I was not at fault, do I have to let my insurer choose the repairer?
I was not at fault, do I have to let my insurer choose the repairer?
The first cost is usually not the repair bill. It is being left without your car while someone else decides what happens next.
A lot of drivers in Melbourne call their own insurer straight after a crash because it feels like the obvious step. The problem is that this choice is often made before you have worked out who will repair the car, how long you may be without it, whether you will need a replacement vehicle, and whether you want the claim to run through your own policy at all.
If you were not at fault, that early decision can shape the whole path of the claim.
Before you hand it over, check what your own policy actually says
Whether you can choose your own repairer, whether a particular workshop can be used, what parts may be fitted, and what transport you may get while your car is off the road all depend on the documents that apply to your claim.
That means you should not assume the answer is the same for every insurer or every policy. Check your Product Disclosure Statement, your schedule, and any claim terms your insurer points you to. If the wording is unclear, ask the insurer to point you to the exact clause that applies to your claim.
What can change when the insurer controls the repair path
If you lodge through your own insurer out of habit, you may be agreeing to their claim process before you have considered the practical consequences for yourself.
Those consequences can include:
- where the car is assessed and repaired
- what parts are proposed for the repair
- whether you are left arranging your own transport while the car is off the road
- whether the claim is recorded against your own policy history
The detail matters, and it depends on the terms that govern your claim and the repair.
Warranty and parts, check the manufacturer and your policy documents
Drivers often ask whether using a workshop that is not approved by the manufacturer, or using non genuine or aftermarket parts, can affect a new car warranty.
That is not something to guess at after the car is already in for repair. It depends on your vehicle, the manufacturer's warranty terms, the repair method, the parts used, and sometimes the cause of any later problem.
If this matters for your car, check your warranty booklet and ask the manufacturer or dealer to point you to the relevant wording in writing. If your insurer is proposing a repair path, ask them to confirm in writing what parts are intended and who will carry out the repair.
Being without a car is the part you feel straight away
The most immediate disruption after a not at fault crash is often not fault or liability at all. It is the simple fact that you still need to get to work, do the school run, visit clients, or keep a business moving while your vehicle is off the road.
Replacement vehicle arrangements are not automatic in every pathway. They can depend on the policy you hold, the way the claim is being run, and the facts of the accident.
So before you commit to one path, ask these practical questions:
- Will I have a replacement vehicle while my car is being repaired?
- If so, when does that start and when does it end?
- Are there exclusions or conditions I need to know about?
- If I do not claim on my own policy, is there another way to arrange transport while the repair is underway?
If you rely on your vehicle for work or business, these questions are not secondary. They are often the first problem you need solved.
The premium issue often appears later
Another thing many drivers do not think about at the roadside is what happens on renewal.
People assume that being not at fault means a claim on their own policy cannot affect anything later. That is not always something to assume. How an insurer treats claims history, no claim benefits, discounts or renewal pricing depends on the insurer's own documents and underwriting approach.
If you are thinking about claiming on your own policy, read the sections that deal with claims history, no claim benefits and renewal. If you want a clear answer, ask your insurer to confirm how a not at fault claim is treated under your policy.
You may not need to run the claim through your own insurer
If another driver caused the crash, some drivers prefer not to claim on their own policy and instead pursue the repair cost from the at fault driver's insurer.
That approach depends on the facts of the accident, the information available about the other driver, and what can be supported with the documents and evidence from the collision. It is not the right path in every case, and you should get clear on what information is needed before you decide.
In practice, this usually means gathering the crash details, keeping photos and other records, obtaining a repair assessment, and directing the claim toward recovery from the at fault side rather than lodging under your own cover. If any part of that is disputed, the pathway can change, so it is important to deal with the actual facts rather than assumptions.
Where we fit in for not at fault drivers in Melbourne and Victoria
We work with not at fault drivers in Melbourne and across Victoria who want a repair pathway that does not start with claiming on their own policy out of habit.
Our role is to manage a not at fault claim, arrange repairs, arrange a replacement vehicle where the circumstances support that path, and recover the repair cost from the at fault driver's insurer.
That does not mean every claim follows the same route. Some issues depend on liability, the available evidence, the other driver's details, the condition of your own paperwork, and the position taken by the insurer involved. Where something turns on those facts, it needs to be checked properly at the start.
What to do next
If you were not at fault and your car needs repair, do not assume the only option is to call your own insurer and let them decide everything from there.
Have your accident details ready, keep your photos and exchange information, and get advice on whether your claim can be managed as a not at fault matter instead.
Call 0495 032 111