FAQs

We help Australians involved in not-at-fault accidents get back on the road as quickly as possible by providing them with a replacement vehicle, completing or facilitating the accident repairs.

These services are offered at no out of pocket cost to the not-at-fault driver as under Australian law, the at-fault party is obliged to pay the reasonable costs associated with replacement car hire and accident repairs. We recover hire car and or accident repair costs directly from the at-fault party’s insurer.

Here at Ken Shafer Autobody, we’re proud to be able to provide a simple solution with one in house repairs and replacement vehicle

P.S. – If this is the first time you’ve heard of this service, you’re not the only one! Less than 20% of Aussies realise they have a legal right to an accident replacement vehicle or accident repairs with costs covered by the at-fault party.

If you are not at fault and you agree to appoint us as your agent to arrange for the recovery of the hire car costs and or the repairs on your behalf (usually by engaging lawyers), then we can offer you a replacement vehicle to use until your vehicle is repaired or written off.

We will then arrange for the recovery of the hire car and or accident repair costs from the at-fault party’s insurer on your behalf.

If you’re the not-at-fault party in a motor vehicle accident, then you may be entitled to hire a comparable replacement vehicle while your own vehicle is being repaired, or until you receive a total loss payout if your vehicle is written off. You also have the right to choose your preferred repair as ken Shafer autobody.

The at-fault party is obliged at law to pay the reasonable costs associated with the hire of the replacement vehicle.

To find out if you qualify, check your eligibility here.

No. The accident replacement car costs will be recovered from the at-fault party’s insurer.

If your vehicle is driveable, we will provide you with an accident replacement vehicle when you drop off your vehicle for repairs.

If your vehicle is not driveable, we can usually provide you with an accident replacement vehicle within 24 hours.

Most people who have a not-at-fault car accident go through the stress of dealing with their insurance company. It’s often a time-consuming and frustrating process, not to mention a blow to their bank balance when they’re premiums increase after making a claim.

This won’t be your reality if you use our services at Ken Shafer Autobody.

Our key benefits include:

  • A no out-of-pocket like-for-like replacement vehicle for as long as you need it (insurers usually have limited 14 day car hire)
  • 24-hour, 7 days a week specialist accident management team who will arrange for the drop off and collection of your replacement vehicle at a time and place most convenient for you
  • Car towing and facilitation or overseeing of repairs

We will endeavour to arrange a vehicle which is comparable to your vehicle from our large range of exotic, prestige, standard and commercial vehicles. However, our ability to provide you with a comparable vehicle will depend on a range of factors, including the availability of vehicles in our fleet and the age of your vehicle. If a comparable vehicle is not available at the time of hire, we will provide you with another vehicle from our fleet, until a more comparable one becomes available.

The replacement hire car costs are paid by the at-fault party’s insurer.

In limited cases, it may be necessary to commence legal proceedings in your name (see “What if the at fault party does not pay the hire car costs?”).

So long as you are honest and co-operate with us in our efforts to recover the hire car costs and do not otherwise breach the Agreement, then you will not be required to pay the hire car costs out of your own pocket, regardless of whether we only recover a portion of those costs or fail to recover them at all.

Note – you will need to pay for any charges you incur while using the replacement vehicle (e.g. tolls, fuel etc.)

We will generally only charge your credit card to cover costs that you would ordinarily incur in running your own vehicle, such as:

     • a charge to refuel our vehicle if you fail to return it with the same level of fuel

     • tolls

     • traffic, parking, or toll infringement notices

     • cleaning fees if the vehicle is returned in an excessively dirty condition (e.g. if anyone has smoked in the             vehicle)

     • an excess if our vehicle is damaged

You authorise us to debit your credit card to pay for all such charges that you incur.

No. You will not be required to pay any legal or other costs incurred by us in seeking to recover the hire car costs, regardless of the outcome of our efforts.

You must comply with the terms of our agreement with you, which includes an obligation to:

  • act in our best interests in connection with the recovery of the hire car costs;
  • do your best to ensure the repair or replacement of your vehicle proceeds without any delay (e.g. by giving authority for the repair work to commence);
  • immediately notify us once repairs to your vehicle have been completed or you have been notified of a total loss payout, and otherwise keep us up to date regarding the timeframe for the repair or replacement of your vehicle;
  • do all things reasonably necessary to assist with the recovery of the hire car costs, including by providing documents we reasonably require; and
  • not do anything that may affect our ability to recover the hire car costs.

Call us on 1300 011 022 to check your eligibility for an accident replacement vehicle. Our highly trained and experienced staff can also offer free advice on many other aspects of the insurance, repair and injury compensation processes if you need it.

