Had an accident on the Central Coast? Before your car goes in for repairs, here are the questions worth asking your smash repairer, and the answers you should expect.
After a car accident, it’s easy to feel rushed. You’re dealing with your insurer, organising transport and trying to get life back to normal. But the smash repairer you choose will look after one of your biggest assets, so it pays to ask a few questions at the assessment stage.
At Erin Panel Works, we’ve been repairing cars in Erina and across the Central Coast for over 30 years. These are the questions we think every driver should ask when their car is assessed under an insurance claim, along with how we answer them.
1. Can I choose my own repairer?
Often, yes. Many car insurance policies let you choose your own repairer, although some only cover repairs done by the insurer’s own network. Check your Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) or ask your insurer before you agree to send your car anywhere.
If you’d like a local Central Coast panel beater you know and trust, it’s worth asking for one. Choosing a repairer close to home in Erina also makes drop-off, updates and collection much easier.
2. Do you work with my insurer?
A repairer who regularly works with your insurer will know their processes, which helps your claim move more smoothly.
Erin Panel Works is Suncorp’s preferred smash repairer on the Central Coast, and we handle insurance repairs for NRMA, AAMI, APIA, Allianz, Shannons and other major insurers. We’ll work directly with your insurer on the assessment and approvals so you don’t have to chase them.
3. What parts will you use?
Ask whether your repair will use genuine manufacturer parts or alternative parts, and what your policy allows. It’s a fair question, and you deserve a clear answer.
We have strong relationships with a group of suppliers across Sydney and Newcastle, so we can reach out for the best available parts. Whatever we source, we’ll always explain clearly what’s going on your car and why.
4. How long will my repair take?
No repairer can promise an exact date right now. Manufacturer parts delays are affecting repairers right across Australia, as we explained in our recent article on parts delays in smash repairs.
That’s why we plan our workflow to keep space free for urgent repairs. When an unexpected accident takes you off the road, we can get your car back to you sooner. Instead of waiting 6–8 weeks, you can have your car repaired with Erin Panel Works in 2–4 weeks*. Our in-house service and administration team is here to help, so you’re not left on hold chasing updates.
Where possible, we also order parts before your car arrives, so any backorders show up early rather than halfway through the job. If anything changes, we’ll tell you straight away.
*Repair times depend on the extent of the damage and parts availability.
5. How will you keep me updated?
This is one of the most important questions you can ask. Being left in the dark is one of the most stressful parts of any repair.
At Erin Panel Works, every car is tracked through our Key-to-Key system, a 10-step process from quote to collection. We always know exactly where your repair is up to, and our local on-site team will keep you informed along the way.
6. What happens if you find more damage?
Accident damage isn’t always visible from the outside. Once panels and bumpers are removed, repairers sometimes find damage underneath, such as to brackets, sensors or structural parts.
Ask how this is handled. Usually, the repairer documents the extra damage and seeks approval from your insurer before going ahead. We’ll let you know if we find anything, explain what it means and handle the approval with your insurer for you.
7. Will my safety sensors and cameras need recalibrating?
Many modern cars have parking sensors, cameras and radar built into bumpers, mirrors and windscreens. These help power features like lane-keeping assist and automatic emergency braking. After a repair, they may need recalibrating to work properly.Ask whether calibration is needed for your car and whether it’s included in the repair. It’s an important safety step that shouldn’t be skipped.
8. Will the paint match the rest of my car?
A good repair should be invisible. Ask how the repairer matches your car’s colour and finish, especially for metallic, pearl or older faded paint.
Our team takes great pride in our paint finishes, blending new paint so it matches the panels around it. Our goal is to return your car looking as good as it did before the accident.
9. When and how do I pay my excess?
Your excess is set by your insurance policy, not by the repairer. In many cases, it’s paid directly to the repairer when you collect your car, but this varies between insurers. If you weren’t at fault, you may not have to pay it at all.
Ask upfront so there are no surprises at pick-up. We’ll confirm what applies to your claim before your repair starts.
10. Will I get a hire car?
Hire car cover depends on your policy and, often, on whether you were at fault. Check your policy or ask your insurer early, so you’re not stuck without transport while your car is being repaired.
11. Is my car likely to be a write-off?
If the cost of the repair gets too close to your car’s value, your insurer may decide to write it off rather than repair it. The repairer’s assessment feeds into that decision, but the final call is the insurer’s.
If you’re worried, ask your repairer for an honest opinion at the assessment stage. We’ll always tell you what we see.
Why Central Coast drivers trust Erin Panel Works
When an accident happens, you want people you can trust on your side. For over 30 years, our family business has looked after drivers from Erina, Terrigal, Gosford, Wamberal, Avoca Beach and right across the Central Coast.
- Honest assessments and straight answers to all of the questions above
- Key-to-Key tracking through every stage of your repair
- Experience with all major insurers, including as Suncorp’s preferred smash repairer
- A trusted supplier network across Sydney and Newcastle for the best available parts
- Quality paint finishes that return your car looking its best