I have had a minor scrape on my car (reversed into post!!).
If I do not go through the insurance company to get it repaired but go to crash repairers direct, (my excess is huge)will it ever show up on a HPI check as being damaged?
Thanks
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Only appears on HPI register if the ins co 'writes off' the vehicle.
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So is there any way anyone can check if it has been repaired?
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Most panel repairs/replacements are easy enough to spot because in many bodyshops the quality of the work leaves plenty to be desired.Sad fact but true enough.
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Most panel repairs/replacements are easy enough to spot because in many bodyshops the quality of the work leaves plenty to be desired.Sad fact but true enough.
I had someone crash into the side of me and the main dealer did to my eyes a fantastic job and I could not tell the difference. However when it came to PX the chap spotted it a mile off because the colour was (apparently) ever so slightly different. I presume that this was because the panel was 2 years younger than the rest of the car and had not had time to fade.
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My brother in law had a Fiesta Ghia in a sort of pinky rose metallic. Another car hit his wing mirror and gouged the paintwork on the door and wing. He went to the dearest spray shop around our way and it came back blemish free, you honestly couldn't tell which side had been damaged. You gets what you pays for, but he did pay an arm and a leg.
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I would definately just do it yourself, an accident that is your fault is the last thing that you want on your record as far is your premium is concerned.
It won't appear on HPI as it is the insurance companies that add information to this register, not the bodyshop. Besides, no genuine buyer would be put off by this if the repair is done properly at a reputable place. I'm getting my Fiesta done at a local bodyshop that specialises in Mercs, Porsches etc. and they only quoted £10 above the main dealer, but have a brilliant reputation. I expect the job to be perfect.
Oh, I always find one of the best times to spot panel colour differences can be when under streetlighting. It used to really highlight an apparent colour difference on my old Fiesta that was undetectable in daylight.
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You say its a minor scrape ,what about using a mobile repair company. I've used a local company for such scrapes and have been very impressed.
Its totally down to the skill of the repairer whether a good repair is acheived -ask how long they have been trading.
Like the other guys have said,HPI only records insurnace write-offs.
Its worth remembering because many cars have sustained massive amounts of damage but are not on the register because thier value at the time of the accident was high enough to avoid being written-off (i.e new cars).
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If the damage is above a certain severity then regardless of value I think the car is written off. I think that would put them in the realms of the category a & b write offs which have to be broken for parts not put back on the road. You're right that cheaper cars will get written off more easily though.
teabelly
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If you're worried about potential trouble at trade in time then it might be worth taking a photograph of the "minor" damage, before you have it repaired. That way, a potential buyer can see what he's getting.
Ian Cook
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A mate of mine had a car that had the rear suspension damaged in a collision with the kerb. It cost £2500 to put right (new alloy, sub frame, shockers, hub etc). It was put right by the main agent and you couldn't tell it had been in an accident.
He sold it 2years later and didn't tell the buyer. The AA inspection never picked it up either so I'd say the dealer did a good job.
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