The_Accessor_Autumn 2025 web - Flipbook - Page 24
JOURNAL
REPAIR VOLUMES
With a fall in work volumes, many bodyshops are now focusing on improving estimate conversion, operational ef昀椀ciency and service levels.
WHERE ARE ALL THE
REPAIRS?
The bodyshop industry has seen a signi昀椀cant drop in work volumes this year, with one
large repair group reporting claims are at 77% pre-COVID levels. The team at ABP Club
launched an investigation, looking at the reasons why motor claims are down, how this
is impacting on businesses, and what bodyshops are doing to protect pro昀椀t margin,
for this article. In the next issue of The Assessors Journal we want to report on the
impact this is having on the motor engineering sector – please share your views with
editor@theiaea.org.
he last 12 months have
seen a signi昀椀cant drop
in work volumes. As
observed by David
Cresswell’s ‘From the
Chair’ column in the Summer issue
of Auto Body Professional, there
are a number of factors creating this
situation, including ADAS reducing
accidents, an increasing number of
total losses due to the high cost of
parts and repairs combined with high
salvage returns, the growth in mobile
repair services, and the emergence
of ‘microshops’ which are bodyshops
with just one or two employees who
are under VAT thresholds, providing
further repair capacity and choice.
The rise in home working has also
impacted on the spike in claims during
rush hour, and online tutorials showing
how to replace broken wing mirrors
and headlamps etc, are encouraging a
growing number of consumers tackling
DIY car repairs themselves to save
money.
T
history,” said John Keeton, Operations
Director, FMG. “In April 2020 claim
volumes fell to 20% of our usual level
but then exploded as lockdown lifted.
Suddenly the repair industry was under
intense pressure as there simply wasn’t
enough capacity to meet demand for
vehicle repairs. Huge disruption in the
market caused lengthy delays, and
parts delays and repair cycle times
moved in direct correlation, reaching
record highs.
“As a work provider, we observed the
wider market conditions and adapted
our strategy and working practices
to counteract the level of disruption
in the market,” explained John. “We
started by strengthening our repair
network with over 100 new repairers,
to boost capacity and capability across
the UK whilst working closely with our
existing network to adapt our working
practices to support them through the
disruption.”
and fewer collisions, many motorists
have opted for higher voluntary
excesses to reduce car insurance
premiums. And if they have an accident
with minor damage, they are either
paying for small repairs themselves,
or ignoring getting it 昀椀xed, to avoid
paying the combined voluntary and
compulsory excesses as well as lose
their no claims bonus.
According to Trend Tracker’s UK Motor
Claims and Body Repair Report,
2024-2025, repair demand is down to
its lowest levels since 2021, standing
at an estimated 1.67 million repair
estimates in 2024, compared to
1.78 million in 2023.
For bodyshops the drop in claims
volumes has had an inevitable impact
on business.
Moto昀椀x Group has seen a noticeable
change in the shape and 昀氀ow of claims
volumes since the pandemic and is
currently operating at around 77% of
pre-Covid claims levels. Interestingly,
Richard Tutt, CEO of Moto昀椀x says that
the impact, although signi昀椀cant, has
“Lockdown created the greatest
昀氀uctuation in claims volumes in our
With car insurance quotes having risen
by 82% since May 2021, after low
insurance prices during the Covid-19
pandemic when there was less driving
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THE ASSESSORS JOURNAL | AUTUMN 2025 | www.iaea-online.org/news/the-assessor
