After you report a claim, two key stages follow: the inspection, where the official record of the damage is created, and the repair, where the payout becomes reality. At both stages you have rights, and good decisions to make – this article goes through them one by one.
- Don't have the car repaired before the inspection – any intervention beyond loss mitigation weakens the evidence.
- Photo-based, digital assessment is becoming more common for smaller claims – it's faster, but your own photo documentation is still worth having.
- Choosing a garage depends on the terms: a contracted network offers a more convenient process, your own workshop offers familiarity – the scope is set out in the contract.
The inspection: what happens, and how to prepare
The insurer's expert records the damage: photos, measurements, and the repair method to be used. Prepare for it: make sure the car is clean (dirt can hide a dent), have your own photos and documents to hand, and point out ALL the damage at the FIRST inspection – items that "turn up" later tend to cause disputes. If you suspect hidden damage (for example, brackets behind the bumper), ask for a strip-down inspection – this needs to be recorded in the report.
A contracted garage or your own workshop?
The advantage of a contracted network is convenience: the damage assessment, repair and settlement run in a single chain, often with a replacement car included. The advantage of your own workshop is trust and location. The scope is set by the terms: in some policies the choice is free, in others the method of settlement (invoice-based vs. cash settlement) or its amount depends on it – for example, a different settlement logic may apply at a non-contracted garage. Clarify this at the START of the case, not when you present the invoice.
Collecting the repaired car: the last checkpoint
When you collect the car, go through everything: whether the paintwork on the repaired panels matches in daylight, the gaps and panel alignment, whether the driver-assistance systems work (no error messages after calibration), and the items on the invoice and report. If you notice a discrepancy, raise it immediately, in writing – a complaint made after collection is a harder case to pursue. The question of a repair warranty should also be documented: ask for it in writing.
About to have an inspection, or facing a choice of garage? Let's talk through what to look out for. book a free 20-minute consultation →
