VW PCP finance + Admiral Insurance - who can repair the car after an accident?

remosquito

Well it had to happen one day... over 15 years trouble free motoring but this morning ran into the back of someone. Having never dealt with this before I suddenly feel totally unknowledgeable.

Firstly, my insurers (Admiral) say it's a "fault accident", i.e. I am automatically at fault for running into the back of another car.

Admiral have arranged to move the car to one of their approved repairers. It is likely to be repairable, not a write-off. Although I have not actually heard back from the repairer yet.

What I am not sure about is the implications of it being on the VW PCP finance. My VW documents just say I am "responsible for any damage to the vehicle, in excess of fair wear and tear."

So even though VW "own" the car, can I just go to any Admiral approved repairer?

IamNotAllowedToUseMyName

As long as the car is repaired to an adequate standard, then there is no issue. PCP companies are just bankers, not car people.

Where you may have an issue is at handover time where they might deem the repair inadequate and you would be liable, however, I would expect Admiral to have reputable repairers. When the car is returned to you, treat it exactly as if it were your own, and ensure that the repairs are properly done.

PCP does not depend on you not having had an accident to retain your side of the bargain, and it would be unreasonable of them to make a charge against you simply because it had been in an accident - that's their risk in terms of the value - as long as the repair is done to a professional standard.

neilmcl

Just to add you do have the right, even with a fault claim, to get your car repaired at any repairer of your choosing but you may not get a courtesy car offered by your insurer and some may even charge you a higher excess. Check the T&Cs of your policy.

AdrianC

remosquito wrote: »

Firstly, my insurers (Admiral) say it's a "fault accident", i.e. I am automatically at fault for running into the back of another car.

Not "automatically", but the circumstances in which the car in front of you is at fault would have to be fairly exceptional - like it changed lanes in front of you leaving you insufficient space to stop.

What I am not sure about is the implications of it being on the VW PCP finance. My VW documents just say I am "responsible for any damage to the vehicle, in excess of fair wear and tear."

There y'go, then.

So even though VW "own" the car, can I just go to any Admiral approved repairer?

Yes, if it doesn't explicitly say otherwise in the lease.

Shaka_Zulu

neilmcl wrote: »

Just to add you do have the right, even with a fault claim, to get your car repaired at any repairer of your choosing but you may not get a courtesy car offered by your insurer and some may even charge you a higher excess. Check the T&Cs of your policy.

I don't think in the instance the OP should go down this route ie if repairs are sub standard then the OP would have no come back against Admiral and/or their repair centre.

neilmcl

Shaka_Zulu wrote: »

I don't think in the instance the OP should go down this route ie if repairs are sub standard then the OP would have no come back against Admiral and/or their repair centre.

Go down what route, getting it repaired at a repairer of his choosing, ie a VW authorised repairer?

If the repair is sub standard then he'll still have comeback against the repairer, and not only that VWFS will be less inclined to question the repair if completed by an official VW repair shop.

remosquito

Thanks everyone for the comments... I didn't mean to disappear but just bad timing meant I got shipped out overseas for work a couple of days after the accident. So not only did I have this claim to sort out, I had to do it all remotely!

Anyway I went ahead with the approved Admiral repairer in the end. Admiral policy is that genuine parts and paint must be used. Repair is guaranteed for 5 years, which is well past the PCP duration. VW were helpful when I called them, they gave us a final settlement in case it was written off, and explained that if repairable there was nothing in the terms and conditions saying it has to be repaired at a VW dealer. Only thing would be that if they inspect it at the end of my PCP and find a problem, then I'd be responsible for it.

Should be getting the car back this afternoon, fingers crossed everything is ok with it, well at least all the stone chips on the front end should be gone