{"id":254179,"date":"2020-05-02T07:00:33","date_gmt":"2020-05-02T05:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/?p=254179"},"modified":"2020-05-01T19:55:31","modified_gmt":"2020-05-01T17:55:31","slug":"repair-or-replace-which-is-best","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/news-headlines\/2020\/05\/02\/repair-or-replace-which-is-best\/","title":{"rendered":"Repair or replace \u2013 which is best?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you are in an accident, you\u2019re probably thinking more about the speed of repair than the parts the shop will use to fix your vehicle.<\/p>\n

You also usually just go to the repair shop your insurer stipulates and don\u2019t give too much thought about which parts should really be repaired rather than just totally replaced.<\/p>

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The publication recently of draft guidelines by the Competition Commission seeking to increase transparency and allow consumer choice in relation to the service, maintenance and motor-body repairs of their motor vehicles, may change all that, however.<\/p>\n

Richard Green, national director of the South African Motor Body Repairers\u2019 Association (SAMBRA), whose members are responsible for repairing over 80 per cent of all insured repair claims in the country, said the proposed guidelines clearly state that the insured client has the right to choose its service provider based on the clients prior experience, and secondly, that the insurers may not preclude the clients from making that choice by the introduction of commonly used \u2018road blocks\u2019 such as indemnity forms.<\/p>

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Green said in future, if the guidelines are approved, it will be worthwhile for consumers to take more control over how their car is fixed, particularly in these tough economic times.<\/p>\n

\u201cDevelopments in repair technology have had a significant impact, dramatically improving the ability of our accredited SAMBRA members to repair metal and plastic panels on a motor vehicle,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

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The decision to repair or replace, depends on several factors though.<\/p>\n

Green said before deciding to have parts repaired, you need to think about the age of the vehicle and the amount of mileage it\u2019s done.<\/p>\n

Issues such as safety, cost, resale value, upfitting requirements, vehicle downtime, and the availability of a replacement vehicle all need to be taken into consideration and you should take guidance on this.<\/p>\n

Green said there is no doubt that credible service providers are well placed to repair metal and plastic panels but that said, there are certain watch points you should look out for.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor example, a responsible repairer\/insurer will insist on utilising original manufacturer parts during the warranty period of your vehicle.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a good idea that you check that these are, indeed, genuine manufacturer parts,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He also pointed out that if an insurer insists on writing off your vehicle, it\u2019s wise to approach a SAMBRA member, who can work with the manufacturer to save the car.<\/p>\n

This is especially important if your car is an old classic.<\/p>\n

Your SAMBRA accredited motor body repairer will also be able to inform you of any limits imposed by the insurer in terms of labour rates.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome insurers prescribe labour rates that simply do not allow the use of quality materials and technical staff, and this could negatively affect the quality of your repairs,\u201d Green explained, adding that SAMBRA recommends an industry base rate of R400 per hour.<\/p>\n

\u201cFinally, remember that your vehicle\u2019s value can be dramatically, and negatively, affected by poor repairs \u2013 which is why it\u2019s vital to check that anyone to whom you entrust the repairs to your vehicle, has been accredited by SAMBRA.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Hav<\/strong>e a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za,<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>or Busi Vilakazi (Journalist)\u00a0busiv@caxton.co.za.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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