VW Finance Leasing and Accidents

[Steve vRS]

My Octavia was T boned last Thursday night and is awaiting repair. It’s definetly a repair not a write off.

I will inform VW Finance tomorrow as Friday was spent sorting out insurance and replacement cars etc. Are they likely to demand that they nominate the repair garage or will they be happy to let the insurer manage everything.

I imagine my insurer will put in place obstacles to me nominating a repairer rather than using theirs.

[Steve vRS]

Well of course VW want the car repairs by their approved body shop.

My insurers are happy with this but I’d now have to arrange delivery and collection of the car as well as now having to pay a large excess.

Not sure what to do now.

[oldaudi]

Im venturing into my first lease in March. Ive asked this question to the lease company today as it concerns me and something I want an answer to upfront.

Have other people had this issue?

[Alucidnation]

Unless it's in the contract, I wouldn't have even bothered telling them.

[Steve vRS]

The FAQ on the VW website said it should be done by one of their approved repairers so that’s where it is going now.

I have to pay the excess but hopefully that should be repaid by the other parties insurer.

[Kell]

It is perfectly reasonable to insist it goes to an approved repairer.

We had a similar situation with one of our Audis, in that the insurance co wanted to send it to so non-approved place.

We went and checked it out, and it looked good, but at least they get to keep the bodywork warranty intact.

Also, there used to be a service which ensured you weren't fobbed off with some pokey little runaround and would replace your car with something of similar size/stature which then gets passed on to the third party.

We weren't fussed, but if you need a car to visit clients etc, then you can insist on it.

[Gmlgml]

Every lease I have had (ten plus) has had buried in the small print that the car needs to go back to a manufacturer approved repairer.

I’ve only had to follow this up once: insurance company nominated a body shop and when I informed them it was a lease car they were fine to agree.

The only issue for me was it removed the courtesy car from their body shop.

The approved place put me in touch with what turned out to be an accident management company (which turned into a 18 month nightmare- but that’s another story.) Avoidable and not a reason not to use the approved body shop.

I’d definitely not advocate using the insurance company repairer as again (majority) in the small print contain a clause for non standard repairs being put right at the leasors expense!