Seeking Advice for Crash Repair Quotes

Barry off EastEnders on 07/07/2025 - 06:33
Last edited 07/07/2025 - 14:08 by 1 other user

Hi all, I'm planning on a run of crash repair services to bring in a relatively new Kia Rio.

The front panel is heavily indented and requires the ordering of and replacement of the front side panel and a paint job.

The car wasn't insured at the time of the crash and so because I'll be paying for the lot out of pocket, I'm shopping around for the best price. Of course that's going to come with the trade of of quality of servicing.

I've gone to a couple of RAA approved repairers and was told that their service was to a high standard by token of their accreditation. Those two quotes were around $1,500 to $2,000. There was one that wasn't RAA approved and I'm not even going to bother sounding PC here, that was Chinese and that quoted $1,000 for the lot.

Of course I want something reliable but also so that the panel blends in with the rest of the paint on the car.

I'm keen to hear some opinions and tips on what to ask, be mindful of, what to avoid and what to settle on from those that have experience with the industry.

Cheers

Photos:

Front/Side:

Front/Side (Angle):

Automotive Car Kia

Comments

  • Tricon on 07/07/2025 - 06:49
    +2

    I suggest asking the RAA repairers for their availability and then determining when you can bring the car in. You can't buy much automotive paint $2000, let alone the rest of the work. Have a read of the ETTO principle.

  • Nugs on 07/07/2025 - 07:02
    +14

    It's a Kia Rio, I'd be trying to locate a panel of the same colour from the wreckers and swap it over
    .

    • Euphemistic on 07/07/2025 - 07:44
      +1

      This is the cheapest solution.

    • Ryanek on 07/07/2025 - 08:00

      What, modern Kia Rio's are nice.

      • Cyphar on 07/07/2025 - 09:27
        +3

        Yes but the point is they area dime a dozen. Should be easy to find an undamaged front panel on the numerous that would no doubt be at a wreckers.

        • Ryanek on 07/07/2025 - 14:25

          Fair point my man.

    • AndyC1 on 07/07/2025 - 19:24

      Wreckers will be the cheapest option. Call around a few and see what they charge for the panel.

  • apsilon on 07/07/2025 - 07:03
    +4

    Need to see pics because $2k for a heavily damaged front panel already sounds very cheap

    • Wiadro on 07/07/2025 - 07:37
      +1

      Not if it’s a remove and replace.
      Parts probably $700 and then $1300 in paint and labour sounds fine.

      • apsilon on 07/07/2025 - 08:04
        +1

        For a low quality job and non genuine parts you could do it but it's still very cheap. If there's damage under the panel or anything else involved it becomes suspiciously cheap. OP also doesn't say what colour. If it needs to be blended into the bonnet door and bumper it's also too cheap.

    • Barry off EastEnders on 07/07/2025 - 08:22

      The damage isn’t major. I can’t link a picture at the moment but to give an idea - the side front between the headlight and door has an oval-shaped dent about 30 cm length by 15 cm.

      Only one panel requires replacement.

      • apsilon on 07/07/2025 - 08:26

        Still hard to say without seeing the pic but maybe they can push most of the dent out then bog it and smooth you could get away with that sort of price for an OK job without blending.

      • Wiadro on 07/07/2025 - 09:11

        The damage isn’t major.

        has famous comments of the uneducated

    • Barry off EastEnders on 07/07/2025 - 10:09

      @apsilon

      I've updated the original post. Here are the temporary links to the photos:

      Front/Side:

      https://ibb.co/G4nSLbdf

      Front/Side (Angle):

      https://ibb.co/VYmH0y7B

      • apsilon on 07/07/2025 - 11:14

        Hard to see for certain but I think that's metallic paint? The panel should be replaced but I'd bet that ultra cheap quote you got was just going use a heap of filler. Honestly, I can't see this being done for $2k to a standard I'd be happy with but I guess it depends on how fussy you are as well. The good news is there's unlikely to be any damage to the inner guard or suspension. Check the wheel and tyre if you haven't already, many people over look minor damage here initially. Possible damage to mounts on the bar and headlight I can't tell just from the pic. This is another area that's often skimped on to keep costs low ie rather than replace the bar just whack a screw or two in to hold it in place. Paint will be the panel, bar and blended into bonnet and drivers door. There's a lot more in labour than you likely realise in the R&R and prep.

