Long story short, I managed to swerve into a parked van last night, and damaged the bonnet, wing and light cluster on my Lolvo. From a cursory look, it's not going to cost more than a couple of hundred to replace these (i'm not fussed about re-spraying etc. at this stage, just need to get it back on the road ASAP for lowest cost). Is it legal for me to do these repairs myself, or do they need to be done professionally/certified/etc.?
Legal to DIY bodywork repairs after low speed crash?
- Thread starter Haggisman
- Start date
As long as it is just cosmetic panel damage, there's nothing to stop you doing it yourself. I wouldn't advise it if you think you've actually bent something structural or something along those lines though.
Doesn't sound like you've really beaten it in though, so you should be alright.
If you're replacing the light cluster, you may need to fiddle with the light alignment, that's the only thing I think you might find yourself needing assistance with.
Doesn't sound like you've really beaten it in though, so you should be alright.
If you're replacing the light cluster, you may need to fiddle with the light alignment, that's the only thing I think you might find yourself needing assistance with.
Have just popped the bonnet, and it looks like there's quite a lot of bent bits n pieces, e.g. where the rad bolts in etc... so it might not be an option after all 
Whats the best choice for me now, as my excess is most likely close to the value of the car =/
Whats the best choice for me now, as my excess is most likely close to the value of the car =/
Might not be that bad in all honesty - new slam panel and crash bar are not normally that expensive and are pretty much bolt on replacements, it sounds like you may need someone with a but if experience to at least have a look for you though - chassis legs are what you really need to worry about.
Otherwise you could consider either scrapping it or selling as spares /repair on everyone's favourite auction site
Otherwise you could consider either scrapping it or selling as spares /repair on everyone's favourite auction site
Associate
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- 10 Feb 2010
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- 113
Are you not having to make a claim on your insurance anyway to cover the damage to the parked van you hit and so will be paying out your excess anyway? If so get your car repaired under the claim
He'd not pay excess on the third party element of the claim IIRC, so if he doesn't claim for his own car, then no excess.
Associate
- Joined
- 10 Feb 2010
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- 113
Oh right, never knew that although fingers crossed it will never come in useful to me!
After speaking to my insurance co, this seems to be the case. Having worked out roughly what they'd take from any payout (£250 excess + ~£350 for remaining premiums), and the car only being worth at most £900, I'd probably only end up with £2-300 off them anyway, I'd still have to pay quite a bit to replace it, so i don't think it's worth claiming for my car. I'll see if I can get someone to look at it, or just stick for spares/repair on the aforementioned auction site we all love
repairs are going to be expensive. The repairs on a 900 quid care are going to be more or less the same as a £5000 car. Body shops dont care about the street value of the car. They will charge based on labour & parts.
You're best of buying a new wing, headlight unit and bonnet from a breakers. However yours isn't a VW or vauxhall or peugeot so the parts might be more expensive. I bought a mk4 golf wing off ebay for £30. gave it a polish and came out brilliant. better off getting used parts becasue they will have the same oxidisation as your current car, a repaired panel will used brand new paint and it will look shiny and lighter which will look off.
Also I think you're underestimating the repairs required. if it was just wing and headlights I would say it's just cosmetic damage but with the bonnet damage I think it could affect the wheel alighment and damage the frame as well.
You're best of buying a new wing, headlight unit and bonnet from a breakers. However yours isn't a VW or vauxhall or peugeot so the parts might be more expensive. I bought a mk4 golf wing off ebay for £30. gave it a polish and came out brilliant. better off getting used parts becasue they will have the same oxidisation as your current car, a repaired panel will used brand new paint and it will look shiny and lighter which will look off.
Also I think you're underestimating the repairs required. if it was just wing and headlights I would say it's just cosmetic damage but with the bonnet damage I think it could affect the wheel alighment and damage the frame as well.
Hrm... just had a peek through VADIS and the slam panel is spot welded on. Considering I have neither an angle grinder or welder, it look like I may have to re-think the whole repairing thing...
Sorry to disappoint you!
This is what I've got from VADIS:
Red circle shows where the damage is, I can see the section where that 8mm dowel goes through, and it's a bit mangled
I would post up pics but I'm at work - rough guesses for repair cost? Not fussed about matching colours etc. for now, as I was planning to replace the car in a few months anyway.