When you own a classic, luxury, or high-performance vehicle, it’s more than just transport—it’s an investment, a passion, and a statement of taste. If you are involved in an accident, even a minor one, the quality of the repair is paramount.

Many owners don’t realise they have the legal right to choose their own repairer, even if their insurer pushes them toward a “preferred” high-volume body shop within their standard approved network.

The “Consumer Duty” Difference: Your Right to a Good Outcome

Under the FCA’s Consumer Duty regulations, insurance firms must act to deliver “good outcomes” for their customers. This means they should not put up “unreasonable barriers” that prevent you from pursuing your financial objectives, like maintaining the resale value of your car.

If an insurer forces you to use a garage in their approved network that cannot technically handle carbon fibre or bespoke paintwork, they may be failing in their duty to avoid “foreseeable harm” to your asset’s value.

Do You Really Have the Right to Choose?

Yes. In the UK, you are not legally obligated to use the repairer your insurance company suggests. However, how that choice is treated depends on your policy type:

• Standard Policies: May allow your choice but might “penalise” you with a doubled excess or by refusing a courtesy car if you go outside their approved network.
• Specialist Policies (like VINTTRO Cover): These are built with “Choice of Repairer” as a standard feature, understanding that a Ferrari or a vintage E-Type cannot be fixed at a “one-size-fits-all” garage.

Pro Tip: Look at your Policy Wording or IPID (Insurance Product Information Document) for a “Choice of Repairer” clause.

Why Specialists Matter for Prestige Vehicles

• Technical Engineering: Carbon fibre, hand-rolled aluminium, and complex electronics require marque-specific tools and training that general approved networks often lack.
• Genuine Parts: Specialist repairers insist on OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) parts. Standard insurers may try to use “non-genuine” or “matching quality” parts within their own approved network to save costs.
• Preserving Value: A poor paint match or a non-documented repair from a non-specialist approved network can wipe thousands off the resale value of a niche car.
• Warranty Protection: Under the Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulations, using an independent specialist does not automatically void your manufacturer warranty, provided they follow the correct procedures.

The Trade-Offs: What to Watch For

• The “Cost Gap”: If your specialist’s hourly rate is significantly higher than the insurer’s approved network rate, some insurers may ask you to pay the difference. Specialist policies are designed to bridge this gap.
• Increased Excess: Some mainstream insurers penalise you for going “off-network” or choosing a repairer outside of their approved network. Under Consumer Duty, we believe these costs should be transparently explained to you before you buy.
• Approval Time: Using your own repairer can involve a slightly longer approval process while engineers agree on the costs compared to a direct “green light” within an approved network.

Access the VINTTRO Specialist Network

At VINTTRO Cover, we give you the best options and guidance when it comes to niche car repair. We have curated our own Specialist Approved Network, which all our clients are able to tap into.

This is a carefully selected group of highly-qualified, audited partners who specialise in everything from localised paint repairs to full-blown structural restorations. By using our approved network, you get:

• Audited Quality: Partners are vetted by industry leaders like NOVOL.
• Specialist Knowledge: Expertise in historic marques, supercars, and investment-grade vehicles.
• Peace of Mind: Repairs that are fully warranted and performed by technicians who share your passion.

VINTTRO’S Top Tips for Owners

• Get a detailed estimate: You are generally only required to provide one estimate from your chosen shop.
• Verify Credentials: Ensure your repairer has manufacturer approval or belongs to a recognised body like the NBRA (National Body Repair Association).
• Document Everything: Request a certificate of repair and “before and after” photos for your car’s provenance file.

Final Thoughts

In the world of prestige motoring, compromise isn’t an option. Choosing a “cheap” policy from a comparison site might save you £50 today, but it could cost you thousands in diminished value later by forcing you into a standard approved network.

Under Consumer Duty, you deserve a policy that provides “Fair Value” which, for a prestige car owner, means a repair that returns the car to its exact pre-accident condition.

Don’t wait for an accident to find out where you stand. Talk to the experts at VINTTRO Cover – 0333 404 2007.