Compare Quotes for Cosmetic Repair Insurance

Cosmetic repair insurance is a type of policy designed to cover minor, superficial damage to your vehicle that doesn’t affect its roadworthiness—think dents, scratches, scuffs, and chips to the paint or bodywork. 

Unlike comprehensive car insurance, which typically covers more significant accident damage, cosmetic repair insurance focuses on restoring your car’s appearance. This can be a cost-effective way to keep your vehicle looking its best without making a claim on your main policy.

There are two main reasons why you should think about cosmetic car insurance policies: protecting your no-claims bonus and covering repairs that would otherwise cost less than your excess.

When your car suffers a minor scratch or other kinds of surface-level damage, you're faced with a tricky decision: You can make a claim with your car insurance provider and have them pay for the repairs but risk losing your no-claims bonus, or you can fork out for the cosmetic repair yourself.

Cosmetic repair insurance solves this problem. Since it functions as an add-on or a separate policy altogether, you can make a claim on a cosmetic policy to cover minor repairs without affecting your no-claims.

Moreover, in some cases, the cost of your repairs will be lower than your voluntary excess. If your repairs cost £150, but your excess is set at £300, even if you make a claim you'll still be paying for the repairs yourself. Again, a cosmetic or scratch and dent insurance policy will help here, since the excess on such policies is usually closer to £10.

Keep in mind that while cosmetic repair insurance covers minor damage, it doesn’t extend to major repairs or anything that affects the car’s functionality. Additionally, the specific limits and conditions for coverage, such as the size of the damage and the number of repairs carried out, will vary depending on the insurer.

Some of the types of damage that aren’t typically covered include:

• Damage to Custom Paint jobs: If your vehicle has a custom paint finish such as a matte finish, vinyl wraps, or pearlescent paint, it’s unlikely that your policy will cover it.
• Normal Wear and Tear: The natural degradation of your car over time due to everyday use, including fading or cracked, flaked paint won’t usually be covered.
• Mechanical or Electrical Faults: Issues with the functionality of the car won’t be included in the policy.
• Damage to Windscreens and Headlights: Check your policy, but it’s unlikely these will be covered under cosmetic repair insurance.

When purchasing a new or nearly new car, dealerships often offer cosmetic repair insurance, known as SMART Repair (Small to Medium Area Repair Technology). This type of insurance typically involves:

• SMART Repairs: Utilises specialised tools and equipment to perform localised cosmetic repairs, such as fixing minor scuffs, scratches, and small dents, without the need to replace entire panels. This helps keep your car in showroom condition.
• Higher Costs: Dealerships usually charge a premium for this insurance due to added markups.

It’s worth noting that SMART insurance can also be obtained through brokers, often at a lower cost than dealership offerings.

Can I get SMART repairs on my used car?

Cosmetic repair insurance isn’t limited to new cars; it’s also available for used vehicles, even if they weren’t recently purchased from a dealership. Key points include:

• SMART Repairs: Applies to used cars by covering minor cosmetic damage through localised repairs. This method uses specialised tools to address issues without replacing entire panels.
• Coverage for Private Sales: Insurance can be purchased for cars bought through private sales.
• Pre-Existing Damage: Some policies may cover vehicles with pre-existing cosmetic damage.
• Maintaining Appearance: Keep your used car in top condition by addressing minor cosmetic damage efficiently with SMART repair techniques.