Panel beaters can use old vehicle parts

INSURANCES CONDONE THE PRACTICE

INSURANCE companies are allowed to instruct panel beaters to use second-hand parts when fixing vehicles that have been involved in accidents.

This, according to the Ombudsman for short-term insurance, was the case provided that the damaged car is not on a maintenance plan or was out of warranty. Ombudsman spokeswoman Ayanda Mazwi told Sowetan at the weekend that the organisation receives a number of complaints relating to the practice, and that each case is dealt with according to its own merits.

“We do receive a number of complaints on the issue, and the insurer will have to justify why they have used second-hand parts. “I would not call the practice illegal. When we receive a complaint we will look at the specific circumstances.

“The insurer is not obliged to make use of new original factorysupplied parts in all instances when repairing a vehicle.

“However, if a vehicle is still under warranty or a maintenance plan, insurance companies have to make use of new parts so that they do not compromise the warranty or maintenance plan in place,” Mazwi said.

She, however, said if there was major structural damage to the vehicle, the office did not recommend that the insurer authorise the use of second-hand parts.

The panel beater was required to use second-hand components which would not compromise the safety of the vehicle and to fit or assemble them according to prescribed standards.

However, motorist Mika Sekhukhune said the practice was unfair because most people start paying car insurance when their cars were new.

“If your car is involved in an accident when you have not claimed for five years, it would be unfair for them to use old parts.

“Insurance companies should declare upfront this practice when they sell you insurance and balance this by lowering their premiums annually or else the practice would be tantamount to thuggery,” he complained.