values and benefits of different financial products. As one of Canstar’s company spokespeople, Joshua is confident participating in print, radio and broadcast journalism interviews. He has participated in interviews with the Australian Financial Review, news.com.au and Money Magazine, along with other leading media outlets, discussing topics such as home loan equity, banking incentive schemes, digital wallets and wider finance trends. You can follow Joshua on LinkedIn. Have a media enquiry, and interested in featuring Joshua as a financial expert and commentator? Contact Canstar’s Media Team today.
Important Information
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This advice is general and has not taken into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Consider whether this advice is right for you.