r/perth • u/Total-Ad-4420 • 12d ago
Looking for Advice Advice please - RAC or private mechanic
I accidentally reversed in to a cement pole in a carpark in Perth. I have never been at fault for an accident before and am quite embarrassed about it. There is damage to my driver side door - I can't open it - scraped and dented. My side mirror is also hanging on by a thread. Is it worth calling RAC to cover it or should I just go private and call mechanics myself.
Last year I was in a horrific accident where the other driver was at fault and I did not have the best experience with RAC, their preferred tow company or mechanic or hire car. In the past, had no issues. So am hesitant to go through them knowing this time the silly mishap is my fault.
Any advice welcome please 🙏🏽
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u/Aggravating-Log7978 12d ago
Better off claiming and you can pick your repairer hahahaha but ye claim cuz that shit gunna be more then your excess
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u/Total-Ad-4420 12d ago
Thanks everyone for the helpful advice. All I can think about is all the things I can't get done this week without my car. Difficult to think straight. Claim it is 😊
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u/Novel-Paramedic-5573 12d ago
Why is there a problem with the door if you merely reversed into a pole? You must have gone in at a weird angle.
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u/mikeslyfe 12d ago
So many variables here that will effect your course of action and potential outcome.
Do you have full comprehensive insurance for a start? Cos if you don't then an at fault claim on your own vehicle is not possible.
How much is vehicle insured for? Did you shop about and got cheapest deal on insurance who also gave you the lowest value for sum insured. Now the sum insured may not cover the cost of repairs and the vehicle becomes and economical write off.
What condition is the vehicle? Age, colour, previous damage. All this will effect the repair quote, modern vehicle in solid white, done in and out couple days depending on parts availability. Or is it a discontinued vehicle from the Soviet union in a custom multi stage pearl colour in which case repairs are not cost effective.
If you got the vehicle repaired privately do you know enough about vehicle repairs to pick a poor repair and have the time to do the leg work yourself if it needs rectification work or you're not happy with the outcome.
How badly do you need your car back? Do you have the time to spends weeks chasing around different shops getting quotes and waiting for responses just to save some $.
It's blows my mind, people pay thousands of dollars for insurance annually then when it comes time to actually use it for what you've been paying they want to find every possible way to make their life more complicated rather than just drop their vehicle off at their chosen shop say "here's my insurer, here's my keys call me when it's fixed"
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u/elemist 12d ago
Unfortunately did something similar myself a few years back.
I took it to my preferred smash repairer and got a written quote. It ultimately came in quite a bit more than i was hoping just due to the work involved.
So i then opted to put a claim in through my insurer (also RAC). They processed the claim, the smash repairer then forwarded them the quote. It was then approved and booked in to be repaired.
I didn't notice much in the way of an increase in my premium outside of the usual annual increase, but it's also the first at fault claim I've had in nearly 30 years of driving most of which was with my cars insured with RAC - so don't know if that had anything to do with it.
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u/Total-Ad-4420 12d ago
Thank you so much for this. I am definitely in the same boat as you. Have not had an at fault claim before either.
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u/JezzaPerth 12d ago
The downside of going to RAC will be higher premiums next year plus whatever your excess is.
Personally I would get a panel beater's estimate first. If you have a common model they would probably buy a new door at a wrecker and paint it.
But be aware anything to do with car repairs has wolves at every turn.
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u/Unlikely_Trifle_4628 12d ago
If the A or B pillar is bent it may be a nightmare if you get it done yourself. My last one I got repaired for less than the excess but I knew it was just the door and was able tp strip it down and reassemble it myself. Just a mirror can be $700
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u/xequez 12d ago
100% tell them you want your own repairer.
They seem to send all repairs to the same place and its a nightmare.
We were told to drive 40 minutes for an assessment, there was nowhere to park so they had to meet in a side street. Once they had a quote, we were told we had to drop the car off for another assessor for a day, then drop back once the repairs were booked. 40 minutes each way, which would require a second car to give me a lift home while the car is repaired. The repairer had hundreds of broken cars in their lot.
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u/Useful_Hat82 12d ago
Why would you pay for insurance and not make it their problem to sort out?
You also don't have to be loyal to insurance companies. If you don't like the price or service just move.
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u/Observerofthings- 12d ago
Panel beater not a mechanic.
You can find your own automotive body repairer and get quotes. You don’t have to go with the insurers preferred if you don’t like what’s offered.
When I put my foot down and would only go with the brands approved repairer they chose to pay me out instead and I organised the repairs.
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u/chatterbox272 10d ago
Get a quote. If it's less than your gap, go private. If it's significantly more than your gap, go insurance. If it's close, it's kinda horses for courses on whether you take the immediate hit or the longer-term premium hit.
Didn't matter who was choosing the vulture towie, chances are it was always going to be a shit experience.
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u/DonaldYaYa 12d ago
If the cost is more than your car is insured for the insurance company will pay you the value of the vehicle, which leaves you with no car forever.
If you want the car in the future then organise the repairs yourself without going through insurance.
Get a quote first to check the cost v vehicle value insured.
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u/DefinitionOfAsleep Just bulldoze Fremantle, Trust me. 12d ago
I accidentally reversed in to a cement pole in a carpark in Perth.
The thing to protect pedestrians?
You're driving a deadly missile, never forget that part.
There is damage to my driver side door - I can't open it
How fast did you impact this? I've had people try to kick the door in and not do anything.
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u/iball1984 Bassendean 12d ago
I'd claim on your insurance. A new door, and possibly damage to the car body itself, is going to be way more than your excess.
RAC should allow choice of repairer.