The $21B secret insurance companies Don’t want you to know.
Insurance companies only think about one thing… and it’s not your safety!
Insurance companies are typically motivated by one thing – how much it will cost them to fix your car. They don’t care about your peace of mind (unless they are selling you that before you make a claim), or about the safety of your car. They care about eliminating their costs and improving their bottom line. Why else would the car insurance industry be worth $21 Billion in Australia – it’s not from being overly generous to policy holders.
Of course to bunch all insurance companies in together is unfair. Some do have restrictions on who they’d like to send you too, but even then your car belongs to you, not to them and thus it’s YOUR CALL.
Recently we had a customer who, as he put it, was “Held hostage” by his insurance company and told us “it was like dealing with a bunch of bullies”
After damage to the sunroof of his BMW X5, Peter – a loyal customer of ours called his insurance company. He had changed insurance companies about three years prior, but hadn’t yet made a claim. He’d signed up with a “trusted” insurer under the impression that he had freedom of choice with his insurer “That’s what they said when I got my policy.”
“But that wasn’t what they told me on the phone”
After spending nearly an hour on the phone to an insurance representative he was given a resounding “NO!” when he insisted that he take it to his own repairer. He was told “it would either go to Brighton or Victor Harbour, and I’d have to pick it up when it was fixed,” yet when inspecting the policy he noticed that he had been told an outright lie.
“I reread it and it clearly states that I can use my own repairer if the one they chose is impractical… having to pick my car up from Victor Harbour isn’t exactly practical… They just lied to me to save themselves money!”
These bullying tactics are incredibly common among insurance companies. Often they use scare tactics when drivers are at their most vulnerable – when they’ve just had an accident. Insurance companies know that you can be stressed, worried, and just want to know that everything will be ok – and that’s when they hold your car hostage!
As a car repairer that has dealt with insurance company demands we know exactly how much pressure companies put on repairers to make the repairs as quickly as possible and as cheaply as possible. These sorts of companies are only interested in limiting the amount of money they’ll have to shell out to get your car back on the road.
They care about their wallets, not the safety of your car (or anyone in it).
WHAT YOU CAN DO
The best thing you can do is be aware that you are entitled to choose your repairer to fix your car. There are very few insurers that don’t offer an option to choose your own repairer. For example, AAMI do not offer a choose your own repairer option, this can translate into big trouble this Sydney Driver found out. Click Here for the Full Story
Insurers such as APIA do offer a choose your own repairer option, if you are unhappy with their chosen repairer, or decide that the repairer they have chosen is not a practical solution for you – however insurers like this often disguise this and pressure you into going to their repairers instead. In these cases, it’s especially important to be insistent on your chosen repairer.
Look for an insurer that has an easy to understand “choose your own repairer” option. RAA insurance offers a great choose your own repairer policy, and come with a list of premium repairers that put quality first.
Why These Three Letters Matter
Driving a damaged car can be dangerous.
That’s why it’s so essential to have your repairs seen through by a trusted industry professional.
But sometimes it can be incredibly tricky to figure out exactly who can be trusted from who can’t…
But luckily the RAA has done the hard work for you!
Basically there are two types of repairer…
- Those who have been accredited – having their workshops, customer service procedures, and even their quotes reviewed by an independent industry professional.
- And then there are those repairers that aren’t accredited.
And the major difference between the two, in one word…
RISK!
When you choose an RAA approved repairer, mechanical or crash, you are backed by a group dedicated to the safety of South Australian drivers. But not just any repairer qualifies…
RAA approved repairers must be some of the most trusted and best repairers available. And as an RAA approved repairer we guarantee every repair we make.
Here are just a few things you can expect:
- You’ll get a quote in writing for any repair work being done – We provide a written quote for every single repair. It details every facet of the foreseen repair process, from expected labour hours, to materials, and even the time you can come by and pick up your car up. AND… should your car need more repairs than first thought we’ll make sure that you’re fully notified AND have given us the green light to continue the repair work. We will never, ever conduct work on your car without you being fully informed of all the details.
