A survey of 14,500 vehicle owners by AA Insurance claims in the UK has found that 44% of drivers say their car has some damage, with problems including minor scuffs, broken mirrors, cracked bumpers and even issues with tyres and brakes.

Younger drivers admitted to having the most issues, with many saying they could not afford to put them right. 

83% of owners who reported damage said their vehicle had minor scuffs and scrapes, while 10% said they had glass chips. 5% said they had more serious bodywork damage and a concerning 3% said they still drove, even though they were aware their tyres were worn. 

David Coughlan, managing director of AA Insurance Services, commented, “Damage on cars can be like an iceberg, while on the surface things look manageable, it’s what’s lurking underneath that can really cause problems. Any detriment to the structural integrity of the car could harm its performance if it were involved in a major collision.”

Similar, or perhaps even worse, findings would be expected for Ireland. However, what the survey does show is that there is a huge amount of untapped repair potential in the market. This presents opportunities for garages carrying out additional vehicle checks when a car comes in for a service or specific repair and for bodyshop to offer Smart, or low cost retail repair services.