Am I being ripped off by Zipcar?

rilo

Hi all,

As someone who as regularly hired cars for 10 years, but never owned, and thus never been responsible for repair etc, I would like to ask some advice.

I recently had a little prang in a Zipcar, where I reversed into a van that was pulling up behind me (not exactly sure who was at fault, I suspect it was shared between me and the other driver, but I accepted my responsibility in it).

I have just received the bill for the damage from Zipcar, totaling well over £1000, £750 of which I'm responsible for as excess. This amount, to my non existent knowledge, seems ludicrously high considering the extent of the damage.

Can anyone advise, going by the picture that I have attached, whether the cost is realistic and reasonable? If so, I'm happy to pay, I just got quite a shock.

Just found out that as I've only made a few posts I can't add a link/picture. Please copy and paste the below, adding "https://" at the start into your address bar.

goo.gl/photos/nkQ1TXrm6LjLoHCu6

Sorry for negating the forum rules, but I really need some assistance and am most certainly not a spammer. Appreciate anyone who can take the time to look at the link and give some advice.

Thank you

agrinnall

What looks like minor damage can very easily cost a lot more than you might think, £1000 of bodywork repairs is not unexpected. Unless Zipcar will allow you to get your own assessment done I think you'll have to suck it up.

Inner_Zone

If you look at the Zipcar website £750 is their standard excess, you had the option to reduce it but if you did not then it stands.

bigjl

New bumper in a brand new i30 will likely have to come from Hyundai.

I would suspect it will be not far off £500, then you will need a new reversing sensor as that appears to be missing. Don't know if the bumpers are supplied painted or if that will have to be done.

Then you have maybe and hour to strip and an hour to refit, so easily £150 Labour.

Then the fact the car has to be transported to get repaired, a new vehicle has to be placed at the usual hire point aswell which also incurs cost.

To put some perspective on costs I was rear ended in a mk3 Mondeo about 6/7 years ago, the repair was a rear bumper only, the Insurance repair cost was just over £1000.

rilo

Inner Zone, I know the Zipcar rules, and as said above, if the price they are quoting is fair, I'm happy to pay it. I'm not questioning their terms, I'm questioning their assessment of the damage, because, to me, over £1000 for what seems like very minor damage feels like an awful lot.

agrinnall, that was the answer I feared / expected. Thanks for the input

Edit - Thank you bigjl for the breakdown of costs and explanation. Very helpful

arcon5

Sounds excessive to me.
Ask them for a breakdown

arcon5

Inner_Zone wrote: »

If you look at the Zipcar website £750 is their standard excess, you had the option to reduce it but if you did not then it stands.

If you look at the op she's not arguing the excess. She wants to know if people think the costs are fair

Inner_Zone

arcon5 wrote: »

If you look at the op she's not arguing the excess. She wants to know if people think the costs are fair

OK, however the cost seems fair to me as the bumper will probably just be supplied primed.

bigjl

arcon5 wrote: »

Sounds excessive to me.
Ask them for a breakdown

How much is a brand new i30 bumper, fitted and painted? How much for the reversing sensor?