The Vehicle Builders and Repairers Association has accused insurers of putting further pressure on bodyshops by failing to accept recommended uplifts for pearlescent paint costs on repair estimates using the Audatex system.

Audatex issued its advice during the summer which established an uplift of between three and 10 per cent for pearlescent paints after complaints by repairers and trade associations.

Pearlescents paints are currently used on around 85 per cent of new vehicles. Now the VBRA is urging repairers to agree the cost of pearlescents prior to the repair or refuse to carry out the work.

“Details of any insurer who refuses to pay should be passed to the VBRA who will take action to recover this amount,” it adds.

Audatex says its uplift recommendation was an interim solution. The company is planning to release an upgraded version of its AudaWorkstation system by the end of the year which will allow selection of pearlescents for full graphics and manually-assisted computerised estimate assessments. It says this process will enable users to enter the percentage uplift to be applied.

Paint calculation will be automatic without the need to adjust the index, adds Audatex.