UK cities
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Direct coverage
Service · Garage partners
Garage Partners
We operate a vetted partner garage network across the UK, used to repair non-fault accident vehicles to PAS 125 / BSI 10125 standards. Approved partners get a steady flow of high-quality repair referrals from our intake hotline, with a clear authorisation route, a transparent rate schedule, fast (28-day) payment terms and an SLA we both work to. The partner is the body shop; we are the claims handling and customer-facing layer.
- Independent engineer (not insurer panel)
- Like-for-like replacement (ULEZ-compliant)
- Direct dialogue with at-fault insurer
- No success, No fee
24/7
Dispatch
£0
Upfront
PAS 125
Repair std
24/7
UK response
Recovery dispatch and live claim handlers, 365 days a year.
Response
<60m
First contact SLA
Cost
£0
Upfront to driver
Cost to you
£0 upfront · No success, No fee
Response time
Under 60 minutes, 24/7
Window of urgency
14-day CCTV retention
Coverage
UK-wide · 24/7
What is garage partners and when does it apply?
We operate a vetted partner garage network across the UK, used to repair non-fault accident vehicles to PAS 125 / BSI 10125 standards. Approved partners get a steady flow of high-quality repair referrals from our intake hotline, with a clear authorisation route, a transparent rate schedule, fast (28-day) payment terms and an SLA we both work to. The partner is the body shop; we are the claims handling and customer-facing layer. It applies to: Garages wanting steady non-fault repair work without insurer panel discount pressure; New body shop businesses needing referral volume to support fit-out investment; Established garages diversifying away from insurer-only work into accident management referrals.
Ranking factors
What makes a garage partners claim stronger
These are the practical ranking factors our handlers look for before a garage partners file is sent to the at-fault insurer. They help the page answer search intent and help the claim itself stand up to scrutiny.
Liability clarity
Garage partners files rank strongest when the accident narrative, photos and third-party details all point to the same non-fault sequence.
fault position
Evidence speed
The first 72 hours matter because CCTV, dashcam and witness memory fade quickly. We prioritise pas 125 / bsi 10125 certification (or equivalent) and public liability and product liability insurance (£5m+) before the evidence window closes.
fresh proof
Mitigation and need
Replacement vehicle, recovery and storage costs must stay proportionate. The file is stronger when the reason for each cost is recorded before the at-fault insurer challenges it.
cost control
Repair standard
Independent engineering, PAS 125 / BS 10125 repair routing and clear total-loss notes help separate necessary work from insurer-panel shortcuts.
engineering
Communication record
Call notes, emails, consent records and insurer responses create a clean audit trail, especially where garage partners needs urgent action.
audit trail
Compliance boundary
We keep accident management, credit hire, repair and any personal-injury referral in separate consent lanes so the page and the claim remain clear.
regulated process
What this service is
Garage partners explained, in plain English
We operate a vetted partner garage network across the UK, used to repair non-fault accident vehicles to PAS 125 / BSI 10125 standards. Approved partners get a steady flow of high-quality repair referrals from our intake hotline, with a clear authorisation route, a transparent rate schedule, fast (28-day) payment terms and an SLA we both work to. The partner is the body shop; we are the claims handling and customer-facing layer.
"Refer non-fault repair work to the geographically nearest accredited partner with available capacity"- handler note for garage partners
When it applies
Situations where garage partners fits
Not every collision needs every service line. Garage partners is the right route where one or more of the following applies:
- Garages wanting steady non-fault repair work without insurer panel discount pressure
- New body shop businesses needing referral volume to support fit-out investment
- Established garages diversifying away from insurer-only work into accident management referrals
- Manufacturer-approved shops wanting to handle non-fault repairs at full retail scope
How we help
The garage partners workflow, step-by-step
Each step below is something we actually do for you on this service line - not a generic claims-handling description. Each step is documented in the file we open in your name.
