Motability - someone hit me and slight damage on car

abbas5001

Hi all,

I am very annoyed sadly as i just got a new car a few weeks ago via Motability. Came back to it today and looks as though someone has hit it while parked.

There is a line through it where paint has come off, like if someone has keyed but only deeper into the body of it.

Also the back bumper in the corner is cracked.

The car is obviously still functioning and in the grand scheme of things the damage is minor. I tried to call motability but they are closed for the holidays until Tuesday. My question is, if anyone know or has experience, am i supposed to tell Motability and are they likely to offer to repair it, with the normal excess rules, or is it minor damage that i would have to fix privately.

Thanks

Robisere

I have been a Motabilty user since 1995 and in that time I have had more than one such incident, always in car parks except for one guy who was seen by 2 witnesses outside my house, to slightly damage my car and drive away. That one I dealt with through his company, who paid for the repair after I contacted Motability and insurer RSA.

The others may have been dealt with another way: I leave you to guess how.
The facts are these - Motability and their insurer RSA, require that any damage to a Motability vehicle, is reported to them. Yes, you will lose your excess, but you will not lose the £250 at the end of your 3 year lease, as a "Good Condition Bonus". Providing, of course, that you keep the car in good condition.

In a hypothetical situation, a Motability customer could suffer slight damage to their vehicle which should be reported to Motability/RSA, as per the handbook. However, in this hypothetical situation, it is possible for some Motability customers to take their car to a good repair shop and request a quote for the repair, for cash. I have heard that there are some Motability customers who have done this. It is entirely at their discretion and not in keeping with the details in the Maotability handbook that all Motability customers receive, but that, I am told, is what may happen.

I hope you get my gist. If any such hypothetical repair is carried out, it must of course be indistinguishable from the surrounding bodywork and paintwork.

Robisere

I have reread your post regarding the damage. I am also an ex-workshop foreman and should have read your post more closely, sorry.
What make/model of car?
If the rear bumper is cracked, is the bumper a one-piece part, or separate pieces? If a one-piece bumper, the whole bumper may have to be replaced. Unfortunately, when the bumper is a one-piece Polyurethane item, it often means that a small crack cannot be repaired. That means a whole new bumper, with paint and labour.
The "keyed" issue may also be a problem. Is it on a door? If it has even slightly damaged the bodywork, it means more paint. If the damage has dented the metal, that will be another problem.
I really think you need to ask a local bodyshop for advice, without disclosing that you are a Motability customer. The answer they give will tell you all you need to know. I don't mean to frighten you, the damage may not be that bad: perhaps you can photograph the damage and show it here?

abbas5001

Robisere wrote: »

I have reread your post regarding the damage. I am also an ex-workshop foreman and should have read your post more closely, sorry.
What make/model of car?
If the rear bumper is cracked, is the bumper a one-piece part, or separate pieces? If a one-piece bumper, the whole bumper may have to be replaced. Unfortunately, when the bumper is a one-piece Polyurethane item, it often means that a small crack cannot be repaired. That means a whole new bumper, with paint and labour.
The "keyed" issue may also be a problem. Is it on a door? If it has even slightly damaged the bodywork, it means more paint. If the damage has dented the metal, that will be another problem.
I really think you need to ask a local bodyshop for advice, without disclosing that you are a Motability customer. The answer they give will tell you all you need to know. I don't mean to frighten you, the damage may not be that bad: perhaps you can photograph the damage and show it here?

Thanks, it is a mercedes cla. I will post pictures tomorrow morning when i can take a picture in the light.

Lets just say i did report it to motability/rsa, would they be able to repair it, or tell me to take it to an authorised repair shop?

Robisere

They send you to a repair shop that they choose. In any one area, these are few and may be miles away from you. They give you a Loan car, usually a Europcar or similar hire car, whilst yours is repaired. You need to visit the Motability website and check out the FAQ's and other advice.

In my case of an accident not my fault, the repair shop was in Boston, almost 30 miles away. But they bring the hire car to you and take it back when they return your car. One tip, if there is a Loan car: make sure it is right for you. I have spinal and left leg problems, need an auto. I told them that but they sent a manual. I sent it back and got an auto.

Robisere

The cla, according to images from the Mercedes website, has a one-piece rear bumper. It also has embedded electronics for parking sensors and other devices.

esmerobbo

RSA will ask you for details if it is only minor damage they will log it give you a reference number and leave it till the end of the lease.

https://www.motability.rsagroup.co.uk/faq-accidents-and-damage-to-your-car.html

Robisere

esmerobbo wrote: »

RSA will ask you for details if it is only minor damage they will log it give you a reference number and leave it till the end of the lease.

https://www.motability.rsagroup.co.uk/faq-accidents-and-damage-to-your-car.html

Which may lose your £250 Good Condition bonus at the end of the lease. I would use another garage to find out how bad the damage might be, first.

esmerobbo

Robisere wrote: »

Which may lose your £250 Good Condition bonus at the end of the lease. I would use another garage to find out how bad the damage might be, first.

It never for me I had rather large dents on two doors where some lemon kicked them, reported to RSA and still got the good condition bonus at the end of the lease.
I wanted the dents repairing as they looked terrible but RSA said no as long as it is safe and roadworthy they would not do it until the end of the lease.
If the OP is worried about the £250 ask them to confirm the reported damage will not be detrimental to the end of lease bonus.
Also remembering that having the work done will cost the OP £100 excess.