Your vehicle may not be legally driveable and should not be on the road for example, if:

     • There are exhaust fumes entering the car

     • You cannot lock your car

     • You have smashed windows

     • You have broken mirrors

     • Your wheels are rubbing on the body of your car

     • You have leaks coming from your car

     • There is smoke or steam coming from your car

If your vehicle is registered or used for business purposes and you are registered for GST, you may be entitled to claim an input tax credit for the GST component of the replacement car costs. If this is the case and GST is withheld by the at-fault party, we will issue an invoice to you for any GST withheld.

Only you, or a person authorised in writing by us, may drive our vehicle. You must also provide us with the driver’s licence of each additional driver before they drive our vehicle.

Yes. You and any additional driver(s) must be at least 21 years of age, unless authorised in writing by us, and hold a current driver’s licence (that is not a learner’s permit and is not suspended, endorsed or cancelled) which is valid for our vehicle for the likely duration of the hire period.

In addition, you will be ineligible to hire a vehicle from us if you:

  • have had motor vehicle insurance declined, a motor vehicle insurance policy cancelled or had special conditions applied to a motor vehicle insurance policy by any insurer in the last 5 years;
  • have been convicted of an alcohol or drug related traffic offence, been disqualified from driving or had a driver’s licence suspended, endorsed or cancelled in the last 5 years; or
  • suffer from a physical or mental condition or impairment that may interfere with your ability to control and drive our vehicle.

You must:

  • exchange details with all involved parties;
  • not make any admission of liability;
  • report any damage to, and/or accident involving, our vehicle to us as soon as possible and no later than 24 hours after the damage and/or accident occurs;
  • provide any information or documents we request within 48 hours of any such request;
  • ensure you are honest in any information you provide us; and
  • not arrange for our vehicle to be moved or repaired, unless authorised in writing by us to do so or in the case of an emergency.

If you fail to comply with these rules, you may be liable for all loss and damage suffered by us (i.e. you will lose the benefit of any limitation on your liability).

Yes. You must also authorise us to debit your card to pay for all charges you incur.

If your vehicle is a total loss, you must immediately provide us with a copy of any notice or letter you receive advising you of this fact and/or about any payout and notify us as soon as you receive a total loss payout. If you fail to do so, you may be liable for that portion of the replacement hire car costs which could not be recovered from the at-fault party by reason of your breach.

We will email you to advise the at-fault party has paid the replacement hire car costs and that no liabilities are outstanding. This usually takes on average between 2 weeks and 52 weeks after the end of your hire.

If you have not heard from us and would like an update, please feel free to get in touch with us.

Occasionally, the at-fault party’s insurer may require you to sign a document (often titled a “Deed of Release”) before payment is made to you for your loss and damage (e.g. cost of repairs). In some cases, the effect of the document is to discharge the at-fault party from any further claims you may have, including the cost of hiring our vehicle. For this reason, it is important that you do not sign any document presented to you by the at-fault party or their insurer without contacting us first.

If you fail to do so and we are then unable to recover the hire car costs, you may have to pay us the hire car costs.

You may cancel the Agreement for any reason within 7 days of hiring our vehicle, provided you notify us of your decision in writing, immediately return our vehicle during business hours and pay any accrued hire car costs and other charges. We only ask that you call ahead and make appropriate arrangements with us.

Once you return the replacement vehicle, we will seek to recover the hire car costs from the insurer of the at-fault party.

Please email us at info@shaferauto.com

Paint Warranty terms in accordance with our original equipment supplier oof refinish products Glasurit.

1.The Glasurit warranty takes effect from the date of completion of the job referred to below.

The Warranty is non-transferable and non-assignable. It is valid for 3 years.

2. The warranty only applies to refinished areas for the following defects if they are prominent and extensive

  • Crazing (cracks of various lengths, widths, and depths)
  • Severe loss of gloss by hazing, chalking , or fading
  • Peel of topcoat or any layers included in the refinishing process
  • Blistering caused by moisture

3. Not included in this warranty are:

  • Paint systems failures due to pre-existing body corrosion
  • Paint sytem failures sue to ill-fitted, ill painted coatings or films
  • Paint system failures sue to painting of polymer chrome or base polymer components
  • Scratches and abrasions, whether caused intentionally or accidentally
  • Stone chips and consequential damage
  • Defects resulting from the application or removal of stickers or vinyl
  • Deterioration of the finish caused by the use of detergents or waxes not intended for automotive use, acid rain and industrial fallout or other environmental effects
  • Damage caused by another collision.
  • Defects resulting from improper or inadequate maintenance and damage due to defects as listed above which were not reported and repaired in time.

4. Settlements covered by Glasurit warranty do not under any circumstances give the customer the right to delay or suspend payment to the Glasurit certified body shop. In the event of incomplete or non-payment, the certificate is not valid.

5. In the event of appearance of any defects covered by the Glasurit warranty, the certificate holder must take the car to the Glasurit Bodyshop which conducted the work for an inspection of the defect. A second inspection will be conducted by a Glasurit representative to determine the justification of any claim. Subject to the validity of the claim, the defect will be repaired free of charge to the customer upon presentation of this certificate.