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Cost of motor accident repairs - can they be challenged?

  • 05-04-2019 6:50pm
    #1
    Carnmore
    Registered Users Posts: 407 ✭✭


    Can anyone say if a repair cost is fair and whether it can be challenged?

    A friend's Nissan van was rear ended - low speed impact - and it needs both back doors replacing, a new bumper and a small dent in the floor pulling out.

    There is no issue with liability and the driver of the other vehicle's insurance will pay for the repairs.

    The repairing garage has agreed repair costs of €4400, not including the cost of a hire car.

    Although it is covered by insurance, it just seems to be excessively high for light damage and ultimately we all pay for claims through our insurance premiums.

    My friend is reluctant to sign off on this cost as she thinks it's being overcharged.

    Would appreciate any thoughts on this.


Comments

  • #2
    amcalester
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,121 ✭✭✭amcalester


    She can go somewhere else and try for a cheaper quote, but really, why bother?


  • #3
    Barcafan11
    Registered Users Posts: 117 ✭✭Barcafan11


    amcalester wrote: »
    She can go somewhere else and try for a cheaper quote, but really, why bother?

    Too right she should question it. And fair play as Well. She should Google the price of the doors and a bumper. Sounds like somebody is in for about 3 and a half grand profit.


  • #4
    Carnmore
    Registered Users Posts: 407 ✭✭Carnmore


    Barcafan11 wrote: »
    Too right she should question it. And fair play as Well. She should Google the price of the doors and a bumper. Sounds like somebody is in for about 3 and a half grand profit.

    She's done that but there are no prices online for new rear doors just used on eBay.

    I thought insurance companies were quite strict on repairer pricing?


  • #5
    amcalester
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,121 ✭✭✭amcalester


    Barcafan11 wrote: »
    Too right she should question it. And fair play as Well. She should Google the price of the doors and a bumper. Sounds like somebody is in for about 3 and a half grand profit.

    She’ll put more effort into finding a cheaper quote than the insurance company will in approving the repair, and the other driver’s premium will increase the same regardless.

    The injured party will just stress themselves out and waste their own time for no gain.


  • #6
    Barcafan11
    Registered Users Posts: 117 ✭✭Barcafan11


    amcalester wrote: »
    She’ll put more effort into finding a cheaper quote than the insurance company will in approving the repair, and the other driver’s premium will increase the same regardless.

    The injured party will just stress themselves out and waste their own time for no gain.

    Is it an option to avoid the insurance?? Shopping around is definitely an option if it is


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  • #7
    Carnmore
    Registered Users Posts: 407 ✭✭Carnmore


    amcalester wrote: »
    She’ll put more effort into finding a cheaper quote than the insurance company will in approving the repair, and the other driver’s premium will increase the same regardless.

    The injured party will just stress themselves out and waste their own time for no gain.

    It seems that insurance companies just mindlessly pay out then without due diligence?


  • #8
    amcalester
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,121 ✭✭✭amcalester


    Barcafan11 wrote: »
    Is it an option to avoid the insurance?? Shopping around is definitely an option if it is

    Only if the other party agrees to pay the cost themselves, and if they want to do that they’d suggest it.


  • #9
    amcalester
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,121 ✭✭✭amcalester


    Carnmore wrote: »
    It seems that insurance companies just mindlessly pay out then without due diligence?

    €4.5k from a rear ending? The insurance company would be delighted that’s all it’s costing them.

    Was the vehicle assessed by an assessor? That’s the due diligence.


  • #10
    Barcafan11
    Registered Users Posts: 117 ✭✭Barcafan11


    Carnmore wrote: »
    It seems that insurance companies just mindlessly pay out then without due diligence?

    They sure do. I know somebody in the trade and 90 % of his work is insurance work. There seems to be a bottomless pit of money, and any random mad figure just gets the go ahead no questions asked


  • #11
    alias no.9
    Registered Users Posts: 6,263 ✭✭✭alias no.9


    Doubt there's much to be saved outside of second hand parts and under the counter payments, neither of which would be entertained by an insurance company.

    Would you expect a garage to stand over that kind of work? How do you think a future buyer would feel about it?


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  • #12
    Fanny Wank
    Registered Users Posts: 1,288 ✭✭✭Fanny Wank


    Carnmore wrote: »
    It seems that insurance companies just mindlessly pay out then without due diligence?

    I'd be shocked if the company didn't send an assessor out to also assess damage/query cost

    I've claimed for less and the insurance company did use an assessor


  • #13
    jimmycrackcorm
    Registered Users Posts: 14,329 ✭✭✭✭jimmycrackcorm


    Get a proper quote from a garage with a breakdown of what the costs are.


  • #14
    Skatedude
    Registered Users Posts: 2,674 ✭✭✭Skatedude


    A small dent in the floor had to be pulled out as well as 2 rear doors? Sounds like the cars frame was bent and had to be fixed, That's not a easy or cheap job.


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