Why do repair costs vary from garage to garage?

Wouldn’t it be easy if all accident repair centres charged the same for each type of vehicle repair, leaving you only to narrow them down by levels of customer service?

In truth, there are several different variables which impact the cost of a vehicle repair, and each garage will exercise different levels of care and due diligence when looking at these variables. These include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Material quality, and whether parts are genuine or second-hand – At CARS, we recommend the use of genuine parts, specific to your vehicle’s make and model. Some repairers may choose to use second-hand or non-genuine parts to lower the cost of the repair, but this may impact the overall safety level of the vehicle. The aim of any high-quality vehicle body repair centre should be to return the vehicle to the standard in which it initially left the factory.

• Repair or replace? – Although it may be cheaper to repair a damaged vehicle part in many cases, it may not always be ethical. Some repair centres choose to repair damaged vehicle parts rather than replace them, even where this may compromise the safety level of the vehicle.

• Adhering to manufacturer repair methods – The cost of a repair will depend on whether the repairer follows manufacturer guidelines. A high-quality repairer will follow the data provided by the manufacturer and if you’re between garages trying to decide which to use, this would be a good detail to confirm!

• Estimate quality and attention to detail – A high-quality repair centre should always have highly-skilled technicians, working to manufacturer methods using quality replacement parts. To ensure that all repairs are carried out to the highest standard, the journey of high quality must start at the point of estimate. For example, estimators should be sufficiently trained to identify damage that may have impacted your vehicle’s Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), resulting in a need for recalibration. Additionally, there are multiple paint types used on vehicles, such as metallic or three-stage pearl, which impact the time needed for repair and subsequent repair cost.

• Labour rate – Labour rates are variable from business to business. You will often find that main dealers are more expensive due to their guaranteed workflow, whereas independent body shops are more likely to offer a discounted rate to attract the customer.

In summary, whilst any body shop carrying out accident repairs should be quality-focused and reputable, they all operate differently and appeal to customers for different reasons. Whilst hourly rates are important, it is far more important that the repairer puts quality at the forefront of everything they do.