Hi, Unfortunately someone damaged my 100hp drivers door on the weekend & fair play, they did at least leave some contact details.

There is an obvious dent in the door but when I tried to open the window earlier, it won't go fully down.

Anyway to cut a long story short, got a quote of nearly £1,500 from the bodyshop my local fiat garage recommended which seems a lot!

made up of

New Door, Frame Cover & Door Glass Regulator £550
Paint £266
Labour £420
VAT £250

The bodyshop said it would need a new door due to the 'ridge' that goes across the middle & it would be nigh on impossible to line it up with the back door if they knock the dent out.

I have informed my insurer who has given me a different approved repairer & the go ahead to get going but the guy responsible (don't think he is very old) asked me if someone he knows, who is a "body repair specialist" can do a quote.

I genuinely feel sorry for the lad 'cos I've done it myself but part of me is thinking, it's not really my problem how much it costs to repair!

Any advice?

There's nearly always a little agro when it comes to sorting out repairs without going through the insurance, though the other party sounds like a reasonable enough guy.

First off, the other party aren't considering what you're going to do while your car is laid up having the work down, mentions of hire cars will often send them over the edge!
Though I decent body shop should have loaners for a small cost.

They alway think they can get it done cheaper or you're trying to pocket a few quid out of the deal and often send you around and around getting quotes from "people they know", you often end up at a back street talking to a man covered in filler with a rattle can in his hand.
A couple of quotes from dedicated, insurance appoved body shop's should be enough and factor in a reasonable alternative transport cost.

Payment can be another sticking point, are you going to pay and claim it back off them? I would suggest getting the money first before work starts or you could be stuck with the bill.

All this agro, quite often to save the other party's insurance isn't really worth it?
If you do go down this route, discuss it with the other party and make sure whatever agreement is in your favour.

If you're over 25 with 5 or more years NCB, I's say take the none fault on your policy and let the insurance sort it out.

mattygas said:

Hi, Unfortunately someone damaged my 100hp drivers door on the weekend & fair play, they did at least leave some contact details.

There is an obvious dent in the door but when I tried to open the window earlier, it won't go fully down.

Anyway to cut a long story short, got a quote of nearly £1,500 from the bodyshop my local fiat garage recommended which seems a lot!

made up of

New Door, Frame Cover & Door Glass Regulator £550
Paint £266
Labour £420
VAT £250

The bodyshop said it would need a new door due to the 'ridge' that goes across the middle & it would be nigh on impossible to line it up with the back door if they knock the dent out.

I have informed my insurer who has given me a different approved repairer & the go ahead to get going but the guy responsible (don't think he is very old) asked me if someone he knows, who is a "body repair specialist" can do a quote.

I genuinely feel sorry for the lad 'cos I've done it myself but part of me is thinking, it's not really my problem how much it costs to repair!

Any advice?

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Happened to us - Bloke drove out of a junction and T-boned our car. Obviously his fault. We had witnesses.


It took one year and threats to MY insurers (Direct Line) that we were prepared to go to court (using the legal cover) to confirm that this was NOT a 50:50 claim. Be aware of this.


Yours and his insurers will love to settle on a 50:50 claim. Very common. The note left might help your cause.


The other party will still need to shell out a grand or so though, so maybe unlikely to pay up anyway.