Honda in the UK has recently expanded a scheme to reduce vehicle write-offs, after it proved very successful in the months following its launch.

The Honda Write-Off Avoidance Programme, is now open to all UK bodyshops and is something that vehicle manufacturers in Ireland could perhaps do well to take note of. Kevin Hunt, Manager - Car Parts & Accessories, Honda (UK) says, “Falling claim rates, dwindling number of repairs and vehicles that are far too often written off, has driven us to provide a new and improved service, as research within our own network of Approved Repairers leads us to deliver this package to all bodyshops.”

Under the scheme, if a bodyshop prepares a comprehensive estimate and finds the final figure close to the write off value and considers it is at risk of an insurance write off, it can contact Honda UK via a Honda dealer for write-off avoidance assistance.

This will involve Honda working with bodyshops, assisting with parts price reductions where possible and the bodyshop reviewing their own labour and paint costs. By doing this, Honda says it has been able to secure the repair work on a substantial numbers of vehicles, which may otherwise have been written off.