THERE is confusion among some car owners about what to do when they are repaired after an accident, according to the South African Motor Body Repairers’ Association (Sambra).
The national director of Sambra, Juan Hanekom, said that understanding what is authorized to repair the car gives owners confidence when they go to pick up their cars.
“One of the biggest confusions that car owners have is that every car is repaired after an accident. In fact, only repairs that are approved by the insurance company or the customer are done. If there is something else that needs to be done, the driver can talk to the car repairer and ask aside how much it would cost,” said Hanekom.
He said people should start by looking at what was being repaired when they pick up their cars.
Start with the area being repaired:
The area being repaired must be the same as the other side areas. One of the easiest ways to check is the gaps between the doors, the bonnet, the boot or where it was repaired. The gaps must be equal and in line with the body of the car.
“The repaired area must be the same as the rest of the car. It must not stand out too quickly,” said Hanekom.
Check the paint:
Hanekom suggests standing three to four feet away from the car and looking at the paint consistency in a naturally lit area. This shows you if you match the places around the car.
Check out the smaller areas:
Although the repairmen will return the car clean, but drivers should not expect it to be heated unless it is an agreement. However, drivers can check the area being repaired to see if it is level. Common things would be a policy that is left in the gaps and so on.
Make sure everything is working properly:
If it is specific to the area being renovated, windows, doors, lights and sensors must work properly. Drivers must file complaints when they pick up the vehicle and ask for an explanation of what has been done to it.
Sambra has encouraged drivers to choose to have their vehicles repaired at authorized service centers, ask questions about the work to be done and make sure they understand the work being done before taking the vehicle.