Door Dented

[sushd]

Hi,

While trying to park in the carport, wife caught the kerbside rear door on the brick wall! No surprise there, the car still has P sticker on even after two years of getting her licence!

The resulting damage to the kerbside rear door can be seen here - http://s912.photobucket.com/user/sushd/library/

Should I get the repair done from Mr T? If so, should I enquire and get an estimate / quote from more than one Mr T dealers near me or from just one will be okay?

I am assuming that Mr T will dig deep in my pocket for the repair, so is getting the needful done from an independent body shop where the charge may be much less a sensible option?

Can I claim insurance if the expense is high? I need to check the document but I think I have a £250 excess.

TIA.

[FROSTYBALLS]

As regards an insurance claim, you need to consider what effect the claim may have on your next and possibly subsequent renewals.

I would have thought that the insurance company and Toyota would replace the door skin with that size dent. You would need the front door resprayed as well.

Try taking it to a decent independent bodyshop to see what price you're quoted, and then you will have an idea of work the repair will entail and the cost, before deciding whether to pay for it yourself or make an insurance claim.

[cootuk]

The dealer may send bodywork stuff to an insurance approved repairer rather than do it themselves.

I would be tempted to source a scrapped door and swap everything over after a respray.

[Chris Dance]

I would take the car to Toyota for a quote. I would not be prepared to leave a Prius with any other body shop. Most insurance companies allow you one claim in any one year without loss of no claims discount.. Don't assume toyota will dig deeper into your pocket than an independent body shop. Some time ago when my Avensis was damaged Mr T gave me a very competitive quote for repair. I think £250 is a large excess. It Toyota carry out the repair you are assured it is done to a high standard with approved paints etc. Hope you get it sorted OK.

[FROSTYBALLS]

As there is presumably no mechanical repair to be done, the repair could be done at any competent bodyshop. Yes a Toyota dealer should use OE parts, but if an insurance claim is involved, it is the insurance company who pays the bill, and thus the insurance company could determine the standard of parts used, in order to keep their costs down. Another avenue to consider would be a Toyota-approved bodyshop.

I only have one example of asking my Toyota dealer for a bodywork quote - 2 years ago on my previous Auris, I asked about a SMART repair for some minor stone chipping on the bonnet and front bumper. Although the £768 was obviously not a SMART repair, I put the quote down to either the dealer not taking account of what was asked for, or, more probably, not wanting the work.

[Chris Fisher]

I had a repair done on my previous Auris where I had knocked a wing mirror off and bent the door. I took it to Toyota for a quote and it was rather high so I went to the insurance company and they did the repair through their body shop. Toyota were going to replace the door panel, whereas the body shop straightened it out (with respraying etc). They actually did an excellent job and I would have no worries about using them again (hopefully won't have to though!). I thought the Toyota quote was over the top.

However I have recently updated my insurance to cover my new car and I note that there is a clause that says I can use my own repairer for an additional excess of about £200 (can't remember the exact amount). So if you have that clause it could be an option for you.

[Ethanedwards]

Looked at the picture. I agree thats not a candidate for a smart repair. A door skin and two panels need to be resprayed. My guess I reckon your looking at about £250 for cash. That said IMO it's only a door so any good body shop would do that, nothing specialised there. Should be a days work.

Incidentally £250 IMO isn't that high an excess. I had £400 a couple of years ago and mine today is £250.

[sushd]

Thanks all for your responses and suggestions.

I am thinking of getting a quote each from Toyota and an independent body shop / Toyota approved body shop before deciding who to go with.

I believe Steven Eagell has a in-house body shop in MK, so will give them a call.

How to find a "Toyota approved repairer / body shop"?

And, can anyone recommend a decent independent body shop / Toyota approved body shop around the Luton, Dunstable, Milton Keynes, Aylesbury, Leighton Buzzard, Hemel Hempstead region?

Thanks!

[Parts-King]

Insurance companies will only pay the going rate, regardless of them being a Toyota dealer or not, there will be a set time for the job, so there will be very little difference in terms of ££ per hour labour rate. The only difference will be in the parts used, and you are not likely to get a rear non genuine door. A Bodyshop that has PAS125 certification may command a few ££ per hour more, but they will be much more likely to offer a better service than some Fred in the shed on a street corner.Another problem you may encounter is using a "insurance approved" company is that your car may very well be repaired 50 miles away, a problem if you later have to return it for remedial work.

Kingo

[sushd]

Haven't yet decided whether to claim insurance or bear the expense on my own .... depends on what it will cost!

Is it worth getting a quote from more than 1 Toyota dealer and see if there is a price difference for the job? Wonder if the dealers feed the quote / estimate on to a centralised system which can be assessed by any / every other Toyota dealer - if so, it will defeat the purpose of getting quotes from more than one dealer!

Grateful for any help on the following:

How to find a "Toyota approved repairer / body shop"?

And, can anyone recommend a decent independent body shop / Toyota approved body shop around the Luton, Dunstable, Milton Keynes, Aylesbury, Leighton Buzzard, Hemel Hempstead region?

[Chris Dance]

You could try Panelcraft, Rabans Lane, Aylesbury. Bucks. HP19 8RT. Tel: 01296 395 395. They have an excellent reputation.

[Parts-King]

The Toyota quotes are NOT centralised, so feel free to shop around

MOST Toyota dealers will have an approved bodyshop, if they do not own it directly, it MUST be approved by Toyota, so the quality is assured

Steven Eagell in MK are a Toyota approved bodyshop

Google is your friend searching for a decent independant bodyshop, search for one that is PAS 125 Kitemark approved

Kingo

[sushd]

You could try Panelcraft, Rabans Lane, Aylesbury. Bucks. HP19 8RT. Tel: 01296 395 395. They have an excellent reputation.

