Lease car - Private repair

hal900027

Hello

So one of my friends reversed into the side of my lease car. As a result, the driver side wing has a slight dent and the drive side bumper is slightly scuffed.

He has asked if he can settle it through private repairs. And i am willing to do this, i did say i would take it to a main dealer garage, to make sure it's properly done.

How ever how likely would the lease company would find out? It's not leased directly from the dealer. How ever do crash repair, or dealer repairs log anything against the license plate?

Just concerned about any fines/penalty's when i hand the car back. How ever if it's in the repairs are perfect, would they know i got it repaired without telling them?

Or do you think if i contacted them they would allow me to have it repaired privately, rather than claiming against my friends insurance?

The reason why i am asking is that he is a relatively new driver, with already a high excess and premium.

neilmcl

I shouldn't think the lease co. will find out unless the repair is obvious. What colour is your car, is it metallic paint?

hal900027

Yeah metallic paint.

neilmcl

hal900027 wrote: »

Yeah metallic paint.

...Colour?

bigjl

Personally I would inform the lease company and the insurance company.

It is one thing to help a mate, it is something else to leave yourself potentially liable in the future.

Lease company are likely to spot such repairs as that is the business they are in.

You are not the first to be in this situation and the lease company are the legal owners of the the car.

They may have an approved repairer that is well priced.

If you use them then any issues regarding the repair quality are not your problem.

Might sound paranoid but I know a couple of people that had their cars fixed using a reputable smart repairer and the lease company noticed and they were sent a big bill.

The repairs were only for bumper scuffs and were done to a good standard.

But a contract is a contract, I don't think they would have even bothered doing anything to the bumpers but money is money and profit is profit.

It is admirable that you are trying to help a mate.

But cover your back.

flashg67

I work in the industry, and the lease co are only normally interested in getting the car back in acceptable condition using the fair wear & tear guidelines.
IMO, it's perfectly acceptable to get a repair done elsewhere. If you use a reputable repairer, with a guarantee, in the unlikely event the lease company pick it up at the end of the lease, you could get it rectified by the original repairer.
Many of our customers don't take any accident management with their leases, so we'd never know about any damage, unless it's done poorly.
My advice? get the repair done, but use someone reputable, and don't tell the leasing co.

Hintza

bigjl wrote: »

Personally I would inform the lease company and the insurance company.

That can only cost you more money.

hal900027

Think I'll go get a few quotes and get it done private. It's minor and in my agreement I can't see anywhere about not doing it privately. And they say that I only have to inform them if the damage is in excess of 500 ex vat. So I got 600 to play with. I'm seeing brand new genuine wing panels for sub 100 so doubt it will be that expensive....

bigjl

Portly_Pig wrote: »

He's on about taking it to a body shop and not having a smart repair. How would the lease company ever know if it's done right. Sure if a panel is date stamped, but if that's the only thing they could pick you up on then why bother to repair it? By your logic they will charge you anyway.

Panel date stamps?

It is a dent and some bumper damage.

Well within the scope of smart repair.

But you are confusing the level of repair with the fact that the situation is identical.

Damage repaired to a good quality.

They owner spotted it.

The owner wanted to get some money back under the terms of the contract.

Again.

The only thing you can do that means nothing can come back to bite you is to inform the vehicles owner, the leasing company, inform your insurance company, as legally you have to.

Then ask the owner of the vehicle for permission to get it repaired in a way that the owner is happy with.

Follow these simple steps and you will be completely legal and as the repairs have been done with the permission of the vehicle owner at a garage they have approved they can't complain.

And you don't need to have to replace panels to fix minor damage.

And no matter how good a repair is done there will be signs of the repair that will be spotted during the end of lease inspection.


My advice puts the OP at no risk of future financial penalty.

I have retread your post.

What exactly was your advice.

Other than trying I pick fault with the correct advice.

Ever leased a car?

The only time you can chose to repair a car in whatever way you see fit is if you own it outright.

Then it is your property and you can do what you like with it.

The only person that needs to be happy with the repair is you.

If you had ever bought ex lease cars from Auction you would know that it is easy to spot those with poor repairs.

You need to be able to spot them as those cars tend to have been treated less than kindly.

And do not make good retail stock or a good buy for personal use.

bigjl

Hintza wrote: »

That can only cost you more money.

And so does the OP being given a large bill for reparations at the end of the lease.

You legally have to inform your insurance company of any collisions even if they are not claimed for.

The OP didn't have an accident and his car was bit by a careless friend.

Why should they put themselves at financial risk due to somebody else?

And you think it will cost money.

You don't know it.

Might have missed it.

But apart from picking fault with my opinion.

What do you advise?

bigjl

Portly_Pig wrote: »

Its the labour that's expensive.

That is a good point.

And changing a wing is not a simple job, a lot of parts need to be removed.

If it needs a new wing then it is likely that the mounts for the bumper could be damaged.

OP needs to be careful so as not to leave themselves liable.

When the lease company says they don't need to informed about repairs of less than £500+vat I suspect they are considering things like bumper scuffs and wheel refurbishment.

Still doesn't mean they won't pick fault with the repairs at the end of the lease.