Panel damage on lease - insurance job or hand it back?

[Chiefbadger]

I have a leased Golf R Estate that I've had since June 17 - due back June 19. Last month I had a crash in France (trying to avoid a bigger accident) and clipped the central reservation. It's purely cosmetic - literally a glancing dink into the reservation - but it's dented every panel on the passenger side.


Typically of course, I renewed my insurance in June and took off my protected NCB, courtesy car cover, increased voluntary excess etc as haven't had an accident in 15 years. Idiot.

So I either:


Pay £500 excess and am without a car for however long the repair takes (1-2 months depending on part availability I guess) while still paying the lease at £250p/m and lose my NCB discount - so say circa £1000 potentially more.


or


Just run the car for the next 9 months and hand it back and pay the damage as per VWFS charges. For a 'dented' panel, VW charge £138 per panel so circa £600 cost. However they also have an 'excessive damage' marker which would then mean pricing is based on approved retailer pricing.


or



Should I just get it done at a decent panel shop myself? My gyess is that panel replacement is more likely than repair (particularly for front wing and passenger door) though - so probably more money?!

Any advice appreciated particularly if you happen to work for BCA!

[Chiefbadger]

[Chiefbadger]

Excuse the sideways pics. No idea why I can't make them work. They're correct on my PC!?

[HustleRussell]

Mate that's £2k damage minimum, they are never going to put that right for £138 per panel That'll be a paintless dent repair guy who would simply go home if confronted with that.

claim without a doubt.

[familyguy1]

Chiefbadger said:

It's purely cosmetic - literally a glancing dink into the reservation - but it's dented every panel on the passenger side.

wow the looks to be more than a "glancing dink" ! I would imagine handing it back you might get stung for a lot more than the per panel price.

[Chiefbadger]

HustleRussell said:

Mate that's £2k damage minimum, they are never going to put that right for £138 per panel That'll be a paintless dent repair guy who would simply go home if confronted with that.

claim without a doubt.

Thanks - that was what logic dictated, but it's due to go in to the bodyshop tomorrow and I had a sudden wobble. Also don't want to be driving a bashed up car round for 9 months, but just clutching at straws!

[HustleRussell]

P.S. you'll lose your excess and have a few years knocked off your NCD but it's not the end of the world and the bodyshop should be able to turn that around within a couple of weeks.

[Chiefbadger]

familyguy1 said:

wow the looks to be more than a "glancing dink" ! I would imagine handing it back you might get stung for a lot more than the per panel price.

Fair - I guess given we were in the outside lane of a motorway in France at circa 120kph it's never going to be a dink, but literally clipped it by a couple of inches. Just caused a lot of damage!

[Gary29]

Give it back in the rain and hope they don't notice.