Garage crashed my car. What to do?

Garage crashed my car. What to do?

Author
Discussion

fatandwheezing

Original Poster:

414 posts

157 months

Saturday 11th June 2016
quotequote all
Our Volvo was in for a service, and during some maneuvering they managed to crash it. Drivers door and back bumper need replacing, and the rear quarter has a big dent in it.

Garage have been OK, not sure I believe the explanation, but these things happen and they held their hands up straight away, and they've given us a courtesy car as quickly as they could.

Just wondering what else I need to be aware of? They do accident repairs, so will be fixing it themselves.

Riley Blue

20,906 posts

225 months

Saturday 11th June 2016
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They've held their hand up, they're going to repair it and they're giving you a courtesy car. Job done.

TwigtheWonderkid

43,244 posts

149 months

Saturday 11th June 2016
quotequote all
Agreed. And on a matter like this, no need to advise your insurers of any claim/accident or loss. Someone else was using your car, they insured it for the time they had it, they crashed it, they fixed it. If you'd left it with them and gone on hols, you might never have even known about it.

KungFuPanda

4,324 posts

169 months

Saturday 11th June 2016
quotequote all
What to do? Nothing by the sounds of it.

HustleRussell

24,602 posts

159 months

Saturday 11th June 2016
quotequote all
How on earth did they manage to inflict so much damage all over the car? Highly suspicious.

bad company

18,483 posts

265 months

Saturday 11th June 2016
quotequote all
Happened to me once. BMW phoned to tell me they had damaged my car while it was in for service. They supplied a courtesy car & fixed mine, no problem.

I really wouldn't worry.

Evolved

3,553 posts

186 months

Saturday 11th June 2016
quotequote all
I'd have understood the concern if it were some back street garage and they were being funny about it but a main dealer who have agreed to fix no questions asked, just leave them to it and wait for the car back..

I guess you could try for some free services by way of compensation but there's not a lot else you could ask for.

stuttgartmetal

8,108 posts

215 months

Saturday 11th June 2016
quotequote all
Depends how new the car is.
Value is affected by body repairs.
I'd ask for advice from my insurer.

DuraAce

4,240 posts

159 months

Saturday 11th June 2016
quotequote all
stuttgartmetal said:
Depends how new the car is.
Value is affected by body repairs.
I'd ask for advice from my insurer.
How is it?

I understand if it's gets a CAT C/D marker but if it's repaired and not written off then you'd never know. It won't show on HPI.

My car has a minor bump/repair. If I trade it in and you buy it from a dealer then you'd never know would you? I can't see how it's value is affected.

Evolved

3,553 posts

186 months

Saturday 11th June 2016
quotequote all
stuttgartmetal said:
Depends how new the car is.
Value is affected by body repairs.
I'd ask for advice from my insurer.
Only if recorded, and please don't phone the insurance!

You would be amazed at how many 'brand new' cars have had a similar amount of work before ever being delivered to the first owner. If the repair is done well then there's no way of knowing..

TwigtheWonderkid

43,244 posts

149 months

Saturday 11th June 2016
quotequote all
stuttgartmetal said:
I'd ask for advice from my insurer.
I can give you their answer....."Bugger off, the car was being used by someone else who had their own policy covering them and it's got nothing to do with us. "

tarnished

13,599 posts

95 months

Saturday 11th June 2016
quotequote all
DuraAce said:
How is it?

I understand if it's gets a CAT C/D marker but if it's repaired and not written off then you'd never know. It won't show on HPI.

My car has a minor bump/repair. If I trade it in and you buy it from a dealer then you'd never know would you? I can't see how it's value is affected.
Depends on the quality of repair. I've walked away from cars which didn't look quite straight and sometimes they've confessed it had been damaged and repaired.

tarnished

13,599 posts

95 months

Saturday 11th June 2016
quotequote all
Evolved said:
I'd have understood the concern if it were some back street garage and they were being funny about it but a main dealer who have agreed to fix no questions asked, just leave them to it and wait for the car back..

I guess you could try for some free services by way of compensation but there's not a lot else you could ask for.
Was it in with a main dealer?

OldGermanHeaps

3,801 posts

177 months

Saturday 11th June 2016
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I suppose it all really depends on the quality of the repair and the suitability of the curtosy car.

fatandwheezing

Original Poster:

414 posts

157 months

Saturday 11th June 2016
quotequote all
Great, that's the response is hoped for. Someone else suggested I go straight to my insurance, but I couldn't see how that would help.

Also agree the damage is odd. I think it was basically the mechanic messing about reversing out with the door open, foot slipped on the pedal and he has no control as he's hanging out the door.

Old Merc

3,486 posts

166 months

Saturday 11th June 2016
quotequote all
All you want is your car repaired perfectly,you DO NOT want your insurance involved.The garage will either take the cost on the chin or make a claim on their motor trader`s policy.
Accidents happen,they have held their hands up,provided a loan car,and will carry out the repairs,what more can they do? ( Maybe there is a vacancy in the service department? )

Evolved

3,553 posts

186 months

Saturday 11th June 2016
quotequote all
tarnished said:
Was it in with a main dealer?
Possibly not having re read it, obv read it wrong the first time around.

hedgefinder

3,418 posts

169 months

Saturday 11th June 2016
quotequote all
tarnished said:
Depends on the quality of repair. I've walked away from cars which didn't look quite straight and sometimes they've confessed it had been damaged and repaired.
this times 1000 ! iI have seen some hideous repairs done by back street garages and small time dealers.

steveo3002

10,492 posts

173 months

Saturday 11th June 2016
quotequote all
agreed do not mention to insurance

chances are it will all be fine , maybe take along someone with you on collection to go over it and make sure the paint is all good and everything is done to a good standard

Butter Face

30,191 posts

159 months

Saturday 11th June 2016
quotequote all
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Recorded where? The only thing 'recorded' is if a car is written off. You could change every panel on a car and nothing would be 'recorded' anywhere.

Let them repair it, check you're happy with the paintwork, move on.