Car insurance explained
Authorised or any workshop: what the choice costs
Every comprehensive policy asks where your car will be repaired. Choosing your own workshop costs more; here is how much, insurer by insurer, today.
Prices as of 28 Oct 2026, GST included.
The quote form's results page lets you switch between the two: compare car insurance.
Questions people ask
What is the difference between an authorised and any workshop?
With an authorised workshop, repairs are done at a workshop the insurer has approved and the insurer deals with it directly. With any workshop, you choose where the car is repaired, often the dealer's own, and the insurer charges more for that freedom.
Which should I choose?
If you want the car repaired at a particular workshop, such as the dealer's, any-workshop cover lets you; check whether that workshop is already on the insurer's authorised list first. Otherwise authorised workshops cost less and the insurer manages the repair.