DRC Automotive Lifetime Ownership Repair Warranty – Terms & Conditions
At DRC Automotive, we stand behind the quality and durability of our repairs. Our Lifetime Ownership Repair Warranty provides reassurance that, should a qualifying repair fail due to our workmanship or the materials we have used, we will put it right.
The warranty applies for the lifetime of the original customer's ownership of the vehicle, subject to the terms and conditions below.
1. Lifetime Ownership
The warranty applies for the lifetime of the original customer's ownership of the vehicle on which the repair was carried out.
The warranty is provided to the original customer and is not transferable to a subsequent owner.
Proof of the original repair and ownership of the vehicle may be required when making a warranty claim.
2. What the Warranty Covers
The warranty covers failure of the repair attributable to DRC Automotive's workmanship or to the materials used by DRC Automotive.
Examples of a repair failure may include failure of adhesion, lifting, peeling, flaking or other failure of the repaired area attributable to the repair itself.
Where DRC Automotive determines that a failure is covered by the warranty, our normal remedy will be to rectify the affected repair at no additional charge.
3. Subsequent Damage
The warranty does not cover failure or defects resulting from damage occurring after the DRC Automotive repair has been completed.
This includes, but is not limited to:
- Accident or impact damage
- New dents, scratches or abrasions
- Stone chips
- Vandalism
- Damage caused by external objects
- Damage caused by chemicals or corrosive substances
- Damage caused by inappropriate cleaning or maintenance
- Any other subsequent damage affecting the repaired area
Where the repaired area has subsequently been damaged, the warranty will no longer apply to that affected repair.
The warranty applies only to the specific repair carried out by DRC Automotive and does not extend to other panels or unrelated defects elsewhere on the vehicle.
4. Rust and Corrosion
No warranty is provided for repairs involving the treatment of existing rust or corrosion.
DRC Automotive cannot provide a warranty against rust or corrosion because corrosion can originate from behind, within or beneath a panel and may not be visible or accessible at the time of repair.
Accordingly, neither the recurrence of rust following a rust treatment nor the subsequent appearance of rust or corrosion in or around the repaired area is covered by this warranty.
5. Previous Repairs and Underlying Materials
Where a DRC Automotive repair is carried out over, incorporates or relies upon a previous repair or repair materials applied by another repairer, the Lifetime Ownership Repair Warranty does not cover failure caused by or originating from that previous repair.
This includes, but is not limited to, previous paintwork, filler, substrates, body repairs or other materials or workmanship supplied by another party.
DRC Automotive cannot warrant the durability of another repairer's work where our repair is applied over or incorporates that work.
6. Subsequent Work by Another Repairer
The warranty will no longer apply to the affected repair if another repairer, bodyshop, trader or other third party subsequently works on, alters, sands, paints, repairs, modifies or otherwise interferes with the DRC Automotive repair.
Customers should therefore contact DRC Automotive before arranging for another party to carry out any work to an area covered by this warranty.
7. Cosmetic Finish and Post-Repair Inspection
The Lifetime Ownership Repair Warranty is intended to cover the durability of the repair and does not provide a warranty against minor cosmetic imperfections that were present at the time the repair was completed.
SMART repairs are skilled repairs carried out to existing vehicle panels and may be undertaken in a variety of environments, including on-site and within professional workshop facilities. Unlike a vehicle manufacturing or fully controlled paint-production environment, these settings cannot always provide a 100% controlled environment throughout the repair process.
The condition of the vehicle prior to repair can also affect the final result. Where a panel has sustained complex or extensive damage, it may not always be possible to return the panel to 100% of its original factory specification or geometry, despite the repair being carried out with due care, diligence and professional skill.
Despite every repair being carried out to a high professional standard and 100% perfection always being the aim, minor imperfections or variations in the finished appearance can occasionally occur. These may include minor dust nibs, texture variations, or slight differences in colour or finish that may become apparent under particular lighting conditions or from certain viewing angles.
Customers are therefore given the opportunity to inspect the completed repair at the time of collection or during the agreed post-repair inspection. Any concerns regarding the cosmetic finish should be raised at this stage so that they can be considered and, where appropriate, addressed before the repair is accepted and payment is completed.
Once the repair has been inspected and accepted, minor cosmetic imperfections or variations that were present and reasonably identifiable at the time of inspection are not subsequently covered by the Lifetime Ownership Repair Warranty.
8. Making a Warranty Claim
Any suspected warranty issue must first be reported to DRC Automotive.
Before an inspection can be arranged, the customer must provide clear photographs and/or video of the affected area, together with a description of the issue.
This allows DRC Automotive to make an initial assessment and determine whether an in-person inspection is required.
Where an inspection is required, DRC Automotive will arrange this with the customer.
9. Inspection and Opportunity to Rectify
DRC Automotive must be given a reasonable opportunity to inspect the vehicle and rectify the repair before the customer arranges for another repairer, bodyshop or other third party to undertake remedial work.
The inspection and warranty rectification work may need to be carried out at the DRC Automotive workshop where DRC Automotive considers this to be the most appropriate location.
This may be necessary where specialist equipment, facilities, controlled working conditions or a more detailed inspection are required.
The customer must not authorise another repairer to carry out remedial work and subsequently seek reimbursement from DRC Automotive under this warranty without first giving DRC Automotive the opportunity to inspect and rectify the repair.
This does not affect any statutory rights or remedies the customer may have.
10. Warranty Remedy
Where DRC Automotive determines that a repair failure is covered by this warranty, the normal remedy will be for DRC Automotive to repair or rectify the affected area at no additional charge.
DRC Automotive reserves the right to determine the appropriate method of rectification based on the condition of the repair and the nature of the failure.
Where DRC Automotive considers a refund to be an appropriate alternative to rectification under this warranty, any refund offered will be entirely at DRC Automotive's discretion and will not exceed the original amount paid for the repair in question.
This does not limit any statutory rights or remedies the customer may have.
A refund or other resolution offered under the warranty does not constitute an admission of liability or fault.
11. Consequential and Additional Costs
The warranty relates to the repair carried out by DRC Automotive and does not provide cover for consequential or indirect losses or expenses arising from a warranty claim.
These may include, but are not limited to:
- Loss of use of the vehicle
- Vehicle hire costs
- Travel expenses
- Loss of earnings
- Loss of business
- Costs charged by another repairer or bodyshop
- Any other consequential or indirect costs
Nothing in these terms excludes or limits any liability or statutory right that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited.
12. Statutory Rights
This Lifetime Ownership Repair Warranty is an additional benefit provided by DRC Automotive and does not replace or restrict the customer's statutory rights.
Nothing in these terms is intended to exclude or limit rights or remedies that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited under applicable consumer law.
13. Warranty Assessment
All warranty claims are subject to assessment by DRC Automotive.
The existence of a warranty does not automatically mean that every subsequent defect or concern relating to the repaired area is a warranty failure. DRC Automotive will assess the reported issue, the condition of the repair and any relevant evidence before determining whether the issue falls within the scope of this warranty.