Damage to Car Just Before PCP Return

[RM]

So, idiot here reversed into a post. Damage looked minor, all rear panels are plastic, few ripped out screws and displaced panel and wheelarch trim. Which is true, most of it reseated easily, however the rear panel that runs below the boot is also cracked, about 2 inches is visible.

The car is on a PCP which is completed and it is being collected in 11 days time. I fear that the crack will fall into "Excessive Damage" on the BVRLA guidelines, and so will be expensive.

So I'm looking for advice - do I make a claim with the insurance now, then they pay Honda? Anyone with a similar experience?

[paul_c123]

What make/model car? I remember seeing an inspection with a similar sounding, what looked quite minor bumper damage but it was clearly cracked from a low speed impact with a post or similar. They wanted to charge for the complete bumper, which came out to about £800 for an Audi A4.

[carl_w]

What colour is the car? Can you find someone who can plastic weld it? Easier if it's black.

[maz8062]

Fix it or pay for it. The car will go straight to auction either way, but you’ll save yourself a pretty penny if it appears tired but complete.

[RM]

Thanks for the replies.

It is a Honda eNY1. The panel is plastic and painted in a pearlescent paint. There is zero chance of me getting it fixed in 11 days.

[PoorCarCollector]

Could you get the part off a breaker? Eg

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/285996409444

[carl_w]

I VT'd a PCP'd car and the collector noted 5 items that, quite rightly in my opinion, were damage. When I got the invoice from the finance company it turned out that 3 of them had been taken off the list on further inspection. The charge for the remaining two (wheels I think) was less than I could have got them fixed for.

[RM]

PoorCarCollector said:

Could you get the part off a breaker? Eg

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/285996409444

I enquired with that one but they said the panel wasn’t available. I should try more though.

[Dog Biscuit]

Arrgh that must be annoying!

Have you got any pics of the damage?

[E-bmw]

Don't over-think it.

As you have said you haven't time to repair/replace.

When it is picked up, 'fess up, they will note the damage, take the car away & then will get in touch to sort it out, then you should be able to negotiate with them.

I too returned a lease (rather than PCP) car a few years ago. There was a small (Jam jar sized) shallow dent from an a55hole in a car park which the inspector put on the report. A few days later the lease co got in touch and said as the mileage was under the annual mileage on the lease they would call it "swings & roundabouts" and there was no charge.

[raspy]

RM said:

So, idiot here reversed into a post. Damage looked minor, all rear panels are plastic, few ripped out screws and displaced panel and wheelarch trim. Which is true, most of it reseated easily, however the rear panel that runs below the boot is also cracked, about 2 inches is visible.

The car is on a PCP which is completed and it is being collected in 11 days time. I fear that the crack will fall into "Excessive Damage" on the BVRLA guidelines, and so will be expensive.

So I'm looking for advice - do I make a claim with the insurance now, then they pay Honda? Anyone with a similar experience?

I looked at the damage charges that are considered beyond fair wear and tear for my own lease car. They seemed quite reasonable and in all likelilhood probably cheaper than if I tried to get that damage repaired at my own cost before my lease car gets collected.

When you factor in the cost of your time (in terms of either trying to repair yourself or get it repaired by a place), then just paying the damage charge becomes an even better decision, imho.

[Dog Star]

I gave a Merc E class in a metallic red back in late 2021 and Mrs DS caught the number, scrape crack and hole.

I got billed £62. I had a very sympathetic inspector though.

I’ve seen quite a few bits of damage on cars being returned and damage charges are always waaaaaay lower than you would pay to get fixed yourself. Top example are scraped wheels - people spend a ton of money (not to mention the time and aggro) getting kerbed alloys repaired prior to return when very often they wouldn’t have got charged and even if they did it’d be about £50. I gave an SLK back with three scraped (badly I thought) wheels. Got charged £46 for one.

[dentmanwarren]

It’s all a bit of a scam really. They used to charge you for minor damage more than you would pay to have it repaired yourself, then not repair any of the damage but send it straight to auction.

Quite the revenue stream.

Then they realised a few years ago people were sick of having their pants pulled down with charges so were getting minor damage repaired before it went back so they weren’t able to charge you for damage they didn’t repair.

They lowered their charges below what it would cost you to sort out yourself, for damage they didn’t repair anyway, so they can keep charging you for damage they don’t repair

[fflump]

dentmanwarren said:

They lowered their charges below what it would cost you to sort out yourself, for damage they didn t repair anyway, so they can keep charging you for damage they don t repair

I don’t see why charging is unreasonable. They are charging for the damage not the repair- a car with damage will attract less at auction.

[Mandat]

dentmanwarren said:

It s all a bit of a scam really. They used to charge you for minor damage more than you would pay to have it repaired yourself, then not repair any of the damage but send it straight to auction.

Quite the revenue stream.

Then they realised a few years ago people were sick of having their pants pulled down with charges so were getting minor damage repaired before it went back so they weren t able to charge you for damage they didn t repair.

They lowered their charges below what it would cost you to sort out yourself, for damage they didn t repair anyway, so they can keep charging you for damage they don t repair

What is the relevance of whether they repair the damage or not?

The damage is still present, and the price achieved at auction will take the damage into account.

[dentmanwarren]

I didn’t say charging was unreasonable. I said they have reduced their charges because people were getting minor damage repaired. They’ve reduced their charges to deter people from doing that.

Minor damage makes zero difference to the auction price. Trade buyers absorb the refurb costs.

If it did affect the auction price why slash their charges on minor damage?

[Mandat]

dentmanwarren said:

I didn t say charging was unreasonable. I said they have reduced their charges because people were getting minor damage repaired. They ve reduced their charges to deter people from doing that.

Minor damage makes zero difference to the auction price. Trade buyers absorb the refurb costs.

If it did affect the auction price why slash their charges on minor damage?

You've answered your own question. It's to incentivise people to pay for the damage instead of making good the damage.

For many people, it will be cheaper, quicker, less inconvenient & more time saving to pay rather than making arrangements to carry out repairs. It sounds like a win-win for both sides.

[paul_c123]

Mandat said:

What is the relevance of whether they repair the damage or not?

The damage is still present, and the price achieved at auction will take the damage into account.

fflump said:

I don t see why charging is unreasonable. They are charging for the damage not the repair- a car with damage will attract less at auction.

What's the achieved price of a Grade 3 car vs a similar, but Grade 1 car, at auction?

[Doesitdrive]

fflump said:

dentmanwarren said:

They lowered their charges below what it would cost you to sort out yourself, for damage they didn t repair anyway, so they can keep charging you for damage they don t repair

I don t see why charging is unreasonable. They are charging for the damage not the repair- a car with damage will attract less at auction.

With minor damage it definitely will not, good cars are scarce, auctions won't sell unless they get what they want, small independent dealers are struggling for margins, big dealers and main agents buy most and can sell for higher prices.

Minor damage is classed as expected prep. They dont even look at wheels, just expect to get them done.