        If the places quoting for $1.5k - $2k are fixed quotes (check they're not just an initial estimate subject to change once they start taking things apart, another common trap) and have decent reviews then just go for one of them.

  • Gunnar on 07/07/2025 - 07:34

    That sounds really, really cheap from what you’ve described as the work required. Pics would help

  • Euphemistic on 07/07/2025 - 07:47
    +4

    $2k to replace a front guard sounds about right for doing it properly. I was quoted $1500 for a front bumper replace and paint.

    There is a reasonable chance the cheap quote wont be a terrible job, but it certainly wont be as thorough as the approved repairers work.

    If you want cheap and OK, try to find a replacement pabel from a wrecker in the same colour.

  • Barry off EastEnders on 07/07/2025 - 08:24
    -1

    Thanks for the responses. I’ll take a photo and post a link in about an hour or so.

  • Barry off EastEnders on 07/07/2025 - 10:10
    -1

    Just an update - I've linked photos of the damage in the original post.

    • Wiadro on 07/07/2025 - 10:18

      2k for that is way cheap.
      you need repairs to the qtr panel, front bar and headlight

      • geekcohen on 07/07/2025 - 10:45

        headlight

        The headlight appears to be something that would buff out.

        • Wiadro on 07/07/2025 - 10:49
          +1

          unless the clips are broken and cant see that till the bar and qtr panel comes off

  • Protractor on 07/07/2025 - 10:21
    -1

    Even if you get the paint matched at repair time, if the job is the typical of the in/out standard these days (that $2K rate) a couple of hot summers and it will look like a carpet shark.

  • happydude on 07/07/2025 - 11:31
    +4

    If it was me I would go with the $1,000 option.

    If it is shit then I'm out another $1,500 - $2,000 to get it done right. If it's good I have saved $500 - $1k.

  • holdenmg on 07/07/2025 - 12:31
    +1

    "Oh, this isn't so bad. Yeah, I thought it would be a lot worse than this. They'll be able to buff this out, no problem."

  • Clickbait on 07/07/2025 - 12:49

    Your bonnet looks to be a bit out of alignment

  • pegaxs on 07/07/2025 - 13:47
    +6

    Is that all the damage there is? Just drive the car how it is. You could spend $2k on this and it be like this a week later after someone backs into it in a car park and leaves.

    It's not a collectable car. It's not even a popular make or model that fixing it would net a massive gain in resale value.

    I would take the wheel off, drop the inner guard liner down and thump it a few times with my fist or a rubber mallet to get it roughly back into shape and move on with my life.

    • DashCam AKA Rolts on 07/07/2025 - 20:31
      +1

      With a dart hanging from the bottom lip and an empty VB can as an ashtray.

  • JIMB0 on 08/07/2025 - 08:12

    Give it a buff and use some touch up paint so it's less noticeable.

  • Barry off EastEnders on 08/07/2025 - 10:42

    Ahh, thanks for taking the time guys. Really appreciate it!

    The only damage I'm concerned about fixing is the dent in the panel. Nothing is broken in the front.

    I did going down a narrow, gravelly bend. Pretty gutted at the time because I had only bought the thing and put off insuring it.

    I want to get it it insured ASAP now, but after the repair job so that they don't have to see it and charge more for insurance.

    The only other thing I wanted to get some advice on was the difference between 'RAA Approved' crash repair and the alternative. I'm happy to pay the extra couple of hundred if it means that there is a warranty on the repair, higher standard etc.. What do you reckon?

  • Muppet Detector on 10/07/2025 - 04:07

    Which dude gives you a guarantee about the quality of his workmanship including new paint will match existing paint?

    Potentially, not unrealistic that surface damage hasn't caused incognito damage that an external glance never identified.

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