Panel Beater - Private Job v Insurance (v DIY??)

archieduh on 16/01/2023 - 18:12
Last edited 16/01/2023 - 18:13

Damage: I have a 2 year old car and I damaged the paint on its front with my other car accidentally.
The number plate is off (the rivets that attach to the bumper are damaged) and some scratches on front nose (mostly rubber transfer from the other car, gets peeled off when I try).

Quote
Panel beater private quote - $1500
Insurance excess - $1100

What should I do?
I am thinking of shopping around and maybe get a panel beater to do it privately for $1000
But if that doesn't happen, should I use insurance to save me $400 but lose future No Claim Bonus + suffer Higher premium for future renewals?
Or maybe using insurance has other benefits (after service assurance etc.)?
I have hardly any No claim bonus built up on this car and I feel makes no sense to use insurance for this slight advantage.

Additional commentary
My nearby panel beater gave me a quote of $1500 which I found a bit too much.
But I've never had car damaged before and haven't yet digested inflation of last few years, so maybe I am missing something.
Tried to lookup some posts on OzB but all of them seem to be 2017-18 dated.

They say they need to repaint the front so have to take it off the car and will fix the number plate frame. Which will take a few days.
Will not repair the bumper scratches as they say it can't be done without a replacement.

I was wondering if can do some much clean-up myself, as most of the discolouration is just rubber transfer off the other car bumper.
Maybe that will show the actual amount of repainting needed, which I feel isn't a lot and number plate need rivets replaced and should be good. Hoping that will get me a cheaper quote.
Or let me know if $1500 is not a bad quote? I was thinking close to $500 and few hours of work.

Will also appreciate if anyone has any suggestions for any cleaning products to get rubber off, safeguard against rust etc. for the time I finalise the job.

Thanks for your time.

Automotive

Comments

  • Gunnar on 16/01/2023 - 18:33
    +2

    Hard to say without seeing the damage.

    As for the rubber on the bumper try a big and tar remover to get it off. If that doesn’t work then try a claybar. The rubber should be easy to get off if you can get it off with your hands

    • archieduh on 16/01/2023 - 22:41
      +1

      You know what.. just used some soap, muslin cloth over my fingers… and it hardly feels there is any damage now.. all the rubber is off.. and has just 2-3 actual scratches where paint is off

  • core101 on 16/01/2023 - 18:38
    +1

    Get a second quote.
    To put $1,500 into perspective, people line up for hours to pay that, and more for an iPhone.

    • buckethat on 16/01/2023 - 20:54
      +2

      How is that 'perspective' relevant here whatsoever..? What exactly is your point?

  • MS Paint on 16/01/2023 - 19:54

    Get an opinion and quote from a paint touch up company.

    • archieduh on 16/01/2023 - 22:41

      Any recommendations in Sydney?

  • Euphemistic on 16/01/2023 - 20:46
    +1

    $1500 for a bumper sounds about right. I got a quote for $1420 for a front bumper repair (replacement) just before Christmas.

    DIY is certainly possible but won’t look as good depending on what method you use. Removing a bumper isn’t overly difficult, have done 2 in last few months. Both included some belting with a hammer to straighten frames behind the bumper. No paint repairs, but at least they were a lot straighter than prior to the DIY.

    If you are keen to DIY you might get a better job if you can get a panel beater to spray a new bumper for you and fit it yourself.

    • archieduh on 16/01/2023 - 22:43

      There are no dents or bends anywhere. And they won't even touch the bumper. The quote is just for repainting the front panel and fixing the number plate frame.

      • kerfuffle on 16/01/2023 - 22:51
        -1

        How do you know? Are you a panel beater?

        Just because there isn’t damage at the front doesn’t mean there isn’t damage behind.

        • archieduh on 16/01/2023 - 23:11

          I know as the panel beater told me what they will be doing.

          • Euphemistic on 17/01/2023 - 05:13

            @archieduh: It was hard to give an idea if the quote was valid without a picture. It’s also unlikely a panel beater will just buff and polish scratches, they will normally quote for a new bumper unless you tell them otherwise. Getting a touch up repairer may give you a cheaper quote.

  • blitz on 16/01/2023 - 22:32
    +1

    OP, can you post a pic? It's hard to evaluate without seeing what we're dealing with.

    • archieduh on 16/01/2023 - 22:44

      Just spent an hour+ cleaning the rubber transfer off and it looks like most of the "damage" was just rubber transfer.
      I will now click and share pictures in the morning (as its night now and the pics may not come out right)

      • MS Paint on 16/01/2023 - 23:17
        +2

        Sounds like you had no idea and the panel beater was taking you for a ride.

        • archieduh on 16/01/2023 - 23:23

          I did know a lot of it was rubber transfer, but honestly just visually once the rubber was off, for a lay man like me it makes such a difference.
          I mean I knew 90% of it was rubber, assumed some of it might not even be easily removable or may need special solution or know-how. But once I got everything off, it looked such a minor damage that I may not even think of a paint job anytime soon.

          It could be even the panel beater didn't realise it or maybe I am still missing how much effort it will take to repair what I think are minor scratches and maybe fixing the number plate holder needs some effort. He did say is a few days job.

          Also, I did spend 2 hours getting the rubber off. Having it someone do it for me would have cost something in time and material, so there's that.

          • MS Paint on 16/01/2023 - 23:36
            +1

            @archieduh: How did you remove the rubber?

            With you finger?
            With a clay bar?
            With alcohol?
            Polish and microfiber cloth?

            A panel beater would have used a paint friendly solvent and probably perform the task in minutes.

            The $1500 quote would be to cover a minimum charge to make it worth their while.

            • archieduh on 17/01/2023 - 08:19

              @MS Paint: Thanks. There was a $20 solvent at super cheap auto advertised for rubber but it was late night and I just couldn't stop myself from cleaning it off once it started coming off hehe

  • archieduh on 16/01/2023 - 23:30

    Somehow this post due to my replies to comments may have manifested into a quote validation post - only.

    One of my objectives was also to understand insurance repairs and No claim bonus.

    Let's say my panel beater quote is great.
    Would you do a $1500 private repair or claim insurance with $1100 excess if you were in a similar scenario?

    • Euphemistic on 17/01/2023 - 05:11
      +3

      Private repair unless it’s going to be at least twice the excess.

  • Bretttick on 25/06/2023 - 22:41

    Best way to fix this imo is look for a good second hand bumper same color and swap over yourself. Will probably cost you around $400 depending on model of the car

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