| Media item | |
| | Where will my car be repaired? | Herald Sun,
Melbourne
by Geoff Gwilym
| 23 Feb 2024 | | General News - Page 55 - 213 words - ID 2040754913 - Photo: Yes - Type: Advertorial - Size: 239.00cm2 | |
ADVERTISING FEATURE
Did you know motor vehicle insurers sometimes tow cars from regional towns to metropolitan centres to repair them.
And it's all about profit.
There's been decades of argy-bargy between body repair businesses and insurers about the costs and repair methods used to return accident damaged vehicles to pre-accident condition.
The rules of engagement have often featured grey areas and various industry codes and work-arounds have sought to create fair competition between small body repair shops and behemoth insurance businesses.
VACC and its national body, the Motor Trades Association of Australia, have worked hard in this area, with a national review of the code that dictates business rules between insurers and repairers.
But it's just not on to tow a damaged vehicle, sometimes hundreds of kilometres from its owner's home town, stealing work from local repairers who can fix it.
This is bad for regional business, and even worse for local employment and devastating for school leavers seeking apprenticeships.
If these body shops don't get the work, they will go broke.
So, when assessing your insurance policy, check if you have a 'Choice of Repairer' option available, and ask your friendly insurer if they intend to freight your car to another town for repairs.
Prepared by Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce
Provided for client's internal research purposes only. May not be further copied, distributed, sold or published in any form without the prior consent of the copyright owner. |
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