Smash repairs

[Mik01]

G'day. For reasons I'm not willing to broadcast just yet, we had an accident on our holiday recently which caused a fair bit of damage to the Prado.

Our insurer says go see their smash repairer and we get to choose one, but they make the final choice based on 'value for money and price'. Which I assume just means cheapest.

So I have only one shot at finding a decent smash repairer in Brisbane, and hope it's the cheapest.
My question is, do any specialise in makes? Ie Toyota specialised repairers? Or do you take pot luck with a repairer?
Anyone with experience in smash repairs and quality of work, either in Brisbane or elsewhere in general?  Mike

[scarps]

Who are you insured with?  I'm with RACV here in Vic and when Skippy shoulder charged my then 4by, RACV asked me to take it to one of 3 of their preferred body shops in my area. Work came with owner life guarantee from RACV so didn't really matter which one I took it to.


This post is proudly sponsored by the power of a 2013 Navara V6 Turbo Diesel.
Nissan, runner up at Bathurst 2014. Can't remember who won..........

[Mik01]

Yeah it's AAMI. They have the same policy, but a mate had repairs way back and his sunroof leaks etc. whilst the 'lifetime' repairs guarantee is all well and good, I want to find a quality repairer first time if possible.

Looks like I need a new roof, sunroof, windscreen, bonnet, bull bar, roof rails, and other ancillary attachments!

[oldmate]

G'day. For reasons I'm not willing to broadcast just yet, we had an accident on our holiday recently which caused a fair bit of damage to the Prado.

Our insurer says go see their smash repairer and we get to choose one, but they make the final choice based on 'value for money and price'. Which I assume just means cheapest.

So I have only one shot at finding a decent smash repairer in Brisbane, and hope it's the cheapest.
My question is, do any specialise in makes? Ie Toyota specialised repairers? Or do you take pot luck with a repairer?
Anyone with experience in smash repairs and quality of work, either in Brisbane or elsewhere in general?  Mike

Pm sent

[Mrs smith]

As far as Im aware you can have your car repaired at any repairer of your choice these days, the assessor will check the costing and if its dearer than there assessment you may have to pay the difference. 
Last roo we hit in the family car, thats how it worked for us in Vic.

[whitey1]

Yeah, you should be able to choose your repairer yourself. Generally you'll need at least 2 quotes and if the quotes are similar its up to you who fixes it.
If you don't like the insurers "preferred" repairer, don't let them push you into it.
Sorry I can't tell you where to take it cause I'm from WA!

[Mik01]

Didn't know about the possibility of paying the difference. Will call and ask tmrw.
Surely all panel beaters aren't the same, so there must be some way of working out who is better?

[Mrs smith]

Didn't know about the possibility of paying the difference. Will call and ask tmrw.
Surely all panel beaters aren't the same, so there must be some way of working out who is better?

Not all shops might be interested in your repair, so they may stack the quote. Thats where the assessor will cut there quote back, if you insist on them doing the repair
then you may have to neg the excess expense. This can have the effect of getting even a good shop to turn out a less than satisfactory repair first time, we had ours back as It wasn't up to what I was happy to accept. Was a big shop, preferred repairer with most insurance mobs with Life time guarantee repairs and crap.

[terravista]

Ya gotta be careful with the "lifetime warranty" from AAMI's repairers (and probably others).
We had an Avalon rear ended and the force bent the back of the drivers seat backwards.
AAMI told us to get 2 quotes and for some wierd reason they went with the cheapest quote.
When first driven after pick up, we noticed the back of the seat was twisted, and driver was pointed at the window pillar.
We took it back and it was fixed under the "Lifetime Warranty" by the panel beater jumping into the back seat and pushing the right hand side of the seat with his legs to straighten it.
When I queried the potential seat damage from the twisting he said "no problems mate, bring it back anytime and I'll straighten it again at no charge". I contacted AAMI, and was asked if I was had a Uni degree in metal fatigue, and if not it was up to the repairer to do the job to an acceptable standard.
Go AAMI.
It's like a lifetime warranty I had with a wristwatch when I was a teenager.
The watch died, and I took it back to the jewellers to claim the warranty, and he said "Yep the watch is dead. The lifetime warranty no longer applies"
I'd be tempted to go with a repairer recommended from someone from here, but check out a few cars they are repairing when they do your quote and see what the work looks like.
There certainly is no guarantees in this world, just warranties that are written with deliberate "outs" built in.

[Mik01]

yeah - all this is why im nervous about the quality of repairs and repairers.

when I get more info, and go through the journey, I might post up more info and before and after pics of the process - a decent repairer would appreciate the good PR if the work and service is top notch!

[Beachman]

About 5 years ago someone ran into the back of my Wife and at the time one of Dad’s mates had his own panel shop. I wanted to use this guy because I knew he cared about his reputation and he always went out to do a good job.

Anyway like you, I needed 3 quotes. So I went to my mate first to get names of panel beaters in the local area who were known for being expensive. I then went and got 2 quotes from these names and then took those quotes to my mate who easily gave the cheapest quote and inturn got the job.

Sadly he has retired early as he said there are now a handful of large panel beating companies who have multiple shops and due to their buying power, the average small guy just can’t compete in price. 

[Bird]

Looks like I need a new roof, sunroof, windscreen, bonnet, bull bar, roof rails, and other ancillary attachments!

... and its not a write off?

[schmik]

All i can say..... i will never ever give AAMI another cent of my money.

[Mik01]

... and its not a write off?

We will find out very soon.
What I think needs replacing differs to the repairer, which I'm sure will differ to the assessor.

[Bird]

post up some photos...

[Mik01]

post up some photos...

Prefer to wait until I have been through the assessment process with insurer. After we have agreed/argued over the extent of repair /replace.

[DrewXT]

Give Phil Mundays in Kilsyth a call and ask Phil or Andy if they can recommend a repairer up North...

I've had a major accident repaired by them, and you'd never have picked it, had some clear coat issues 4 years later, and they remembered doing the original job, booked it in and fixed it, no questions asked...

That was an aami job, but they never bothered going back through aami, they just fixed it...

If they can recommend you someone, I'd use them over an aami repair center any day... Even the aami assessor didn't recommend they did the repair on that car, as it was in pristine condition, and he implied their repairers weren't good enough...

(I now insure with Allianz)

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[Mik01]

thanks for replies everyone, and PM's.  I have spoken to someone 'in the know' and am much the wiser for it.
when I have been through the assessment process with the insurer this week, and after all is agreed, I will post up pics and explanation of what happened.

[Green rv]

Hi mik01
some late mail. could try pine rivers smash repair on paisley drv lawnton
good old fashion panel beater
 
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