If you did have to have the car repaired, you should be able to choose the repairer rather than use the insurer's repairer. In which case you could choose a Landrover approved repairer and keep your warranty in tact.

We did this when our 8 month old Mazda 2 was damaged by a car involved in a police chase. A local Mazda dealer had a bodyshop, and the car was repaired there.

Ironically, many main dealers outsource repair work - so it could well end up at the same body shop!

. LR Insurance have contacted me to warn me that if I insure with other insurers than their own (Zenith), I risk having repairs (in case of an insurable accident) which could invalidate my warranty.

Are you sure they actually said that. Every manufacturer will not give a warranty on repairs carried out by workshops outside their own but body repairs would not affect cliams on unconnected engine, electrical or other faults. Any problems arising from repairs would be warranted by the repair company.

If you were unfortunate enough to have an accident you could simply insist that Zurich take it to an official Land Rover repairer, no warranty problems then. But some insurers increase your excess if you don't use thier preferred repairers, with Aviva ours would increase from £200 to £300.

If they really did say what you quote refer land Rover to the insurance ombudsman. This sort of sharp practice needs to be stopped.