[Karen]

As I previously mentioned, I’ve already had the £600 GCB cheque from Motability even though I haven’t given my current car back in exchange for a brand spanking new Volvo (? end Nov/beginning Dec).
Parked my Peugeot 3008 SUV today on a slight hill. If only I had considered the probability of the car ahead of me’s handbrake failing?

Now got some lovely (although small) scrapes down the  front of the car at the driver’s side & bumper. Couldn’t be helped but I’m not thrilled. Not helped by the other party’s father in law asking if he can repair damage to both cars as she is a new driver & it will affect her insurance (her old Clio came off far worse than my sturdy Peugeot 3008 SUV). Yep, lay it on thick, why don’t you?!

I’m assuming that the small repairs will have to be dealt with to keep my GCB?

 

Topic

[joss]

A picture paints a thousand words Karen. It would help to see a picture of the damage.

However it is surprising what they will accept as damage on hand over, before it affects your GCB.

You can ring Mobility and report it to them and see what they say, just to be sure Karen.

 

Joss
Current car: BMW X2 sDrive 20i M Sport 5dr Step Auto In metallic Portimão Blue. 04:10:2025
Previous car:Peugeot 308 GT Premium 1.2 Pure tech Petrol.

[Azzy]

Don’t worry about it, I’m handing a car back next month with a cracked tail light with some lense missing n a few scrapes on the bumper, I’ve got my gcb too. Motability said don’t worry about it.

[Dave G]

As Joss mentioned, a picture would help to judge if you can Karen. I have a dent on the side of my bonnet/wing mirror. Called the insurance and they said not to worry about it, it comes under wear and tear. I reiterated that this is a rather bad looking dent. In the end, they posted a letter out to me to take with me to the dealership if they mention anything about it. It won’t be a problem, do not worry.

[Georgie]

Returned my first car with a nasty paint ‘graze’ roughly 8 inch x 6 inches caused by driver of neighbouring car turned too soon when reversing out of parking bay.  Didn’t touch it up or try to hide it, but still got GCB.

Even so, calling Motab about it for clarification can’t do any harm.  BUT be sure to take the name of the person you speak with, or even better, contact them via email and keep all communication in case you need to refer to it should there be any problems at hand-back time.

[Georgie]

In fact, I wonder how bad damage has to be before we do lose the GCB.  I’m guessing their own mechanics/assessors can quickly work out how much repairs would cost and if it comes under a certain figure we still receive the GDB.  How much does a small respray actually cost ‘at cost’?  Or a replacement panel on a door?  Maybe they’re sometimes willing to charge less at resale? As long as they receive whatever their minimum figure is, they’re willing to lose a couple of hundred?

I don’t know – I’ve not had to think about it before but I suspect plenty of you lot do. 🙂  (I never had a car before Motability, and my lovely friends ‘in the Trade’ used to fix up my bikes for the price of a four pack).

[Ian]

Same happened with us when we claimed for a damaged wing mirror. Mentioned that there was some damage to the front bumper, told us it is wear & tear, sent us a letter to confirm this.

[Karen]

Thanks all for your advice.Here’s the photo- think I’ll give Motability a call on Monday in the hope they’ll let me off with it. Looks mostly cosmetic but a couple of scrapes also.

[Aygo1991]

Karen, that’s a very light cosmetic scrape for which you should be forgiven. My X2 has worse scrapes and I was told it was “wear and tear” when I telephoned Motability to report it.

Motability cars:

2015 RR Evoque AWD 2.0 TD4 SE Tech - written off
2017 Toyota CH-R 1.2T Dynamic CVT AWD - written off
2019 BMW X2 2.0L Sport
2023 Nissan Qashqai e-Power N-Connecta

[rox]

The thing is the car has been damaged by a 3rd party and we only lease the car, so is not for us to make decsions on repairing it and who repairs it. If you did you could be breaking the terms of the lease. It would be different if you had done it yourself.

Often people want to do some sort of deal, not threw the insurance and then mess you about and as you did not report it. They report it first and then say it was you that drove into them.. I never trust anyone.

Personally i’d want it fixing as the damage was not caused by me, it depends how long you have still to go on the lease as well if rsa will do it now or when the car is returned.

[Karen]

You’re right Aygo-it does seem cosmetic.
Rox: lease extended from 30 Oct as new car not ready.
Will give RSA a call on Monday & email them photos but I have a feeling they’ll say it’s my decision.
Thanks again all & goodnight!

[ChrisK]

I would say a scrape like that would not effect your GCB and the only thing it does effect is your pride in not being abled to return your car in mint condition.??

[rox]

You right chrisk, a scrape like that would not effect your GCB.

Although it’s damage somone else has caused to the car, not karen and this i look at differently to if karen had done it or it was done while the car was parked..

Why should one accept that. I know I would not, if it was a car i owned and someone crashed or rolled back into it and damaged it, why should the actual owner MBO accept that damage caused by a third party. Reducing the value of the car effects us all..

It’s just unfortunate they reversed /rolled back? into a car that is leased is the real issue..

Will rsa say ok we won’t claim off the other persons insurance, we’ll pay for it and you can pay the excess 100% no way will they.. they will at least want it looked at for insurance purposes, i would imagine and then claim from the other drivers insurance. They may not fix it till the end of the lease, if that is what karen decides or she can have it fixed.

[Karen]

So just to put my mind at rest, let RSA know about slight damage to car. They’ve simply issued a letter to give to the Volvo dealer to say the damage doesn’t need to be repaired.
All sorted. Thanks all for your advice.

[Author]

Replies