Cosmetic Repair Insurance - worth it, or another dodgy deal?

[Stoneybroke]

Once the new Beach is in our hands in a few weeks time, I will be somewhat paranoid about the inevitable car park dinks and knocks, or close-shaves with hedgerows as idiots fly down country lanes towards us, I was wondering about "cosmetic damage" insurance - anyone had any experience?

A couple of examples here: -

http://www.swanswaygarages.com/volkswagen-commercial/servicing-parts/cosmetic-repair-insurance/

Or https://www.ala.co.uk/scratch-and-dent-insurance

This second one uses Revive UK to do SMART repairs.

A couple of questions to other forum users: -

Anyone experienced this sort of cover, and if so, any problems?

What is SMART repair and are they good repairs for small scratches, stone chips, etc?

Many thanks

 

[ArunAlec]

To be honest if you use your Cali for camping you are going to get quite a few cosmetic scratches, at least that's what I've found. Pyracantha hedge!
I doubt if any insurance is going to cough up for multiple claims and I see from the link that you have to claim within 30 days of any damage occurring and the criteria for what they will repair is very precise. You could be claiming on a monthly basis! Also I would want to be sure the repair was invisible.
Interested to hear of others experiences with SMART repairs.
Another thought, if you claim on one of these policies do you have to declare it as a claim with your main insurance company?

 

[Npf1]

I got a quote from VW for this which was (cut & paste from the mail):

"3 years with 18 claims for £439 cost or 2 years with 12 claims for £339 cost".

Not too sure if those figures are with or without VAT.

 

[Stoneybroke]

I got a quote from VW for this which was (cut & paste from the mail):

"3 years with 18 claims for £439 cost or 2 years with 12 claims for £339 cost".

Not too sure if those figures are with or without VAT.

Thanks for that, the website is heavy on the exclusions, light on the price...