Accident repair – spare parts reconstruction with insurance coverage of costs

The nightmare of all classic car drivers, it comes to the accident with property damage to the beloved automobile. But do not worry, because the insurance takes over everything, right? We have taken a closer look at the issue of accident repair for rare classic cars, with a view to the reproduction of spare parts that are no longer available.

Basically, the procedure after the accident is similar to that for modern cars. Irrespective of whether liability, partial or fully comprehensive insurance is involved, the damage must be settled somehow. To do this, an expert is commissioned to assess the damage and calculate what the professional repair will cost in total. Thereupon it is up to the insurance company to decide whether the repair costs are more than 130% of the replacement value of the car and whether the vehicle is classified as an economic total loss or the repairs are released.

However, especially in the case of rare classic cars, it is often difficult for insurance companies to determine the exact value. That is why it is advisable to have an expert appraisal carried out before the classic car is registered and to renew this appraisal every 2 years if an increase in value is expected. On the basis of this appraisal and the current market value, the insurance companies then determine the replacement value.

In the case of modern vehicles, automotive experts have access to programs in which spare parts prices and repair times are stored. This simplifies accident repair calculations. For old and youngtimers, such databases do not exist or are rarely up to date. That is why the choice of an expert is crucial. This is because the expert must be willing to accompany the entire repair process with the workshop or you and to manually research the availability of required spare parts and their price. If no new original parts are available and the quality of remanufactured parts from third parties cannot be verified, the insurance company can demand that the repair be carried out with used parts. Exceptions are vintage cars where the initial condition was so exceptional that the installation of used parts can be rejected. In addition, it can also happen that no used spare part is available on the market.

In addition, the injured party may claim repair in a brand-affiliated specialist workshop, provided that he can prove that a professional repair is not possible with the alternatives pointed out by the insurance company, e.g. due to a lack of specialist knowledge.

If spare parts are no longer available at all, the only option is for the repair shop or the owner to commission a remanufacture. In order for the costs of this to be borne by the insurance company, the expert and the manufacturer of the vehicle must clearly confirm that the part will no longer be available in the foreseeable future. It is then also up to the insurance company to carry out its own research before giving approval. It becomes problematic if it was a major accident and many parts have to be reproduced, because then the 130% repair limit is quickly reached and there is the threat of an economic total loss.
Reproducing car parts in small quantities using traditional manufacturing methods is extremely costly. Additive manufacturing processes, such as 3D printing, provide a remedy. These can be used to produce one-offs or small batches significantly more cheaply and quickly. Another advantage is that in many cases defective parts can be repaired digitally. Since the parts to be reproduced are 3D scanned and converted into a digital model on the computer, broken clips can be restored or torn rubber can be rejoined, for example. Then the replacement part is created from steel, plastic, rubber, or many other materials, all by itself in the 3D printer and without the need for expensive molds.

It is possible, for example, to save components that cannot be replaced and to reproduce them economically. If you want to know more about these topics, please have a look at our articles about classic cars and 3D printing spare parts.

Do you have a defective part on your old or youngtimer and want to have it remanufactured? Then send us your non-binding spare parts request now!

3D Digital Warehouse GmbH does not give any warranty on the statements made in the article. In case of doubt, legal counsel should always be consulted when settling claims.