“Repairers are not just parts fitters” – Don’t fall into the trap

If you’ve ever been in a minor accident, it’s easy to assume the damage is purely cosmetic. A panel is repaired, the car is resprayed, and it’s back on the road. With today’s modern vehicles, however, that assumption no longer holds true.

“Modern vehicles are incredibly sophisticated machines,” says Juan Hanekom, National Director of the South African Motor Body Repairers’ Association (SAMBRA), a proud association of the Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI). “We’re no longer just dealing with basic metal panels and bolts. From advanced safety systems to highly engineered materials, cars have changed dramatically – and so has the repair process.”

Vehicles today are manufactured using a combination of ultra-high-strength steel, aluminium and other lightweight materials, specifically designed to absorb impact energy during a collision and protect occupants. Components such as pillars, bonnets and crumple zones are…

Read more on Arrive Alive