- You’ll get an estimated time of completion – You’ll know exactly when you can pick up you repaired car and, once work has started we’ll get your repair finished to an impeccable standard as speedily as possible.
- Your repair is guaranteed – If for any reason the repair isn’t the absolute tip top you can bring it in and we’ll make it right!
- Personal service – from the time you call until well after the repair is complete. You’ll feel safe in the knowledge that we are looking after your car as if it were one of ours.
On the flip side; if you choose a non-RAA approved repairer (which we strongly advise against) there is no guarantee that the work carried out on your car is as safe or as strong as it could be. AND unlike an approved repairer the work be backed by a third party mediator like the RAA. This means you could be left high and dry – and out of pocket!
We Make Absolutely Sure That You’re Not Only As Happy As Possible With Your Car Repair, But Also That Your Car Is As Safe As It Could Possibly Be!
- We always have your best interest at heart – we’ve been a trusted South Australian repairer for nearly 50 years. We have the best, most loyal customers around, and we love that you keep coming back.
- We are RAA approved – The RAA is synonymous with serving South Australian drivers, and they’ll only let great repairers and mechanics display their logo. At DPP you’ll see the yellow RAA Approved sign proudly hanging above our doors. Proof that top quality workmanship and personal care are what you’ll experience every time you visit us.
- We love cars – we love what we do, our passion is getting your car looking its absolute best. That’s why we do it!
Whether you need a couple of scratches buffed out, a bumper replaced, a panel resprayed, or something a lot larger. We’ll have your car looking great again.
Here’s how you can get a quote.
There are a number of ways we can give you a quote, and a timeframe for repairs, even if you can’t come in yourself. It won’t just be a “here’s what it costs” conversation… we’ll detail the process of the repair to ensure you can feel confident that we are only doing what is absolutely necessary to restore your car to looking brand spanking new.
- Give us a call and ask for us to come and have a look. We’ll make the trip to come and see you to give you an accurate idea of how we’ll fix your car.
- You can send in pictures – in fact, we suggest that as soon as you notice any damage to your car you take photos immediately. This will give you plenty of documentation for the insurer, should you need to provide it. If you can’t arrange a time for us to come and have a look send us the photos of the damage and we can follow up with a written quote, and a phone call from one of our experts talking you through the details.
- You can come on in and say hi – We’re always happy to see our customers, and we love to be a part of the process that helps you feel better about having damage repaired. It’s understandable that you can be under stress when bringing in a car for a repair, especially the bigger stuff, and that’s why it’s important that you leave armed with everything you need to know about the repair, and know that your car will be as safe as ever.
If you’re ready to get a quote today give us a call, or to discover other great cosmetic upgrades we can fit to your car (tinting, bodywork, roof racks etc.) click here and have a browse.
Give us a call today on 8362 7395
Your friend, Cos.
PS. Even though the COVID restrictions are easing we still take your health very seriously. We will still be conducting our COVID19 sanitising service, which as a stand-alone service is $85, but 100% Free with every repair or customisation – THAT’S OUR IRON CLAD GUARANTEE!
PPS. If you’d like to review the RAA code of conduct for yourself you’ll find them here – check them out and make sure anyone servicing your car is RAA approved.
Getting Your Car Back To New – Faster Than You Ever Dreamed Possible!
Being in a crash sucks!
Even if it’s just a little tap, a scrape, a bump, or something worse. If you own (and drive) a car there is no doubt you’ve been affected by your car being damaged. And as stated before… It sucks.
And when it does happen, you usually have two choices:
- Let the insurance company organise everything – including when you need to take your car in – even if you can’t fit it into your schedule. Where you take your car – even if it’s not local. And who “fixes” it – even if it’s someone you don’t know and trust.
- You insist someone you know, like, and trust to not just repair your car, but take care of your car. Someone reputable, approved by the RAA, that has your best interest in mind.
We help South Australian car owners get their cars back on the road, looking their absolute best, even if you can’t bring your car in for a quote or repair!
- We always have your best interest at heart – we’ve been a trusted South Australian repairer for nearly 50 years. We have the best, most loyal customers around, and we love that you keep coming back.
