How long is too long to repair a car?

[PKLD]

Not sure where to ask/put this but I’m getting increasingly frustrated that my car which was damaged in early December is still not back from the body shop.

It was a non-fault accident that ended up damaging some parts of front suspension, new alloy, bumper, running lights etc but the steering rack has also to be replaced which is on back order.

Having never had an accident before in all these years I don’t know if I’m being impatient or is it shocking that a VW Golf takes months to repair?

I’m not enjoying driving thousands of miles in a little hire car compared to the car I bought for that job

[Condi]

Depends on parts really.... if it's simple bodywork and all the parts are in stock then 3 weeks is too long.

If parts are on back order they can't really do much else, can they? You could phone VW and order one if, if they say they can deliver in 2 days then walk into the garage with the part, but if they say it's on back order and will be a month I'm not sure how you can speed the job up.

If insurance are paying you should get a similar car to yours as a hire car though. EG mid sized saloon for mid sized saloon.

[Krikkit]

If it's a very new car then it's not unusual for some parts to be very scarce as they're mostly allocated to new production...

I'd speak to the dealer and see if they've got a lead time, it whether they'll let you source from outside their network.

[PKLD]

Thanks, just didn’t know how common it is to be waiting months for parts. I’ve read people moaning that Tesla’s take ages for repairs, one of the reasons I went with a Golf was because it’s a Golf! Being a GTE I didn’t think would matter too much for normal parts...

Oh well just have to keep hammering around in a little Hyundai for a bit longer

[jollysoutherner]

Around 10 weeks for front end damage to a 6 week old Octavia. Really struggled to obtain headlight and trims for front bumper. 12k repair bill, plenty of items to source which delayed the work.

[P2KKA]

I work in a main dealer. A customer has been waiting for a part for over 200 days. I dont know why I was allowed to order it in the first place.

[Dadoc2001]

PKLD said:

Thanks, just didn’t know how common it is to be waiting months for parts. I’ve read people moaning that Tesla’s take ages for repairs, one of the reasons I went with a Golf was because it’s a Golf! Being a GTE I didn’t think would matter too much for normal parts...

Oh well just have to keep hammering around in a little Hyundai for a bit longer

If it is a 'non fault' claim you should have a vehicle of similar size/performance to what you have already. You shouldn't be inconvenienced beyond what is already an inconvenience! Get on to the insurance company dealing with the claim and insist on a like for like. If they dont you could threaten bringing in an accident claim company?

[Justin S]

A friend had a bump in an Audi A4 , where someone went up the back of him. All paintwork was repaired and only the tail light was needed to complete. Sat in the car park at the body shop for 6 weeks and still no sign of it. Then a same model car appeared in the body shop which would be written off , so the body shop nicked the rear light and stuck it in his and he got it back. Was a company car so wasnt fussed about new/ used rear light, just glad to get it back again as was only 6 months old.

[OlonMusky]

Justin S said:

A friend had a bump in an Audi A4 , where someone went up the back of him. All paintwork was repaired and only the tail light was needed to complete. Sat in the car park at the body shop for 6 weeks and still no sign of it. Then a same model car appeared in the body shop which would be written off , so the body shop nicked the rear light and stuck it in his and he got it back. Was a company car so wasnt fussed about new/ used rear light, just glad to get it back again as was only 6 months old.

I bet you the insco was charged for the cost of new parts at OEM prices.

[Olas]

Golf GTE steering racks are available on ebay - you could have had the car back together and on the road weeks ago!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_osacat=0&_o...

[Mexman]

I'm sure insurance companies dont pay for parts sourced from Ebay.

[Olas]

My previous coment does not suggest or imply that they do - I am simply highlighting the fact that parts availablility is not the problem.

[Dark85]

P2KKA said:

I work in a main dealer. A customer has been waiting for a part for over 200 days. I dont know why I was allowed to order it in the first place.

I once saw a Masterati repair that took over ten months because of delays in getting the parts. ( edit - Funnily enough I think that was the steering rack now I think about it.)

But parts is not the only source of delays, insurance companies are taken longer to issue authorities on claims lately. Over two weeks is pretty typical, which means in Decemeber you might well have run over the Christmas period still waiting authority meaning no parts ordered or work done until the New Year. It also sounds like there's quite a lot of damage which increase the chance extra damage will become apparent during the repair necessitating a supplementary authority - another couple of weeks(or more). It can also be much worse - a quick flick through my reccent files shows accident date to authority issued of 83days, 77 days, 62days, 60 day, 57 days, 56 Days, 52 Days...

Edited by Dark85 on Sunday 16th February 10:25

[Justin S]

OlonMusky said:

I bet you the insco was charged for the cost of new parts at OEM prices.

Potentially yes, but would probably be the cost of a weeks hire car , so everyone would be happy to get it fixed and the other insurance company getting rid of a long term hire car, friend getting his car back .

[Bungleaio]

I'm waiting for my bike to repaired after someone knocked it over. It took 8 weeks for them to actually own up to doing it. We are now 2 weeks after that and my insurance Co is still waiting for the money. They won't order the parts until they get the cash which is delaying it even further.

What’s also annoying is that I was told it could take 8 weeks to get my bike back at the start and seeing as it was early December when the accident happened I said I would be ok without a courtesy bike for 8 weeks seeing as it was winter. Now we are heading for spring I’ve asked for a bike as the other side has dragged out the claim but I’ve been told that I should have taken it at the start.

[syl]

Seemed to take ages to get our Citroen repaired at a non-dealer insurance approved place a decade ago. They appeared to get a move on when we asked them where they would like us to take their “brand new” Nissan Micra for its first (10,000) mile service a couple of months in.

[sideshowfred]

Olas said:

My previous coment does not suggest or imply that they do - I am simply highlighting the fact that parts availablility is not the problem.

Insurance company is unlikely to be happy having a second hand part fitted though. Availability may well be an issue from a factory order for a new one.

I work in parts at a main dealer and we have had a door card on backorder since the beginning of November. Still no sign of when it will become available.

[Jakg]

sideshowfred said:

Insurance company is unlikely to be happy having a second hand part fitted though. Availability may well be an issue from a factory order for a new one.

I think some do - or at least put in their T&Cs they can for this reason.

[RC1807]

Depends on the car.... I know of 2 US registered cars, same owner, a new Bentayga and an Aston, both of which need new roofs due to hail damage.

Neither manufacturer can supply that parts for the repairs. They've been order for a VERY long time!