POST-REPAIR Vehicle INSPECTION

Have you endured a no-fault road accident? Wondering if the repairs were up to scratch? My Car Inspection offers an approved post-repair inspection to determine the quality of the smash repair carried out on your vehicle. We ensure they have done the job properly and note down any defects in our full warranty report.

While it’s crucial to check the structural repair of your vehicle for safety, it’s also important to check that the quality of paintwork and replacement parts is of a high standard (e.g. original parts). If not, then it can affect the car’s value upon resale. Your investment is important – so protect it today with a Post Repair Inspection by our qualified Inspector.

My Car Inspection can travel to your Smash repair center or inspect the car at your home or workplace.

Do I Need A Post-Repair Inspection?

When an auto body shop repairs your vehicle, it’s their responsibility to restore that vehicle to pre-accident condition. That means that your vehicle’s safety systems, the fit and finish of structural parts, and the function of all computer and mechanical systems should be fully restored.

If you notice any signs that your car isn’t functioning the way it was before your accident, these are signs of an improper repair, you need a post-repair inspection.

Some of common warning signs:

• Rattling or Noises
• Mildew Smell in the Interior/Signs of Water Leaks
• Steering Wheel Pulls to the Left or Right
• Worn Tires
• Asymmetrical or Uneven Gaps in Your Vehicle’s Body Lines
• Difficulty Opening or Closing Doors
• Dashboard Warning Lights
• Unresolved Mechanical Issues

If you notice any of these problems in the performance or function of your vehicle, it may indicate serious structural problems beneath the surface. For example, if you see differences in the gaps between parts on the left side of your vehicle vs. the right side of your vehicle, it could mean that your vehicle’s structure is significantly out of alignment. A vehicle that has been returned to you in this asymmetrical state probably has serious problems with its structural integrity.

Unfortunately, many body shops cut corners and do not follow manufacturer repair procedures, all in the interests of turning over a high volume of work and cut the cost down. When manufacturer repair procedures aren’t followed, you end up with serious problems with quality and safety.

Why is it Important to Follow Manufacturer Repair Procedures?

Vehicle manufacturers invest millions of dollars every year engineering their vehicles for safety. New vehicles are safer than ever, thanks to the sophisticated crash management systems that manufacturers have developed through extensive crash testing and technological advancement.

Manufacturers use this knowledge to develop replacement parts and repair procedures that, when followed, allow a collision repair technician to fully restore your vehicle’s safety systems. When inferior imitation parts are used, or structural repairs are performed without following manufacturer procedures, those vehicle’s safety systems are altered, and your vehicle may no longer be crashworthy in the event of a subsequent accident.

“Remaining” Damage

When shops cut corners they will also often leave damage unaddressed. If they are unwilling to take the time to properly disassemble your vehicle to ensure all damage from the accident has been discovered, they miss things, and you end up with “remaining damage” as a result.

Why is Remaining Damage an Issue?

The issue of remaining damage brings us back to your vehicle’s crash management system. Each component in your vehicle’s structure has been designed to react in a specific way, in concert with the other parts of your car, in order to preserve a protective space around the occupants. Some parts are designed to remain rigid, and some are designed to crumple very easily.

When damage has been left unaddressed, the entire crash management system of your vehicle has been changed. If parts have crumpled and have not been replaced, or if parts that should have been replaced have been repaired, there’s no way to know how your safety systems will perform.

The same problem applies to the use of inferior imitation parts. Aftermarket parts have not undergone the same rigorous crash testing that genuine parts have undergone. There is often no way of knowing how an aftermarket part will change the performance of your vehicle’s crash management system, and many aftermarket parts are inferior in fit, finish, and performance in comparison to genuine OEM parts.

What Lies Beneath the Surface

Even a vehicle with serious structural issues can look fine, at first glance. Most consumers expect that when they pay a body shop to perform repairs, those repairs will be performed correctly. Most never suspect that shops would allow an unsafe vehicle to go back to a customer.

Unfortunately we has discovered, incomplete, and even unsafe repairs are performed more than half of the time. In our experience, only a small percentage of body shops have the tools, training, and knowledge to properly repair significant damage to modern vehicles.

Ideally, consumers can avoid finding themselves in this situation in the first place, and there are things that you can do to choose a high quality auto body shop. Look for shops that have multiple manufacturer certifications, as this indicates their technicians have factory training, use genuine parts, and have approved equipment for factory-correct repairs.

Be wary of shops that are members of insurance company “preferred” networks, or “Direct Repair Programs” (DRPs). If the shop you’re working with is sanctioned by multiple large insurance companies, there’s a considerable amount of pressure on that shop to turn over a fast repair at the lowest possible cost. This kind of repair process can lead to significant problems.

Also be wary of working with shops that display a lack of professionalism. If the shop returns a vehicle that has not been cleaned or detailed, if they are reluctant to discuss or explain the repairs, or if they don’t offer significant warranties on their work – you should have their work checked by an unbiased third party. Sometimes shops like this will offer to save your deductible. Before you work with that shop, keep in mind, that money will be made up somewhere else.

CONTACT US

Phone: 1300 221 480  or info@mycarinspection.com.au

Opening hours
Monday to Friday - 8:00am to 5:00pm
Saturday - 9:00am to 12:00
Sunday  - Closed