- We are RAA approved – The RAA is synonymous with serving South Australian drivers, and they’ll only let great repairers and mechanics display their logo. At DPP you’ll see the yellow RAA Approved sign proudly hanging above our doors. Proof that top quality workmanship and personal care are what you’ll experience every time you visit us.
- We love cars – we love what we do, our passion is getting your car looking its absolute best. That’s why we do it!
Whether you need a couple of scratches buffed out, a bumper replaced, a panel resprayed, or something a lot larger. We’ll have your car looking great again.
Here’s how you can get a quote.
There are a number of ways we can give you a quote, and a timeframe for repairs, even if you can’t come in yourself. It won’t just be a “here’s what it costs” conversation… we’ll detail the process of the repair to ensure you can feel confident that we are only doing what is absolutely necessary to restore your car to looking brand spanking new.
- Give us a call and ask for us to come and have a look. We’ll make the trip to come and see you to give you an accurate idea of how we’ll fix your car.
- You can send in pictures – in fact, we suggest that as soon as you notice any damage to your car you take photos immediately. This will give you plenty of documentation for the insurer, should you need to provide it. If you can’t arrange a time for us to come and have a look send us the photos of the damage and we can follow up with a written quote, and a phone call from one of our experts talking you through the details.
- You can come on in and say hi – We’re always happy to see our customers, and we love to be a part of the process that helps you feel better about having damage repaired. It’s understandable that you can be under stress when bringing in a car for a repair, especially the bigger stuff, and that’s why it’s important that you leave armed with everything you need to know about the repair, and know that your car will be as safe as ever.
If you’re ready to get a quote today give us a call, or to discover other great cosmetic upgrades we can fit to your car (tinting, bodywork, roof racks etc.) click here and have a browse.
Give us a call today on 8362 7395
Your friend, Cos.
PS. Even though the COVID restrictions are easing we still take your health very seriously. We will still be conducting our COVID19 sanitising service, which as a stand-alone service is $85, but 100% Free with every repair or customisation – THAT’S OUR IRONCLAD GUARANTEE!
Sanitising Service
We’ll get the interior of your car the cleanest it’s ever been, even if you can’t come in and see us. (And we can even do it for free – read more to find out how!)
Whether you’re an essential worker, or just trying to get out of the house to do your weekly shop every time you come into contact with your steering wheel door handles, or even radio you could be risking the spread of the dreaded COVID-19.
We use industry-standard disinfectant and equipment which will not only have the most powerful germ-killing formula to disinfect and clean, but it is specifically designed for porous surfaces like dashboards and steering wheels.
Some of the supermarket disinfectants do a pretty good job of getting your car clean and safe, but many may damage your wheel, seatbelt, and dashboard. Which over time will eat away at top layers and make them tacky or sticky.
As part of our thorough sanitisation process, we ensure that not only are the highest traffic areas of your car cleaned, but also less frequently used places like ashtrays, light switches, petrol caps, and boot latches.
Not only will your cars console look nice and clean, but you can be confident in the knowledge that they are as clean as can be.
Usually, this is a standalone service and costs $85, but for a limited time, we will include it for free with every repair we do!
Call us now and book your car in for a free quote.
We’ll Come To You
If you’re stuck at home and can’t leave at all it can be pretty difficult getting things done. Especially if you’re looking outside at your car in the driveway thinking about that scratch you wish you’d taken care of before the ‘lockdown.’
We’ve always helped people get car repairs done, even if they can’t leave their homes, or places of business. In fact every week we go out and give mobile quotes, and right now it seems more important than ever to be able to provide this service.
In fact, you don’t even have to answer the door.
To keep you, and our staff safe we’ve implemented a new operating procedure for our mobile repair units. It’s as simple as leaving your keys somewhere safe on your property where we can collect them, and letting us take care of the rest.
After we’ve collected the keys (from you or your letterbox), we’ll wipe down all the sensitive surfaces that we’ll be touching. These include the steering wheel, gear shift, indicator levers, door handles – inside and out – handbrake, seatbelt.