A
What we do
- 1
Refer non-fault repair work to the geographically nearest accredited partner with available capacity
- 2
Send a full digital work pack on every referral - engineer's report, photos, parts list, ADAS scan, paint code
- 3
Authorise repairs against the engineer's scope with a single email - no insurer-panel slot times pressure
- 4
Settle invoices on 28-day terms from invoice receipt, with a fast-track 7-day option on key parts
- 5
Coordinate parts authorisation directly with the at-fault insurer so OEM parts go on the vehicle where the engineer specifies them
- 6
Handle ADAS calibration paperwork, electronic file release and the vehicle integrity sign-off on Cat S retentions
B
What happens next
- 1
Application reviewed within 14 days - workshop visit, accreditation check, reference call
- 2
Onboarded partners go live with a low-volume soft start (2-4 referrals per week) for the first month
- 3
Volume stabilises at the agreed level after the soft-start window, typically 8-15 referrals per week depending on geography and vehicle types accepted
- 4
Quarterly performance review - first-time repair pass rate, cycle time, customer feedback, cost per repair
- 5
Annual rate review against the broader UK body shop rate schedule
Documents needed
What to gather before you call
You do not need to have everything to hand to open the file - but the more of the list below we have at intake, the faster garage partners runs.
PAS 125 / BSI 10125 certification (or equivalent)
Public liability and product liability insurance (£5m+)
Workshop tooling list with calibrated alignment, measuring and welding equipment
Manufacturer approvals where applicable (paint, ADAS calibration, structural)
Two trade references and one supplier reference
Capacity statement (estimating, body, paint, MET, ramp count, vehicle types)
What to avoid
Garage partners pitfalls - what not to do
Each item below is a common, preventable mistake on garage partners. Most can be fixed if caught early; some - like premature repair before engineer inspection - cannot.
- Garages must not authorise repairs without a written work pack from us - verbal authorisation is not accepted
- Do not start repair before the engineer's report is approved - the scope is what authorises the work, not the customer's instruction at drop-off
- Do not substitute OEM parts for non-OEM aftermarket where the engineer's scope specifies OEM - even where the cost differential is meaningful
- Do not delay ADAS calibration paperwork - partial sign-off without calibration evidence is a quality and insurance risk
- Do not contact the at-fault driver's insurer directly - all insurer correspondence goes through us, so the customer-facing position stays consistent
Compliance disclaimer
Partner garages must meet quality, insurance and conduct requirements at all times. Partnership is at-will and may be ended by either side with 90 days' notice or immediately for material breach. We pay on agreed terms against accurate invoices and do not pay or accept prohibited insurance referral inducements.
We do not provide legal advice. Personal injury enquiries are referred only with your separate written consent (UK GDPR Article 7) to authorised legal or regulated partners.
Deep dive
Garage partners in detail
What a partner garage referral actually looks like
A typical non-fault accident referral lands on a partner shop's portal as a fully documented work pack within 24 hours of the customer's intake call. The pack contains: the independent engineer's report (typically 8-12 pages, with scope-priced labour times, an itemised parts list with OEM part numbers, paint code, pre-repair ADAS scan output, and any structural integrity flags); a photo set (typically 20-40 photos covering all damage zones); the customer's contact details and preferred drop-off and collection times; the salvage retention election where the engineer has marked Cat S or Cat N; and the at-fault insurer's claim reference for invoicing.
The shop confirms acceptance within 48 hours of the pack landing, gives an indicative repair window (typically 7-21 working days depending on scope and parts availability) and books the customer for drop-off. The customer collects the vehicle on completion, signs off the workmanship, and we pay the invoice on the agreed terms.
This is materially different from an insurer-panel arrangement. There is no slot-time pressure (insurer panels typically demand vehicle off-road windows of 5-7 days regardless of scope), no aggressive cost-controlled scope reduction (the engineer's scope is the scope), and no fixed labour rate cap (the shop's published retail rate is what is charged to the at-fault insurer).
PAS 125 / BS 10125 - what we expect and why
PAS 125 and BS 10125 are the two principal UK standards for vehicle body repair. PAS 125 was the original BSI Publicly Available Specification (now superseded by BS 10125 since 2014, but the standards are broadly aligned and the trade still uses 'PAS 125' as the colloquial term for the combined standard). The standard covers: the workshop equipment (calibrated jigs, alignment, welding, paint booth), the staff qualifications (IMI Level 3 minimum on the work bands the shop is accredited for), the documented procedures (estimating, parts authorisation, in-process inspection, final inspection, customer hand-over) and the records (per-vehicle work file, calibration records, supplier records).
We insist on PAS 125 / BS 10125 accreditation for partner shops because the standard is the only objective measure of repair quality available across the UK trade. Insurer-panel work runs to a lower de facto standard in some cases (because the cost pressure is meaningful), so non-panel shops that hold the standard are typically the higher-quality end of the trade. Accreditation is reviewed at our annual audit, with a workshop visit by our network manager.
