Be careful of collisions with your car! On certain recent models, replacing a simple broken light can now cost several thousand euros.
Cars are getting more and more expensive. For purchase, but also for maintenance and repair. This is particularly true for recent models, full of technologies using expensive elements. A trend deplored by the professional association SRA (Automotive Safety and Repairs), which warns against the increase in prices of certain parts, notably lights. The organization carried out a survey comparing the prices of lighting elements for 34 models from major brands (Audi, Tesla, Volkswagen, Peugeot, etc.) and its result is clear: the prices of lights have literally exploded in recent years. years.
In fact, modern lights are no longer simple bulbs. Often equipped with LEDs, they are often equipped with sophisticated devices such as the Matrix system, which adapts the light beam to road conditions so as not to dazzle oncoming drivers while providing optimal lighting. But these innovations come at a cost, and not the least.
Thus, owners of the Hyundai Kona, a hybrid and electric SUV, could pay a small fortune in the event of breakage. The central front fascia of this model costs around 9,257 euros, although Hyundai France claims that the real price is more like 4,951 euros. Changing all the lights on the Kona would still cost 10,329 euros. But Hyundai is not the only manufacturer to charge a lot for its vehicle lights. Even more affordable brands like Dacia, Ford or Citroën have high repair costs: replacing all the lights on these models can cost around 2,000 euros. And on Renault Mégane E-Tech, a front headlight costs 1,249 euros each! Daytime running lights, required on all new cars since 2011, aren’t cheap either. For the same car, they cost 221 euros each. On some brands, the lights 10% of the total price of the car.
These high prices have repercussions on the cost of insurance, which also continues to increase. Electric cars, although still benefiting from certain financial advantages, are also affected. Insurers are threatening to drive up costs because of problems with batteries and obtaining spare parts. Sometimes almost new electric cars are sent to the scrapyard after a minor collision, because battery technologies are difficult to repair, requiring expensive compensation from insurance companies.
So how can we limit these costs? One solution is to turn to second-hand parts. Since 2019, repair shops have been obliged to offer used parts during quotes. This significantly reduces the bill, while being a more environmentally friendly option.