For your added safety we’ll also be wearing disposable hospital grade gloves, that will be changed for every different car we come into contact with.
For extra peace of mind, we’ll even sanitise things we haven’t come into contact with. This includes things like the passenger’s seat belt, radio, dashboard, petrol cap lever, and boot lever.
Safety is always our number one priority, whether it’s the roadworthiness of your cars bodywork or the cleanliness of the cockpit.
Your car will be safer both inside and out after a visit from one of our repair experts, and what better time to get those dings, dents, chips, and scratches taken care of?
Call us a call on – (08) 8362 7395 and we’ll come out to you and make your car look like it just rolled off the production line.
Clearing The Mist!
Many of us are still at work during these interesting times, and while many of us are working from home, it’s likely that you still have to drive. Driving in the colder months often means reduced/obstructed vision. Here’s a 5-minute fix to ensure safety on the roads.
Now that daylight savings has ended, and the days are shorter it’s highly likely that you’ll be driving around in the dark. Of course this make clear vision even more important.
As the weather cools down you’ll start to notice the inside of your windscreen fogging up far more often as a result of the higher humidity levels inside your car. This is made a lot worse by the build-up of grime you may not notice in the warmer weather.
At the bottom of this page you’ll see an excerpt for one of our newsletters last year regarding demisting. It’s the best, and quickest way to ensure you’re fog free, but you can save yourself (a large part of) the stress of foggy windows with this easy to follow cleaning procedure.
The grime you see on the windscreen is easily dealt with, however there are a couple of things to keep in mind.
Firstly you must resist the urge to wipe it with your sleeve or a towel. This simply pushes the grime and moisture around and makes your sleeve wet. Not only is it a very temporary fix, but it can often make things gradually worse.
You should treat your windscreen like any other window, and as such it can be cleaned with run of the mill window cleaner. Easy, right?
Well it is; any spray and wipe window cleaner will work, or even a mix of vinegar and water (1:1), but the key part of the process is making sure the surface is dry.
As we know the “fog” is created by higher humidity inside the car, so you’ll need to reduce this as much as possible.
For the best results use your window cleaner thouroghly and then wipe with a paper towel, chamois, or microfibre cloth. This will reduce streaking significantly.
Avoid using tea towels, or common bath towels as these tend to leave fluff all over your windscreen, and are less efficient at drying.
For the quickest way to demist your windscreen check out our archived newsletter from last July. It the fastest, most efficient, and most effective way to improve the visibility in the cold weather.
Read it HERE
You Wouldn’t Drive With Your Eyes Closed
90% of driver decisions are solely based on what we see through the windscreen. This makes good vision even more important when the weather turns bad. It’s like driving with your eyes closed.
With an estimated 1 in 5 cars driving around with broken, worn, or perished windscreen wipers there is no wonder why accidents spike sharply after the weather gets wetter and the days get shorter.
Skipping, streaking, squeaking, and splitting are all symptoms of damaged wiper blades. A damaged wiper blade can impair clear vision by up to 50% when driving in the rain.
Lack of effectiveness isn’t the only issue that can make things harder to see. If it has been more than 12 months since you changed your wiper blades you could be at serious risk of causing permanent damage to the windscreen. Microparticles of dirt are abrasive on a smooth surface like glass (even toughened automotive glass).
As we drive around in the warmer and drier months of the year we happily cruise around collecting dust, grime, and dirt under our windscreen wiper blades. This paired with the deterioration of the rubber in the hot sun means that when we do use the windscreen wipers micro-scratches begin to form. These scratches can be invisible to the naked eye, yet increase glare significantly in the early morning and late afternoon.
For most cars replacing your windscreen wipers will cost around $30, for larger cars this can be as much as $50. However, if you’ve noticed significant impairment of vision while driving in the rain the price of not replacing them could be a lot higher.
If you’d like to know more about how you can safely change your wiper blades, or whether or not you need to give us a call. We are more than happy to answer any questions you may have. Phone – 8362 7395
COVID 19 Update
Our number 1 priority at DPP is Safety.
