A damaged car can usually be repaired at a network garage or another garage of your choice. The repair may look similar, but the claim process is not. The main difference is how the approved repair amount is settled.
At a network garage, the insurer can settle eligible costs directly with the workshop. At a non-network local garage, you generally pay first and then seek reimbursement. Knowing this difference can make the claim process easier to plan.
The Main Difference Is How Payment Happens
A network garage has an arrangement with the insurance provider for cashless claim settlement. Once the claim is approved, the insurer pays the eligible repair amount directly to the garage. You still pay amounts that are your responsibility under the policy, such as applicable deductibles and expenses not admitted under the claim.
A local garage outside the insurer’s network generally follows a reimbursement process. You pay the repair bill and later submit the required documents for assessment and reimbursement according to policy terms.
Claim Intimation Still Comes First
The garage you choose does not remove the need to inform the insurer about the damage. Register the claim before repairs begin and follow the instructions given for inspection or survey.
If you have purchased car insurance online, you may also be able to use the insurer’s digital claim section to register the damage, check the required steps and find nearby network garages. Starting repairs before the required assessment may affect claim processing, so complete the necessary claim formalities first.
What Happens at a Network Garage?
After claim registration, the vehicle is taken or towed to an approved network workshop. The damage is inspected, and the repair estimate is considered during claim assessment. Once the eligible work is approved, the garage proceeds according to the authorised scope.
At settlement, the approved amount is paid directly to the garage, while the policyholder pays the applicable share. This reduces the need to arrange the entire repair amount upfront for an approved cashless claim.
What Happens at a Local Garage?
Using a garage outside the insurer’s network lets you have repairs carried out at a workshop of your choice, subject to the claim process. The vehicle may still need inspection before repairs.
You generally settle the garage bill yourself and keep the original invoices, receipts and other requested records. These are then submitted to the insurer. After assessment, the admissible amount is reimbursed according to the policy terms.
Documents Matter in a Reimbursement Claim
Both routes require claim documents, but reimbursement makes it especially important to keep the repair paperwork because you have already paid the workshop.
Depending on the claim, you may need:
- a completed claim form;
- vehicle registration details;
- the driver’s valid driving licence;
- repair estimates and final invoices;
- payment receipts; and
- other documents requested for the incident.
Requirements can vary with the nature of the claim.
Network Garage and Local Garage at a Glance
The main difference lies in how the repair bill is paid and settled during the claim process.
| Claim Stage | Network Garage | Local Non-Network Garage |
| Repair location | Insurer’s listed network workshop | Garage chosen by the policyholder |
| Settlement route | Cashless settlement for approved amount | Reimbursement after assessment |
| Upfront payment | Usually limited to the policyholder’s share | Repair bill is generally paid first |
| Bills and receipts | Garage and insurer coordinate much of the settlement | Repair records should be retained and submitted |
| Claim approval | Required | Required |
Does the Garage Change What the Policy Covers?
Not by itself. Moving from a network garage to a local garage does not automatically change the cover written in the policy. The repair must still relate to an admissible claim, and settlement remains subject to deductibles, depreciation where applicable, policy conditions and claim assessment.
The main change is the settlement route and the amount you may need to arrange before reimbursement. Checking the garage status before repairs helps avoid confusion about payment later.
Final Thoughts
Network and local garages can both be used during a car insurance claim, but the payment process differs. Network garages generally support cashless settlement of the approved repair amount, while non-network garages usually involve paying first and claiming reimbursement later.
Whichever route you use, inform the insurer promptly, complete the required assessment and keep the necessary documents. Final settlement depends on the policy terms and admissibility of the claim.