For manufacturer-approved shops (BMW Approved Body, Audi/VW Approved Body, Mercedes-Benz Star Repair Programme, Ford Body & Paint Network, Nissan Bodyshop Approval, etc.), the manufacturer approval is additive. Manufacturer approvals come with brand-specific tooling requirements, software access, OEM parts allocation, and warranty support. Customers driving the relevant brand are routed to manufacturer-approved partners where geographically practical.
GARAGE PARTNERS
03
Section 3 of the walkthrough.
Authorisation, parts and the engineer's report
On insurer-panel work the labour scope is often dictated by a desk-based assessor working against a cost-controlled rate. On our partner network the labour scope is dictated by an independent engineer's report commissioned by us pre-repair. The engineer is not on our payroll and is not paid out of a cost-controlled budget - they assess the damage against full retail repair scope and the vehicle's pre-accident specification. The scope they write is the scope the shop works to.
Parts authorisation follows the engineer's specification. Where the scope specifies OEM parts, OEM parts are ordered and authorised against the at-fault insurer. Where the scope permits a quality-equivalent aftermarket part (typically for non-structural panels on older vehicles), the partner shop has discretion. Substituting non-OEM where the scope specifies OEM is not permitted, even where the cost differential to the at-fault insurer is meaningful - it puts the customer at warranty risk and the shop at quality-audit risk.
Supplementary authorisations (additional damage discovered on strip, parts back-ordered, hidden structural damage) are handled by the same digital portal. The partner shop adds the supplementary scope with photos and a brief description; we approve or query within 24 hours. The supplementary is added to the work pack and authorised against the at-fault insurer's reference.
Payment terms and the credit-repair position
Partner garages are paid on 28-day terms from invoice receipt. The invoice is raised against our entity (not directly against the at-fault insurer), so the partner shop is not exposed to insurer payment delay or insurer dispute. We carry the credit-repair receivable against the at-fault insurer and pay the partner from our own working capital.
The credit-repair position is established under Dimond v Lovell [2002] 1 AC 384 - the House of Lords decision that confirmed the legitimacy of credit-repair arrangements where the non-fault driver is not in a financial position to fund the repair themselves. The recovery against the at-fault insurer is for the partner shop's published retail rate, not a discounted insurer-panel rate. This is the commercial logic of credit repair: the customer gets a full retail repair at no cost; the partner shop gets paid at retail rate; and the at-fault insurer pays what they would have paid if the customer had walked into the shop with cash.
Where the at-fault insurer challenges the rate (which happens on roughly 15-20 per cent of partner-repair files), we defend it using comparable published rates from the same UK postcode region, the partner shop's standard published rate, and the engineer's report on scope. The partner shop is not exposed to the dispute - we settle the receivable in full and recover what we can from the insurer.
Quick eligibility check
Could you open a garage partners claim?
Three questions. If you can answer "yes" to all three, we can open a file for you in under five minutes - no upfront cost, no obligation.
- 1
Was the collision in the UK in the last 3 years?
Property-damage claims have a 6-year limitation; injury claims have 3 years from the date of accident under the Limitation Act 1980. Older incidents can still be reviewed - call us.
- 2
Is the other driver clearly at fault (or uninsured/untraced)?
Non-fault means the at-fault insurer pays the schedule. Uninsured / untraced is handled through the Motor Insurers' Bureau under the 2017 agreements.
- 3
Did you exchange details, or report the incident to police?
Section 170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 covers the reporting duty. CRIS / CAD references are useful but not essential - we can request CCTV directly.
Why drivers switch to us
Garage partners with us vs the at-fault insurer's panel handler
The at-fault driver's insurer will offer to handle the claim through their own panel - repairer, hire company, engineer. That is their cost-control route. Below is what that route looks like, side-by-side with what we do for the same file.
| Decision point | At-fault insurer panel | With CityGrip |
|---|---|---|
| Engineer | Panel engineer paid out of cost-controlled budget | Independent engineer, retail repair scope |
| Replacement car | Class A economy courtesy car, 7-14 days max | Like-for-like credit hire, full repair window |
| Repair | Panel repairer to insurer time/cost SLA | PAS 125 / BSI 10125 partner, OEM parts where specified |
| Vehicle valuation | Trade / auction comparables | Retail comparables (Lagden v O'Connor) |
| Excess refund | You chase your own insurer | Recovered for you as part of the schedule |
| Schedule transparency | Bundled into a single offer | Itemised, disclosable on request |
| No-claims discount | Your own policy claim may impact NCD | Direct against at-fault insurer - NCD protected |
Source: panel-handling practice is documented across UK accident-management trade press and ABI GTA materials; our side reflects our standard service line.
