Whenever a car is involved in an accident, the insurance company becomes involved. They will need to give permission before the vehicle can be repaired and will typically send an adjuster to have a look at it while they gather the information to make their decision. Yet this situation can be a little more complex if the vehicle in question happens to be a classic car or a much older vehicle. If you're in this situation and are wondering what you should do next, what do you need to bear in mind?

Simple Decision?

Of course, insurance companies are in the business of making as much money as possible and they will always want to keep the cost of the repair down. They may look at the average hourly rate for a panel beater and may try to cut costs by stipulating that every damaged panel is replaced instead. They may think that it is much easier to remove and replace a single panel than taking the time to straighten it instead.

Sourcing Issues

However, in your case, it may be difficult to find a replacement panel as the car is so old, or alternatively, if you can find a part like this, it may be inordinately expensive. Consequently, it may be far better to get each panel repaired by a qualified individual so that you can get the car back on the road as soon as possible.

Carbon Footprint

You may also be concerned about the environment and want to avoid as much waste as you can. In this case, it will definitely be best to repair rather than replace as you will be using less energy as a consequence. Remember, manufacturers need to rely on natural resources, fossil fuels and a lot of energy in order to build each new panel and send it to the repair shop. This will increase the size of your carbon footprint accordingly and will not be the most sustainable way to move forward.

Best Approach

Remember, a skilled panel beater is perfectly capable of restoring the appearance of your classic or aged car, as they are fully trained and have the right tools on hand for the job. Consequently, you should talk with the insurance company and insist that your vehicle panels are repaired rather than replaced. This will help to cut down on any delays, make the job more sustainable and contain costs into the bargain.

Contact a company like Dandy Smash Repairs to learn more about panel beating.