Car Designers Aim to Reduce Everyday Crash Repairs

RCAR calls for carmakers to prioritise repairability in design to reduce everyday crash repair costs.

Mechanic carrying out maintenance in a car engine bay
Photo by Jose Ricardo Barraza Morachis on Pexels · Pexels License
Read your engine fault codes on your laptop

The Research Council for Automobile Repairs (RCAR) is pushing for carmakers to prioritise repairability in design. Representatives from 19 institutes across 15 countries met in Mexico to discuss lowering repair costs. In the UK, insurers paid £2.9 billion in motor claims over the first quarter of 2026, a 3% increase. RCAR advocates for the widespread adoption of low-speed emergency braking to reduce collision damage. The coalition emphasises the need for repair-friendly design, standardised repair methods, and skilled technicians.

Why it matters for your car

Reducing repair costs can lower insurance premiums and keep motoring affordable for drivers.

If maintenance uncovers an engine warning light, AutoScan for Windows can read and clear standard fault codes through a compatible ELM327 adapter and show live data and freeze frame information.

Source: Fleet World – read the full story.