Insurer Medical Assurance has ranked best for the second consecutive year in the New Zealand Collision Repair Association’s (CRA) annual survey.

IAG-owned AMI was ranked second overall in the online survey, followed by Vero/AMP.

Crash repairers rated 15 insurers on speed of resolution, price and the insurers’ relationship with vehicle owners and repairers.

CRA ranked AMI highest in terms of relationship management. When only price and the claims process were considered, Medical Assurance ranked best.

Using a scale of one (poor) to four (excellent), the industry average fell slightly to 2.78 from 2.82 in 2011.

CRA GM Neil Pritchard says low-cost repairs are an ongoing pressure for the industry.

“CRA members are obligated to stand behind the quality of their workmanship,” he said. “However, because the industry is unregulated others are less so.

“Consumers do still have a choice, though, about which insurer they select. The aim of this survey is to help them make more informed decisions.”