Every question, every answer, every source

In New Zealand, yes, some car insurers let you choose your own repairer, but others require you to use an approved repairer or get their agreement first. It depends on your insurer, your policy wording and whether you're claiming under your own insurance or someone else's.

If your car is written off, the insurer will generally settle the claim financially rather than repair it. The important questions are how they calculate the payout, whether you can challenge the write-off decision, and what happens to the wreck.

1. Can you choose your own repairer?

There are three common arrangements:

• Free choice of repairer: You can nominate your preferred panel beater or mechanic, subject to the insurer's approval and any policy conditions.
• Approved repairer network: The insurer directs you to a repairer in its network. Using an outside repairer may require prior approval or could affect cover for repair costs or workmanship guarantees.
• Insurer-approved quote: You nominate a repairer, but the insurer assesses the damage and agrees to the repair scope and price before work begins.

Even if you can choose your repairer, you generally shouldn't authorise expensive repairs before the insurer has assessed the vehicle.

Tip: Before buying or renewing a policy, ask: “Can I choose my own collision repairer, and will you pay their full reasonable repair cost if they aren't in your network?”

For example, New Zealand insurers differ in their approach:

• MAS explicitly offers the choice of a preferred repairer or a repairer of your own choosing. Its repair guarantee applies to preferred repairers. Motor Vehicle Insurance Policy Details
• NZI has policy wording that allows it to arrange repairs itself or pay its estimate of reasonable repair costs so you can use your own repairer. Choosing your own repairer doesn't necessarily mean the insurer will cover whatever price they quote. Distinction Motor Vehicle Insurance / Policy wording
• AA Insurance says it uses its own group of repairers when it arranges repairs under the relevant policy. Third Party Car Insurance PolicyComprehensive Car Insurance Quote Online

Always check the specific policy wording, as products and conditions can change.

2. What happens if your car is written off?

Step 1: The insurer assesses the damage

The insurer decides whether the car can be repaired safely and economically. If the repair cost makes repairing it uneconomic compared with settling the claim, it may declare a total loss, or write-off. Third Party Car Insurance | Quote & Buy OnlineWhat happens if my vehicle is written off or is a total loss?

Step 2: They calculate your payout

The amount usually depends on whether your policy covers the car for an agreed value or market value, plus any applicable excess, outstanding premiums and other permitted deductions. Car insuranceWhat happens if my vehicle is written off or is a total loss?

Step 3: The insurer usually takes ownership of the wreck

Under many policies, once the total-loss claim is settled, the damaged vehicle becomes the insurer's property. You generally cannot keep it automatically, although you can ask whether buying it back is possible. Third Party, Fire & Theft Car Insurance Policy1. we’ll pay you the agreed value for your car, if that is the cover type shown on your certificate of insurance

How much would you get paid?

The key distinction is your type of cover.

Cover type	How the payout is calculated
Agreed value	The amount specified in your policy schedule, subject to policy terms and deductions.
Market value	What the car was worth immediately before the loss, assessed using factors such as age, model, mileage and condition.

Sources: Car insuranceCar insurance buying guideCar insurance: market value vs agreed value

Example: Suppose your car has an agreed value of $15,000 and your applicable excess is $500. If no other deductions apply, your payout would be $14,500.

With market-value cover, the insurer might assess the same car at $12,000, giving you $11,500 after the same excess.

If you have a car loan, check how the settlement is applied: the lender may be paid first, and you could still owe money if the payout doesn't clear the loan. Car insurance: market value vs agreed value1. we’ll pay you the agreed value for your car, if that is the cover type shown on your certificate of insurance

3. Can you challenge a write-off decision or payout?

Yes, you can raise a dispute if you think the valuation is too low or the decision hasn't properly considered the damage and repair options.

Practical steps:

1. Ask for the assessor's report, including the repair estimate and the basis for declaring the vehicle uneconomic to repair.
2. Check comparable vehicles for sale in New Zealand, matching your car's year, model, trim, mileage and condition.
3. Provide evidence of its condition and value, such as service history, recent work, options and modifications.
4. Ask for a review in writing if the valuation or decision appears unreasonable.

If you cannot resolve the complaint internally, check which independent dispute-resolution scheme your insurer belongs to. New Zealand's Consumer Protection website also explains the differences between market-value and agreed-value cover. Car insuranceCar insurance buying guide

4. What I'd check before choosing an insurer

If being able to use your own repairer matters to you, compare these four things:

• Repairer choice: Is it an unconditional choice, or does the insurer have to approve the repairer and quote?
• Repair guarantee: Does the guarantee still apply if you use an independent panel beater?
• Write-off threshold: How does the policy define an uneconomic repair, and who decides?
• Settlement terms: Is your car insured for agreed or market value, and can you retain the wreck if it's written off?

You can start with the official policy information from MAS, AA Insurance and NZI.

One important question: Are you looking to choose an insurer before buying a policy, or has your car already been damaged and you're dealing with an existing claim? The practical options are quite different in those two situations.