Top quality body repairs shouldn’t even look repaired; they should look brand new. However, this isn’t always the case. In fact, it’s all too common that accident damage isn’t repaired correctly.
If this is the case for you, we’ve created this handy guide to help you understand what your next steps should be if you realise accident damage hasn’t been repaired correctly.
How do you know if your car has been properly repaired?
To determine whether or not your car has been repaired correctly, you are entitled to inspect repairs before paying for the work or authorising the insurance to pay for the repairs.
If the damage was severe, we would encourage you to take your car for a short test drive. The things you should look out for during this test drive:
- The wheel alignment is correct
- The headlights are working
- The steering is normal
- Your car isn’t making any strange noises
If you suspect your vehicle has been repaired incorrectly, feel free to contact us at ST Accident Repairs for more advice.
How to inspect for insufficient vehicle repair
Thoroughly inspecting for insufficient vehicle repairs requires a systematic, hands-on approach to spot inconsistencies in body work, mechanical parts, and the quality of the work carried out.
1. Start with a body and structural inspection, looking for even gaps between each panel, door, and bumper. Then inspect for mismatched paint finishes under different lighting conditions, or over-sprayed paint/bubbling. Finally, examine the chassis legs and frame rails for uneven welds, cracks, or rust.
2. Next, move onto a mechanical and safety overview. Check for tires which are unevenly worn, mismatched bolts, and listen for rattles or other noises which are unusual and were present before repairs/damage.
3. Finally, test that all electrical systems are working soundly. Check lights, wipers, and screen interfaces to ensure they are working properly.
Who is responsible for faulty car repairs?
The responsibility for faulty car repairs depends on who chose the garage. If you used an ‘insurance approved repairer’, your insurer is responsible because they likely have a contract with the repairer, meaning they are liable for the work done.
If you chose to exercise your car insurance repair rights and went for your own garage, the responsibility lies with the garage/yourself. In essence, the insurer may step back, leaving your contract for repairs between yourself and the garage.
How to raise insufficient repairs with your insurer
If you feel an approved repairer has not done an adequate job of repairing your vehicle, you should complain directly to the insurance company, as well as the garage. Your insurer should work with you from this point to resolve the situation, handling communications with the garage too.
We’d recommend that you include as much information and evidence as possible when you raise this with your insurer, including photographs and/or videos of the faulty repairs.
The benefits of working with an insurance approved repairer
One of the positives of using an insurance approved repairer is that you can usually expect a higher standard of repairs. Approved garages typically have a contract with your insurer, which means they are held responsible for quality repairs, or they risk losing the contract.
On top of this, approved body shops strive to maintain positive relationships with insurers and customers alike, meaning that if a mistake is made in the repairs process, they’re usually willing to amend them conveniently and carefully.
For all your vehicle repair needs, contact ST Accident Repairs today.
