Severe rain and weather: If you are a Vero customer and need to claim, fill out our online claims form Claims | Vero or contact your broker.
Vero Voice Blog
5 tips for choosing a vehicle repairer
By David Drillien
Executive Manager, Motor Claims
17 January 2018
Share
In summer New Zealanders hit the roads in huge numbers for parties, Christmas shopping and trips away – and we often see a corresponding rise in car accidents.
If you’re in a minor collision it can be stressful and difficult, especially when you have a lot on your plate already. We want to help our customers get back on the road as quickly as possible and that often starts with choosing the right repairer.
If you don’t have a relationship with a panel beater, it isn’t always easy to find one. Family and friends are a great source for recommendations but often your needs will be different to theirs – you might only have minor damage or you may live in a totally different location. If you’re making a claim for damage to your car, our team can help find a repairer that’s right for you.
5 things to think about when choosing a repairer:
1. Location
Find a repairer that’s near you, or easy for you to access. That might mean one close to your home, or near your work, or even near a handy public transport hub, depending on your preference for where you would like to drop off and pick up your vehicle.
It’s important that your repairs are completed to a high standard so that you’ll be safe on the road. But if you’re not familiar with any repairers it can be hard to know who to trust.
If in doubt, using a repairer that we recommend can help you feel more confident, because we’ll guarantee their work for as long as you own the vehicle.
2. Speed
In some parts of New Zealand there are big waiting lists for panel beaters, so make sure you know how long you might need to wait for a repair slot, whether they’ll need to order any parts and approximately how long the repairs will take. Panel beating times can vary from a few weeks, to potentially just a couple of days if your car is eligible to be repaired at one of Vero’s S.M.A.R.T centres.
3. Suitability
Major repairs might require a panel beater, but for Vero customers in Auckland and Christchurch, anything from smaller dings and scratches to structural damage could be sorted in as quick as a couple of days at one of our S.M.A.R.T repair shops. Have a chat with your claims consultant to find out what will work for you.
4. Alternative transport
If you need a courtesy car, make sure to ask your repairer if they’ll have one available. Wait times for panel beaters’ courtesy cars can sometimes be several weeks so make sure to take the availability of a vehicle into account for your repair timeline. If you can get by with other means of transport like buses, trains, taxis or relying on friends, or your repairer can guarantee a courtesy car immediately, you may get your car back sooner.
The best tip of all is to stay safe on the roads, so take care this summer – but if anything does go wrong, we’re here to help!
For more information on choosing the best repairer for you, speak to your consultant at claims time or check out our vehicle repairs page.
Need to make a claim?
If you need to make a claim, you can contact your insurance broker or adviser or call us directly. If you have a car insurance policy with Vero, you can also claim online.
The information in this article has been compiled from various sources and is intended to be factual information only. Full details of policy terms and conditions are available from Vero Insurance New Zealand Limited or your financial adviser. For advice on product suitability, please contact your financial adviser. While we take reasonable steps to ensure that the information contained in this article is accurate and up-to-date, it is subject to change without notice. Vero Insurance New Zealand and its related companies does/do not accept any responsibility or liability in connection with your use of or reliance on this article.
