Auto Service News

One of the unpleasant parts of my job is acting as a recovery service and picking up crashed cars, which can only be described as salvage, sometimes with little resemblance to the shape that the car once was.
We then keep the car salvage in our compound until someone from the insurance company comes and inspects the vehicle to decide what to do with the vehicle, either to send it to a salvage auction, or to be sold for car parts only or just crushed.

It is unpleasant because sometimes, we know that the driver and passengers have been hurt badly, or even in one case had died. So looking at what was left of the vehicle is not a pretty sight. I think they always crush salvage that a fatality was involved in.

I have in the past bought some car salvage and used the garage to rebuild the cars professionally, as we have the tools and experience to make a bad car good again, although it does depend on the level of damage, to whether we take on the project, we are very selective of the vehicle we buy, one for to make sure it can be repaired safely, and two to ensure we make a profit, as sometimes buying car salvage can be a risky business.
Access to the right car parts, is also a real factor. You should not assume that just because we are in the trade, we have access to car parts, which no one else does. It is true we may get a trade discount, but as far as availability is concerned, we are not different to anyone else.

It is the labour and access to professional ramps and tools, which allows making a profit, not the saving on car parts.