The Dangers Of Smart Repairs
Wednesday, 16. March 2011
As people look for ways to save money they are certainly looking to prevent the bane of any driver’s life, the end of lease recharge. Many individuals and businesses have called in the services of the smart repairers to put their vehicles in an acceptable condition for return to the leasing company only to find the repair rejected and be faced with a full bodyshop repair bill to repair the repair. As a bodyshop will tell you, a smart repairer carrying out roadside repairs will never be as good as a bodyshop with all the space and equipment to work with.
Smart repairers will adequately repair alloy wheels and very minor abrasions (some would argue that these shouldn’t be charged for in the first place). Things like bumpers and trim can normally be smart repaired but anything more will require a full bodyshop repair.
So the few pounds you think you’ve saved could end up costing much more. I know of the leasing companies that are more and less tolerant than others, information that I share with customers but beware, some inspectors are now armed with paint depth gauges – I kid you not. Maybe you should buy your end of lease car instead – watch this space. Have you had any shocks after returning a smart repaired end of lease car? By Graham Hill
Car Body Repairs Says:
Great article. I agree with your comments on the boundaries of a smart repair service, if its bigger than a small scuff on a bumper or in an area where the paint can be bended in without any problems then its a body shop job for they have the ability to repair more severe collision damage.
Gareth Says:
Materials have advanced so much smart repair can now be carried out to a bodyshop standard, it’s the rouge smart repair people who give the industry a bad name, these people just assume you can become rich overnight and perform shoddy repairs. People are quick to judge smart repair but forget about shoddy repairs performed by bodyshops. I have done a lot of repairs on lease return cars without any problems or come backs.
Dean Pratts Says:
I agree with you in that larger collision damage such as multiple panel repairs should be fixed by a body shop. But if the damage is located on small sections of the car like bumpers wing mirrors or even wings then a good quality smart repair service should be able to carry out the job to a high standard. I think that it’s all about research, there are good and bad mobile repairers out there so look into the company before you use them.