Where to Take Your Damaged Contract Hire Car
Unfortunately it should always go to the main agent to have any damage repaired. To do otherwise is risky and can in the long term work out more expensive. Whilst a vehicle is under warranty one must be conscious not to do anything that risks invalidating the warranty and of course one has to take into account that the leasing company owns the vehicle.
The temptation to have repairs carried out at a smaller garage, that is less expensive is understandable. In particular when for one reason or another the company is not intending to claim of their insurance; this can be because they feel they have already made too many claims in that year, or a large excess makes it unviable for them to claim.
In practice Insurance companies say all accidents and events such as a break in or accident should be reported, whether the insured is claiming or not. There was a case recently where the owner of a car had it broken into outside his house and the stereo system was removed. As the owner was reluctant to claim and affect his no claims bonus he repaired the car at his own expense.
Shortly after this incident the vehicle was stolen, again in the vicinity of the owner's home. When the insurance company became aware of the fact that the vehicle had been broken into previously they repudiated the claim. They stated that had they been informed of the previous incident, they would have been in a better position to access the risk of the vehicle being stolen. It is not unheard of for insurance companies to use various methods to avoid honouring claims and it is probably best not to just accept the insurance company's decision, it can be challenged.
One of the risks you take when you have work carried out locally is that the car leasing company becomes aware of it and charges you to have the work re done. So if they are going to put the car through the auctions as they do with most ex contract hire cars will they have the work redone, or just sell the vehicle as it is? It will vary from company to company but in any event if the car has not been repaired properly they are perfectly entitled to charge you, it is then up to them to take a view on how they sell it.
Certainly where repairs are carried out elsewhere that involve any form mechanical work, it can be very easily picked up by the dealership through diagnostics. If it is, the warranty will almost certainly be invalidated.
One of the exceptions to this is tyres. If you damage tyres, first check if you have maintenance included in your contract hire agreement and the terms of the maintenance agreement, because tyre damage may be included.
If tyres are not covered under a maintenance agreement, it is perfectly acceptable to buy them at another outlet (the difference in cost can be significant), rather than the main agent. Although it is important to purchase the tyres that are specified by the manufacturer. Beware of retailers who try to sell you a tyre "that is exactly the same" Perhaps it will serve just as well, perhaps not and you may only find out when you are skidding out of control.
In general, although it may be more expensive in the short term, any work you have done on your leased car should really be carried out at the dealership. You can then be secure in the knowledge that when the car is returned there will not be any problems.