Thanks Chris! I visited them today afternoon. The person who surveyed the damage said that he would send the estimate by email in a couple of hours but I haven't received it yet. Will call them tomorrow if the email doesn't arrive by noon tomorrow.

The Toyota quotes are NOT centralised, so feel free to shop around

MOST Toyota dealers will have an approved bodyshop, if they do not own it directly, it MUST be approved by Toyota, so the quality is assured

Steven Eagell in MK are a Toyota approved bodyshop

Google is your friend searching for a decent independant bodyshop, search for one that is PAS 125 Kitemark approved

Kingo

Thanks Kingo! I am surrounded by Steven Eagell (Aylesbury, Milton Keynes, Luton) and I think they will have their own centralised system given that they have their own body shop and would most likely send body shop work to their own setup in MK. Planning to check tomorrow with Hills (Letchworth) and perhaps Currie (Isleworth) as well on Monday.

Went to Steve Eagell MK today morning and they have sent across a quote of £811 for "repairing" the door and associated paint work etc. This quote does not include cost of replacing the door skin, which according to them, may or may not be required and they cannot ascertain that until the technician gets on the work and strips the door. If the door skin needs to be replaced, then they will inform me accordingly. Not ideal, as I was hoping for a definite quote to decide whether to bear the expense myself or claim insurance.

I found the Kitemark website where one can search for PAS 125 accredited body shops. Shortlisted two (close to where I am based being the only shortlisting criteria) and visited them as well today.

1. Baldwins of Aylesbury - the person who surveyed the damage told me straightaway that the door skin will need to be replaced. They have sent me a quote of £1254 which includes door skin replacement.

2. Pennings at Leighton Buzzard - the person who surveyed the damage said that the door skin will not need to be replaced, and that he will email the quote tomorrow.

[kithmo]

I'd go with Cootuk's suggestion, source a rear door from a scrapyard, Tyrol silver is a common Prius colour so there may be no need to respray anything, then either fit it yourself or if you're not mechanically adept, get a quote for fitting.

[sushd]

Excuse my ignorance but does one go about finding parts and sourcing from scrapyard(s)?

[kithmo]

Google for Prius spares, some on eBay.

[Chris Dance]

sushd. Did you get your door repair sorted? Which body shop did you choose?

[sushd]

Chris, not yet.

Toyota -

The cheapest quote I have received yet is £615 (repair only; no skin replacement) from Hills of Letchworth, and the most expensive from Steven Eagell at £811. I am still waiting for a quote from Currie Isleworth - will need to call them tomorrow.

Independent -

Pennings Leighton Buzzard £588 (repair only);

PanelCraft Aylsesbury £650 (repair only) / £1141 (skin replacement)

Baldwins of Aylesbury £1241 (skin replacement)

Insurer panel & Toyota approved repairer -

Cougar Direct ~£750 (repair only) / ~£1400 - £1500 (skin replacement)

The estimate from Cougar Direct was verbal. The chap told me that I will have to Shell out £120 if I wanted a written quote!

That said, he did say that if I go the insurance way then they will specify skin replacement in the repair required.

Spoke to the insurer and was happy to know that they have no issues with me getting the work done from any of the Toyota dealers.

So, it's a choice between £615 from my pocket or loss of 2 years' NCD at the time of insurance renewal next year, which it appears, will increase my premium next year by ~£200.

Looks like I will be going the insurance route, and will probably get the work done from a Toyota dealer.

[Chris Dance]

Hi Sushd,

Are you allowed one claim in any one year without affecting your insurance premium etc. My Toyota policy has protected no claim bonus. I thought this was the same for all comprehensive policies. Hope you get it sorted soon.

[Parts-King]

Not all policies include protected NCB, it is usually an add on

The fitting of a door skin is a big job, hence the price difference, cannot understand why some can repair it and others not

Kingo

[FROSTYBALLS]

As well as protected NCD, some companies also offer Guaranteed NCD. Protected NCD commonly enables one to have a specified number of claims in a set period (usually 3 or 5 years) before NCD is reduced. Guaranteed NCD guarantees that NCD will not be reduced regardless of the number of claims.

However having either Protected NCD or Guaranteed NCD doesn't mean that your premiums won't increase as a result of any claim(s) made - making a claim may, in the eyes of the insurance company, increase your risk status.

[timberwolf]

The insurance company knows that there is a potential claim, so hasn't the risk already gone up?

[johalareewi]

Call me cynical, but I view all these protected NCD and similar add ons with a degree of suspicion.

In effect, by paying to protect your NCD, you are losing some of your NCD which adds up over time (unless you have regular accidents).

If you do have an accident (own fault or not, claimed or not), in the eyes of the insurance company, your risk will increase and your premiums will rise protected NCD or not. Insurance companies are in it for the money.

[Parts-King]

Call me cynical, but I view all these protected NCD and similar add ons with a degree of suspicion.

In effect, by paying to protect your NCD, you are losing some of your NCD which adds up over time (unless you have regular accidents).

If you do have an accident (own fault or not, claimed or not), in the eyes of the insurance company, your risk will increase and your premiums will rise protected NCD or not. Insurance companies are in it for the money.

Agreed...........Insurance companies seem to be akin with Utility companies and the like, you have to have it, lets see how much we can milk from the customer!!