4 minute read
How supply problems could put you off the road
THE LAST TWO YEARS HAVE CAUSED significant changes in nearly every industry. It’s been particularly hard for chauffeurs, who have suffered the combined effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, Brexit and war in Ukraine. The damage caused by these unwelcome events are being felt in everything from fuel costs to insurance claims.
Aston Lark understands the challenges that chauffeurs are facing, so we’ve pulled together a quick guide to some of the changes you may be seeing in the industry and how you can make sure you’re properly prepared if you need to claim.
RISING COST OF REPAIRS
As a chauffeur, you have to keep your vehicle in good condition at all times. Not only does your business depend on your vehicle being roadworthy, but your customers expect a high level of service in a comfortable car. But all vehicles will need maintenance and repairs at some point, so it’s important to be aware that the costs of repairs are going up.
These jumps in price are due to the increasing costs of labour, parts and materials. Garages are having to pay more to buy in what they need for each repair from suppliers who, in turn, have higher overheads and increased fuel costs as well as delays in the supply chain to deal with.
If your vehicle is damaged, this will have an impact on any potential claims as it means the repairs could cost more, so it’s worth checking your cover limits.
LONGER LEAD TIMES
As we touched on above, supply chains are still feeling the strain after the pandemic, adjustments to Brexit and shock of the Ukraine-Russian conflict. Parts are not only costing more but they’re taking longer to produce too.
The manufacturing industry is faced with rising costs of both materials and energy, as well as sustained high demand. These longer lead times may well have a knock-on effect on how quickly your vehicle can be repaired, as well as the cost of the overall claim.
THE CONSTRAINTS ON COURTESY VEHICLES
If an accident happens and your vehicle is out of action, you still need to work. As a rule you might expect to receive a courtesy vehicle or hire car as standard but, unfortunately, the strain on the repairs industry is making itself felt on the demand for courtesy vehicles too.
Hire vehicles are in short supply in the UK at the moment, so you may find you’re being charged more to hire a vehicle – or even facing periods of time without a courtesy vehicle at all.
We understand the impact this could have on you. It’s important to consider how you could keep running your business if you cannot access a hire car just in case your vehicle needs to go in for repair.
For example, if you’re in a position where your vehicle has to go into the garage as part of an insurance claim, you may find you have to prove you genuinely need a courtesy vehicle. This means you have to show that, financially, you cannot operate your business without one.
This is more applicable if you have two or more vehicles as part of your business. You may find that you’re asked to show that you cannot carry out your full workload with your remaining vehicles and need a courtesy vehicle to meet all your business demands – in other words, that you’re not hiring another vehicle for the sake of it.
Previously, this wouldn’t have been a problem but in today’s market conditions, we’re seeing this more and more as part of the claims process.
SPECIALIST SUPPORT FOR CHAUFFEURS
We’ve been insuring chauffeurs for more than 30 years, so we understand how the industry can change and evolve. As the industry adjusts to these current challenges, we’re here to support chauffeurs like you in the event of a claim – and help steer you through the challenges that come with the longer lead times, higher costs and limited courtesy vehicles that are impacting today’s market.
If you have any questions about our claims process, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Simply give us a call on 020 8633 8513 or send us an enquiry here.
