had some smart driver hit my car on the front left cutting off my corner making a turn right. As he came from a go straight only lane he was declared in fault by the insurance. Now as my front bumper is hanging loose I need to get it fixed. Now my wife claims we have to get it fixed at an approved garage by the insurance (Siam commercial bank) Now this garage is somewhere in the jungle and like my car to only being serviced by official Nissan dealers only

THe garage I was send to looks a lot like a garage you bring your car in with 100% original part and 2 hours later you have been stripped and all parts been replaced by some chewing gum stuff.

Can an insurance force you get your car fixed by an unofficial dealer??

Yes, it depends on your insurance. Often when you go for an insurance you check what garage you can use. The ones that use official garages often means a higher premium. So what your wife is saying could be the truth.

Same when I lived in the UK and some dopey twerp drove into me on a roundabout. It was 100% his fault but I had to wait for the insurance company to arrange to get it repaired at the garage of their choice.

you need to check all insurance details before taking it out, not after an accident, main dealer only repairers mean an increased premium

You pays your money ,etc etc ,

Even if one has the higher premium, 'dealer repair' insurance option, the repair work will typically be done at a third-party repair shop that is authorized by the insurance carrier and recognized by the dealership.

When was the last time anyone saw a full body repair shop at their dealership? Beyond the servicing, dealerships only SELL cars and ORIGINAL parts; they don't repair cars. The 'dealer repair' option means that there is less likelihood of used or fake parts being used in any repair. Typically, the repair shop inspects the damage at the dealer and parts are ordered with the vehicle remaining at the dealers. When those parts are received, the 'jungle' repair shop collects the car from the dealer and does the repairs. The repaired vehicle is returned to the dealer for acceptance inspection (or otherwise) by the insurance rep and the owner.

Edited June 25, 201610 yr by NanLaew

I own a body shop in USA and have lived in Thailand on and off for the past 12 years. I can tell you from my experience that a independent shop in Issan did a magnificent job repairing and repainting a loaner vehicle.

If you want OEM new parts on a 5 year old vehicle better speak to your broker as most first class insurance policies allow for salvage OEM parts. At the shop you were skeptical ask to see their finished workmanship and the actual paint match on vehicles they are completing. Very true most every auto dealer world wide doesn't employ, staff and operate a body shop. Those that claim too most likely sublet the work.

OP normally the insurance co. will have a list of "approved" repairers. In the case of Suzuki it was about a dozen spread the length and breadth of Pattaya. We asked the broker for advice and then went and had a look at a couple and chose on that basis. I would be very surprised if there was only one option?