During this time of social distancing, isolation, and disinfecting it can be difficult to go anywhere without worrying about the spread of germs.
To ensure the safety of our employees and those we work with we have introduced new sanitation and distancing practices.
When you come in and see us you can be comfortable in the knowledge that:
- We wipe down every surface thoroughly. Including our coffee machine, door handles, countertops, and our bell.
- We maintain minimum social distance requirements, in fact, we often did this before the current pandemic, as it is the nature of the profession.
- We have even wiped down your car keys, and wear sterile gloves when using your car’s instruments and gauges.
We are open, and are ready to help you!
If you have a scratch, dent, or scrape that needs looking at come in and see us, we’re open and ready to serve you.
Give us a call today!
Get It Clean, Get More Money!
How and what to fix, and how much it will change your asking price
In last months newsletter, we talked about selling your car, and the best way to go about it. Preparing your car for sale can be as simple, or as complex, as you choose to make it. Of course, first impressions count when selling or trading a car, and as such having your car look as clean and “new” as possible will significantly increase the likelihood of making the sale.
If you need some pointers on the best way to get your car as clean as possible follow the link at the bottom of the page.
As we go about our daily business, driving to and from work, or doing the shopping, or going for a drive on weekends, it’s not uncommon to pick up minor scratches and dents. Most of these little shopping trolley dents can be fixed fairly effortlessly with the right know-how. Check out the newsletter we wrote last year about these little dents and scratches here – Depending on the age of the car these little scratches can be forgiven although if you want top dollar for your automobile it certainly pays to have them fixed.
Big scratches!
While little dents and scratches can be forgiven serious dents and deep scratches adversely affect the value of your car. Most buyers will use any reason to talk down price, and big cosmetic issues can give potential buyers leverage on price, or simply scare them off entirely.
If you have a car with dents and scratches, big or small, give us a call and let us help, you could see the value of your car increase overnight!
Want to wash your car better like a pro? Check out the Free Guide here
Buying and Selling – How, Where, and Why.
| When it comes to buying a used car there are so many variables to consider, particularly when disposing of your current drive. Last month we covered the lowest cost new cars to consider when buying, however so many of us opt to buy our cars used, and not many of us know exactly what we’re buying when we are buying. When shopping for a used car we are faced with so many different options – How much do I have to spend? Should I buy from a dealer? Should I buy privately? Should I sell privately? Should I trade-in at a dealer? Do I take a risk on a premium car at a low price? While every transaction is different, nearly all of them share common factors. Firstly which car to buy. The car you want and the car you need are seldom the same. If you are buying for a need, as most car buyers are, there are slightly different things to keep in mind. Let’s start with your budget and how you can get the most for your dollar. Often when shopping online for cars based on budget you’ll see low-end makes of car as new as only a few years old, as well as much older premium brands. For example, right now you can buy a 3.8L V8 Mercedes for slightly less than a Holden Barina, the key difference being about 30 years in manufacturing date. With very few exceptions it is likely that the newer model Barina is probably the better buy for the sake of getting you from point a to point b. Typically a car that has been bought more recently will have fewer issues, a more complete service history, and will be easier to repair. While the Barina is unlikely to have the longevity of the Mercedes due to the smaller engine size and the difference in engineering standards, it should still provide you with what you need for the short to medium term, at a reasonable price, with minimal headaches. Trade-in or Sell privately? Your budget for buying your next car can rely heavily on the price you get for your current vehicle. Depending on how motivated you are to move on to your new set of wheels can determine where you should dispose of your current car by selling it privately or whether you should trade it in at a dealer. If you’re looking to move things on as quickly as possible then a dealer is probably the way to go, but keep in mind a car dealer is in it to make money, so it’s highly likely they will offer you well below the market value for your car. If you have a little more time and a little more negotiating prowess you can try to sell your car privately, but that too can have its drawbacks. In the next few newsletters, we’ll reveal the best ways to prepare your car for sale, and the best things to keep in mind when purchasing your next car. |
