A new national standard for vehicle crash repairs will see insurers having to pay better rates to...
A new national standard for vehicle crash repairs will pave the way for insurers to pay better rates to repairers, according to motor trade body MVRA.
The organisation claims that the differentiation between different types of repairer defined within the new Thatcham BSI Kitemark, known during its development stages at PAS 125, removes the argument that all repairers should be paid virtually the same rate, regardless of their skill level.
MVRA chief executive Mike Monaghan said: “For years, insurers have, within pennies, paid all repairers the same labour rate using the defence that they are all essentially the same. This ignores the fact that with the increasing sophistication of vehicle technology many aspects of vehicle repair have become highly technical, requiring specialist training and equipment which represents a massive investment on the repairers' behalf.”
The Kitemark stipulates both skill and equipment level differences that define repairer status. There are three levels of repairer in the Kitemark matrix:
Structural – aluminium and composite: those centres able to work on the latest generation vehicles;
Structural – steel repairers: those centres able to carry out most repair types, plus welding and structural replacement of panels; and
Cosmetic repairers: those centre confined to minor bodywork repairs.
