Allianz offers recycled option for crash repairs

by Gill Montia

Story link: Allianz offers recycled option for crash repairs

Allianz Insurance has introduced an unusual scheme aimed at reducing carbon emissions.

Following a successful pilot project in the north of England, the insurer has become the first in the UK to give motor policyholders the choice of using recycled parts in the repair of vehicles.

The work will still be undertaken by the company’s network of approved repairers and claimants can reduce their carbon-footprints by having the recycled parts fitted.

The scheme does not allow recycled parts to be used for structural repairs and neither will they be used where parts are subject to wear or have a specific safety function.

Using recycled parts saves an average of £240 on a £1,000 claim and in the pilot study, lower costs meant that some vehicles were not “written-off”.

According to Dane Loosley, motor damage claims manager at Allianz: “Take up of the offer to use recycled green parts was around 40% in some locations, but when there was a possibility of the vehicle being a total loss, this increased to 80%. Of those policyholders that agreed to the use of recycled green parts, we had no complaints about quality or service received.”

The British Vehicle Salvage Federation, which represents the UK vehicle salvage industry, has pledged its support to Allianz and is keen to see other insurers follow its lead.