Prefer to talk it through?
Speak to a UK accident handler now
We answer 24/7. No call queue, no recorded menu, no upsell. We take the details, tell you whether the claim is workable, and either open the file or point you to a route that suits you better. No obligation.
- Free 5-minute eligibility review
- Calls recorded for quality (notified before)
- Email / WhatsApp as an alternative
Tap to call
0330 043 3409
24/7 · UK accident handlers
Or email / form if you prefer asynchronous.
Frequently asked questions
- What accreditations do I need to join the network?
- PAS 125 or BS 10125 (or both - they are now broadly aligned) is the baseline standard. For manufacturer-approved shops the manufacturer's approval is treated as additive. Public liability and product liability insurance at £5m+ is required. ADAS calibration capability is strongly preferred for any shop taking 2018-plus vehicles; we can refer ADAS-only work to a partner specialist where the bodyshop does not have in-house capability.
- How does the work pack arrive?
- Digitally, by secure portal link, against a unique claim reference. The pack contains: the engineer's report (scope, parts list, labour times, paint code, ADAS scan), photographs of the damage, the customer's contact details and preferred drop-off / collection time, the at-fault insurer's reference, and any salvage retention election by the customer. Updates to the pack (additional damage discovered on strip, parts back-ordered) are recorded against the same reference.
- What are the payment terms?
- Standard 28 days from invoice receipt, paid by BACS. Fast-track 7-day payment is available for parts invoices (typically OEM parts ordered against the work pack) to support cash flow. We do not operate the 60- or 90-day net terms common in some insurer-panel agreements.
- Do I have to discount my labour rate?
- No. The partner rate is set at the partner's published retail labour rate for the relevant work band (panel beating, MET, paint, electrical/diagnostic). We negotiate the rate with the at-fault insurer on credit-repair authority (Dimond v Lovell [2002] 1 AC 384); the rate does not come out of the partner's margin. Where the at-fault insurer challenges the rate, we defend it on the partner's behalf using comparable published rates from the same region.
- What about ADAS calibration?
- Every modern vehicle (typically 2018-plus, but earlier for some manufacturers) requires post-repair ADAS calibration on cameras, radar and lidar where any structural, glass, suspension or wheel alignment work has taken place. The calibration paperwork is part of the work pack sign-off. We co-fund manufacturer-specified target boards and software updates for accredited partners through an annual capability grant.
- How is dispute handling done if a customer is unhappy?
- We handle the customer-facing complaint directly - partner garages do not need to manage customer complaints. The shop is asked for a written response with photographs and an engineer's review of the work. Most disputes resolve at that stage. Where the issue is genuine, the shop is asked to remediate at cost; where it is a customer expectation issue, we manage the customer position. We track partner complaint rates as a quarterly KPI.
Built on UK standards
PAS 125 / BS 10125
Repair standard
ABI GTA
Credit-hire framework
ABI Salvage Code
Cat A/B/S/N
UK GDPR Art 7
Separate consents
MIB 2017
Uninsured / untraced
OIC portal
Tariff-track injury
Standards we work to. Not an endorsement by, or affiliation with, the named bodies.
Related service lines
Services that often run alongside garage partners
Non-fault accident claims →
End-to-end coordination for non-fault drivers.
Accident recovery →
24/7 dispatch to a CCTV-monitored partner yard.
Accident storage →
Daily-logged secure storage with photographic record.
Credit hire →
Like-for-like replacement vehicle subject to eligibility.
Repair management →
PAS 125 / BSI compliant approved partner repairers.
Engineer inspection →
Independent engineer, retail repair scope.
Talk to a real person
Ready to start a garage partners claim?UK accident support, end-to-end.
The fastest way is to call. Or start the digital accident form and our team will pick it up. Available across England, Scotland & Wales.
Calls may be recorded for quality and compliance. We do not provide legal advice. Personal injury enquiries are referred only with your consent to authorised partners.
Visit our team
London office
124 City Road
London, EC1V 2NX
Coverage
- Phone & accident form24 / 7
- Recovery dispatch24 / 7
- Repair coordinationMon-Sat 8:00 - 18:00
- SundaysEmergency only
45+UK cities
9vehicle types
GDPRcompliant
Tip: submit the accident form first - our team will call back with a reference and next steps.