scratched company car

housegirl83

Hi there

Quick one. ..

Got a pretty new company car and I accidentally scratched it a little and another car.

Spoken to the owner of the other car, there's no problems at all, damage is minimal (probably can be repaired by t cut) and she's absolutely fine for us to arrange for it to be repaired (if needed) by me rather than insurers. So we'll sort that out between us.

However, as it is a company car, am I ok to go ahead and fix the scratch on my car myself? I'll use a highly reputable company to do this (won't attempt to do it myself) as although I've not actually signed any thing saying I should or shouldn't repair it I believe I should take good care of the vehicle and keep it looking as it did when they gave it to me.

Do I need to tell my employer or can I just get it repaired professionally without bothering them with this nitty gritty? I've known people in the past who just fix cosmetic things without telling their employers but for me id rather make sure I was doing the right thing.

Thanks 😊

Richard53

The right thing is to make a full confession to your employers and throw yourself upon their mercy, offering to pay anything they deem necessary to fix the issue.


The sensible thing to do is to get it fixed to a good standard and keep shtum about it. What the eye doesn't see, and all that. Keep all the bills, just in case.

housegirl83

So either way I repair the damage so make it as stress free as possible for my employer is the long and short of it I guess!

Thanks.

colino

For goodness sake don't fix the car yourself! Read up on your own company policy on what you do after damaging one of their cars. Depending on size of fleet and actual ownership/insurance they might choose to have it professionally repaired or do nothing at all.

housegirl83

Thanks colino.

I'll try find the policy and double check.

Although just to confirm...I would be getting it professionally repaired I wouldn't be doing it myself �� so it would be a proper job not just a cowboy fix!

I'd like to make sure it's repaired and it shouldn't cost me more than the excess would so would prefer to sort it myself than my employer have to claim. I don't want this to cost them anything ��

atrixblue.-MFR-.

housegirl83 wrote: »

Thanks colino.

I'll try find the policy and double check.

Although just to confirm...I would be getting it professionally repaired I wouldn't be doing it myself �� so it would be a proper job not just a cowboy fix!

I'd like to make sure it's repaired and it shouldn't cost me more than the excess would so would prefer to sort it myself than my employer have to claim. I don't want this to cost them anything ��

New car as in brand new youll find that anti perforation warranty will be voided if you repair it outside the dealer network or dealer authorsied repairers if the dealership spots the repair. (a repair can be detectable to a trained eye).


You may also find that a private repair without first informing the employer for permission to rectify is a breach of employment contract, punishable by formal warning.

housegirl83

Hallo hallo.

Ok so it says nothing in my contract.

Checked the handbook and it says that any loss or damage to a company car due to 'lack of care' on my part is at the sole personal liability of me.

Doesn't say anything about having to notify anyone. And I've not signed anything for this car. So I'm guessing that basically means I have to fix it? So I should be fine to go ahead and repair?

Ps. I already know that the company I would use for the repair do authorised work for the car company. So don't think that should be an issue....

chrisw

Mine says I have to notify them of every incident. If I had scuffed it on a wall I would probably get it fixed myself and not tell them as it's unlikely they would ever know. However, the uncertainty arises when another party is involved and there is a possibility, albeit remote, that they could come back with a claim for whiplash for instance. The company wouldn't take too kindly to not having been told.

So I would tell them for information but let them know you are getting it sorted, I don't see how they can have a problem with that and you are covered.

PeacefulWaters

I'd be on a disciplinary if I kept quiet and then the other party submitted a claim.

Don't risk your job.

housegirl83

Well there can't be a whiplash claim as no one was in the other car at the time. Damage is hardly anything at all. And she was more than happy for me to offer to just pay for anything that may not come out with a bit of t cut (to be fair I think that'll fix it!)

I'll check what she says I think then make a decision ��