The motor paint is on the wall
National director of SAMBRA Juan Hanekom warns of short-term insurers cutting corners when it comes to paint for your car, and what the repercussions of that could be.
The South African Motor Body Repairers’ Association (SAMBRA), a division of the Retail Motor Industry Organisation, has expressed serious concern over the growing financial strain placed on repairers by certain short-term motor insurers, particularly about paint costs.
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Juan Hanekom, national director of SAMBRA, highlights paint pricing as a critical issue that threatens not only the long-term sustainability of repair businesses but also the quality of repairs delivered to consumers.
“Modern automotive refinishing is a highly specialised field,” said Hanekom. “It involves advanced paint systems, strict adherence to manufacturer specifications, and expert application techniques to ensure a durable, precise, and safe finish. Using cheaper, non-approved paints can compromise colour matching, lead to quicker fading or peeling, and reduce resistance to weather and chemicals.”
He emphasised that accredited repairers take pride in their workmanship, and the responsibility for delivering a high-quality repair ultimately lies with the motor body repairer. “Substandard paint can result in customer dissatisfaction, increased comebacks, and costly warranty claims – all of which damage the reputation and profitability of repairers.”
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Hanekom further explained that, in the case of newer vehicles, using non-approved paint products could even invalidate factory warranties for paint or corrosion. Repairers operating under manufacturer approvals are required to use specified materials, leaving them with little flexibility. “At present, many of our members are forced to absorb the shortfall in paint costs just to maintain their quality standards. For small businesses in particular, this is simply not sustainable,” he added.
According to Hanekom, the misalignment between insurers’ cost-saving strategies and the quality standards required by motor body repairers is placing undue pressure on the industry, and putting customers at risk. “Cutting paint allocations in the approved repair cost may seem like a small adjustment, but it has serious consequences. It creates ethical, legal, and safety concerns – especially when the compromise in quality is not fully disclosed to the customer.”
SAMBRA says discussions are ongoing with certain insurers in an effort to address this critical issue and ensure that quality, transparency, and fairness are prioritised for all parties involved.
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