Should insurance repairs use second hand parts?
Discussion
Last week was on the way to play tennis over lunch. Was following friend/opponent in his car. He stopped suddenly for a pedestrian and luck would have it, I was checking the mirror at that exact moment and bumped him from behind (we had just pulled away from a junction so I only hit him at less than 10 mph). My car undamaged. His had small dent in the rear bumper....which garage says will cost £1400 to repair. It will be sorted via the insurance (my car is a company car) but made me think. Seems like a lot and I'm sure the garage is going to use new parts and make it look wonderful. But his car isn't new and the bits being replaced were old. If they used second-hand parts the cost might be much lower and the car would still be returned to its condition prior to the shunt.
The cost of repairing vehicles is not borne by the insurance companies. They just pass on costs plus a margin. Therefore we are all paying higher insurance premiums to have cars repaired with new parts.
Would you accept cheaper repairs, if it meant substantially lower premiums?
Still, I doubt such a scheme would work in practice.
The cost of repairing vehicles is not borne by the insurance companies. They just pass on costs plus a margin. Therefore we are all paying higher insurance premiums to have cars repaired with new parts.
Would you accept cheaper repairs, if it meant substantially lower premiums?
Still, I doubt such a scheme would work in practice.
I wouldn't accept anything but new, unless I was paying ofcourse(-:. That said a lot of the cost is in the labour so that remains I suppose.
I had an old dear run up the tail end of my old Audi last year, repair bill circa 9k of which 50% or so was for the courtesy car for 3 weeks hire . There's the scam and unreasonable cost.
I had an old dear run up the tail end of my old Audi last year, repair bill circa 9k of which 50% or so was for the courtesy car for 3 weeks hire . There's the scam and unreasonable cost.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
I think you could put some items into a 'safety critical' category where 2nd hand parts were not permitted - suspension parts, axle beams, braking systems, steering, etc. - but cosmetic parts such as panels, doors, interior trim, bumpers, etc., could safely be replaced with used items.To some extent it may depend on the price of parts though, and whether there is enough cost saving between using a 2nd hand BMW bumper and a new pattern part. And you may find that the cost of 2nd hand parts goes up which would have an impact on the cost of spares people are trying to acquire privately to repair their own cars.
Insurers do use second hand parts. That's why its not always worth using the cheapest quote from confused.com...
A bodyshop local to me told me then have stopped dealing with one (large) insurer after they insisted that second hand parts were used on a car that was only a couple of years old. I can see the sense for older cars, but when the car is still in warranty it takes the piss!
A bodyshop local to me told me then have stopped dealing with one (large) insurer after they insisted that second hand parts were used on a car that was only a couple of years old. I can see the sense for older cars, but when the car is still in warranty it takes the piss!
I would have thought the labour cost can often outweigh the cost of the new parts when things do not go to plan.
Paint reaction on previously painted panels / paint lifting.
Damage no idetified prior to fitting.
Poor fitting pattern parts, you don't know if a part is genuine or pattern till you attempt to fit.
On older cars we have no choice often to source second hand parts or write the car off.
Paint reaction on previously painted panels / paint lifting.
Damage no idetified prior to fitting.
Poor fitting pattern parts, you don't know if a part is genuine or pattern till you attempt to fit.
On older cars we have no choice often to source second hand parts or write the car off.
egomeister said:
Insurers do use second hand parts. That's why its not always worth using the cheapest quote from confused.com...
A bodyshop local to me told me then have stopped dealing with one (large) insurer after they insisted that second hand parts were used on a car that was only a couple of years old. I can see the sense for older cars, but when the car is still in warranty it takes the piss!
This.A bodyshop local to me told me then have stopped dealing with one (large) insurer after they insisted that second hand parts were used on a car that was only a couple of years old. I can see the sense for older cars, but when the car is still in warranty it takes the piss!
Read the very small print on your insurance contract.Most will say they reserve the right to use second hand parts where they see fit.
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