Cost of accident repairs

Carnmore

Can anyone say if a repair cost is fair and whether it can be challenged?

A friend's Nissan van was rear ended - low speed impact - and it needs both back doors replacing, a new bumper and a small dent in the floor pulling out.

There is no issue with liability and the driver of the other vehicle's insurance will pay for the repairs.

The repairing garage has agreed repair costs of £3800, not including the cost of a hire car.

Although it is covered by insurance, it just seems to be excessively high for light damage and ultimately we all pay for claims through our insurance premiums.

My friend is reluctant to sign off on this cost as she thinks it's being overcharged.

Would appreciate any thoughts on this.

lewishardwick

Insurance claims are rumoured to be "inflated".

But actually, supply, fit, respray and blend (maybe) two doors and a bumper in a commercial vehicle is quite a bit of work.

Is this main dealer? A local specialist could do an equally good job for less.

Carnmore

Local independent accident repairer

Carnmore

Dr.Watson wrote: »

If it's done the doors a bumper it's quite a bit of damage. Has your friend seen what it's done behind the bumper?

No damage behind the bumper

Tokk

Ultimately it's the other party's fault and their insurance paying out - if you can find it cheaper, odds are it'll wind up with non-approved repairers excess coming into play.

Whilst very civic minded, I think this is being overthought - one claim by itself won't make much difference to premiums and unless an awful lot of people start thinking this way, it won't anytime soon either.

Carnmore

Tokk wrote: »

Ultimately it's the other party's fault and their insurance paying out - if you can find it cheaper, odds are it'll wind up with non-approved repairers excess coming into play.

Whilst very civic minded, I think this is being overthought - one claim by itself won't make much difference to premiums and unless an awful lot of people start thinking this way, it won't anytime soon either.

It just seems that insurance companies just mindlessly pay out then without due diligence?

PDC

Probably not overcharged as such but one of those things where the insurer will use a mid sized business with the capacity to do the work quickly. Those business' will likely have a lot more general overhead than, say, a repairer with a two person garage who will 'try to fit it in next month'.

So could it be done cheaper, likely yes, but is it practical for the insurers to do so...

Tokk

PDC wrote: »

Probably not overcharged as such but one of those things where the insurer will use a mid sized business with the capacity to do the work quickly. Those business' will likely have a lot more general overhead than, say, a repairer with a two person garage who will 'try to fit it in next month'.

So could it be done cheaper, likely yes, but is it practical for the insurers to do so...

Yep... And done quicker (even at higher headline cost) can be cheaper for the insurers - lowers hire cost!

Carnmore

Tokk wrote: »

Yep... And done quicker (even at higher headline cost) can be cheaper for the insurers - lowers hire cost!

Still had the vehicle 9 days!

Tokk

Carnmore wrote: »

Still had the vehicle 9 days!

True but if they've not had the go ahead what do you expect?

The insurance companies will have done the homework - if it's cheaper to pay more for the repair and have it done faster (because it reduces the number of days they have to pay for hire vehicles) then they'll do it if the overall cost is cheaper for them... It'll be done to formula, of course, so it might not be the case every time but on average it must be or they wouldn't be doing it.