Newbridge Journal: car repair advice from a bodyshop
The Newbridge Journal is plain car repair advice from Newbridge Accident Repair Centre, an independent bodyshop with sites in Basildon, Dartford and Sydenham. It covers what to do after an accident, how claims and courtesy cars work, lease returns, paint and wheel repairs, and a few questions specific to Essex, Kent and South London roads.
Straight after an accident
Start with what to do after a car accident, which takes you from the roadside to the repair. If the other driver didn't stop or wasn't insured, hit by an uninsured or hit-and-run driver explains where the Motor Insurers' Bureau comes in. And if the damage looks heavy, is my car a write-off? covers Cat S, Cat N and valuations.
Insurance, claims and courtesy cars
Three things worth knowing before you agree to anything with an insurer: whether they can choose where your car is repaired, whether a non-fault accident affects your premium and how a courtesy car differs from a replacement car.
How repairs work
How long does accident repair take? looks at what decides how long a car spends in the bodyshop. Small scuffs and scratches are the subject of what is smart repair?, while how car paint colour matching works explains why metallic and pearl paints take more work. For damaged wheels, read kerbed alloys: refurbish, repair or replace?, and if a lease car is due back, what counts as fair wear and tear goes through the BVRLA guide.
Car repair advice for Essex, Kent and South London roads
For roads around Basildon, see what to do after an accident on the A127 or A13. In north Kent, accident at the Dartford Crossing, A2 or M25 includes what to do about the Dart Charge. Someone hit my parked car is written for London streets, and pothole damage claims tells you which council or authority to claim from in each of our three areas.
If it's a repair you need, send us photos for a quote. You can also read our Google reviews for Basildon, Dartford and Sydenham.
All articles
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Accident at the Dartford Crossing, A2 or M25: what happens next
Accident at the Dartford Crossing, on the M25 or the A2? Staying safe, traffic officers, the Dart Charge, recovery and getting your car repaired in Dartford.
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Can my insurer choose where my car is repaired?
Do you have to use your insurer's garage? Usually not, but your policy may add conditions. What going elsewhere can cost, and what to ask before you decide.
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Courtesy car or replacement car: what's the difference?
Courtesy car vs replacement car: one comes with your own policy, the other is claimed from the at-fault driver's insurer. What you get, and when you get it.
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Had an accident on the A127 or A13? What to do next
Had an accident on the A127, A13, A130 or A132 near Basildon? Staying safe, details to swap, recovery and getting your car repaired in Basildon.
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Hit by an uninsured or hit-and-run driver: what now?
Hit by an uninsured or hit-and-run driver? What to get at the scene, reporting it to the police, how MIB claims work and when your own policy pays out.
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How car paint colour matching works
Car paint colour matching explained: finding your paint code, why the code alone isn't enough, how blending works and why metallic and pearl are harder.
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How long does accident repair take?
How long accident repair takes depends less on the panel work than on authorisation, parts and hidden damage. Each stage explained, and what you can speed up.
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Is my car a write-off? Cat S, Cat N and what happens next
Is your car a write-off? How insurers decide, what Cat A, B, S and N mean, how the payout is valued, and what to do if the offer looks too low.
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Kerbed alloy wheels: refurbish, repair or replace?
Can a kerbed alloy wheel be repaired? How to tell scuffs from cracks and buckles, what refurbishment involves and when a wheel should be replaced.
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Lease car return: what counts as fair wear and tear?
BVRLA fair wear and tear explained: the scratch, dent, chip and alloy wheel limits lease companies use, and whether to repair before handback or pay.
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Pothole damage: how to claim in Essex, Kent and South London
Pothole damage claim guide: which council or authority to claim from in Essex, Kent and South London, what Section 58 means and the evidence you need.
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Someone hit my parked car: what to do in London
Someone hit your parked car? What to do if they left a note or didn't, finding witnesses and doorbell footage, reporting it and whether to claim in London.
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What is smart repair, and what can it fix?
Smart repair fixes small scuffs, scratches and chips without painting the whole panel. What it means, what it can and can't fix, and how long it takes.
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What to do after a car accident: a step-by-step guide
What to do after a car accident in the UK: what the law asks of you at the scene, what to photograph and write down, and who to phone first.
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Will a non-fault accident affect my insurance?
A non-fault accident shouldn't cost you your no claims bonus, but it can still change your premium at renewal. Why that happens and what you can control.