There has been one primary factor that has driven motor claims inflation in the last 4 years and that is spares supply chain delays. There are other reasons of course, like labour costs, vehicle storage, battery pack removal and storage, bigger recovery low loaders etc.
But every day lost on fitting replacement parts is a day when the credit hire, legal bills, storage and other admin costs are all racking up on the meter. Here’s the word from the Green Insurer on speeding things up.
A lack of available replacement parts is seeing motorists often waiting weeks or even months for repairs to their cars, according to new research from The Green Insurer, which is focused on helping drivers reduce carbon emissions and drive in a more environmentally friendly way. The survey found that one in three (31%) motorists said a shortage in replacement parts had meant a delay in their car being returned to them after it had gone into a garage for a fault to be fixed or a repair carried out after an accident.
The survey found that the delay faced by motorists while waiting for a replacement part to be available could be considerable – one in two (49%) drivers had to wait for a week or more before their car was returned. More than one in three (35%) say they endured a wait of two weeks or more, and 15% had to live without their car for a month or more. Six per cent were still waiting three months or more for the return of their car from the garage.
As new parts become harder to find, “green parts”, also known as recycled or refurbished auto parts, may provide a key role in alleviating the high demand for car repair components. The findings reveal that the majority (64%) of motorists are not aware of the existence of these second-hand parts, which are sourced from salvaged vehicles and refurbished to meet quality standards with the same guaranteed longevity and high performance of brand new parts.
Given that “green parts” undergo rigorous testing, have the same guaranteed life as brand new counterparts and are usually more readily available, four in five (78%) drivers say they would be happy for these recycled parts to be used in any repairs carried out in their car.
Paul Baxter, CEO, The Green Insurer, said: “Our findings reveal that many drivers have experienced lengthy delays for the return of their car as a direct result of a shortage parts. We believe that green parts could provide a solution. By using these eco-friendly alternatives, garages can reduce their dependence on the stretched supply of new components, helping to lower costs for drivers and shorten repair times.
“Additionally, green parts support environmental sustainability by reducing waste and the need for energy-intensive manufacturing processes. At The Green Insurer we support a “repair over replace” ethos and ask that all garages employed to undertake repairs to our policyholders’ cars use green parts, where these are available.”
GREENER THINKING
Up to 70 companies have partnered with The Green Insurer to offer rewards and discounts including ASDA, Tesco, Sainsbury’s Waitrose, Iceland and Morrisons plus retailers Clarks, Harvey Nichols, Halfords, Habitat and Waterstone’s as well as restaurant chains Zizzi, Ask Italian and Café Rouge. On a weekly supermarket shop of £200 a 6% discount would be worth more than £600 a year.
Independent and green offers include eco laundry capsules, eco clothing, refillable natural deodorant, sustainable sunglasses from Coral Eyewear and National Trust membership. The company plans to expand the number of rewards partners and is contacting companies who can also sign up on its website. It will also add other insurance partners in the future and potentially expand the types of policies it offers.
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