11 June 2025
Vehicle technology is changing the world of vehicle repairs, as AA Accident Assist reveals that wiring looms were the most repaired part of a car following a crash.
After repairing more than 14,500 vehicles last year, 99% required new wiring looms to help get them back on the road. Wires are used to connect, power and run systems such as parking sensors, rear-facing cameras and adaptive cruise control. As well as the physical repair, such technology has to be recalibrated to ensure it is safe to use.
“With more semi-autonomous driving assistance packages being placed on cars as standard, repairers are being tasked to fix and calibrate, as opposed to simply replace and fit.”
Meanwhile, around three fifths of repairs needed new bumper units (58%), while a third required new front bumpers (32%). Other bodywork parts such as front doors (7%) and lighting units (3%) made the top 10 list of most fixed items.
AA Accident Assist, Top 10 repairs following a collision, 2024/25*
- Wiring looms – 99%
- Bumper units – 58%
- Rear bumper crash beams and fixings – 57%
- Front bumper crash beams and fixings – 32%
- Door locks, trims and seals – 12%
- Roof – 12%
- Hinges for bonnets and doors – 7%
- Front doors – 7%
- Rear doors – 5%
- Lighting units – 3%
To gauge understanding from the motoring public, AA Accident Assist asked more than 10,000 drivers to identify what they believed to be the most repaired item following a crash. Perhaps unsurprisingly, more than a third (36%**) felt that bumper units were the top repair, closely followed by front and rear bumper crash beams and fixings (27% and 18% respectively). Just 1% correctly identified wiring looms as the most repaired item.
Five years of post-crash confidence
AA Accident Assist has turned five years old, and in that time, they have helped more than 130,000 AA members following a collision. The complimentary service as part of AA membership has helped drivers repair their vehicle and get them back on the road again***.
Tim Rankin, managing director of AA Accident Assist, said; “Fixing a car is more advanced than just replacing parts. With every evolution of vehicle technology comes more sophisticated and high-tech repairs.
“Wiring looms might seem innocuous, but the wires do more than just carry power around the car. The wires help run fundamental safety features around the car, such as images, speed data and radar technology. With more semi-autonomous driving assistance packages being placed on cars as standard, repairers are being tasked to fix and calibrate, as opposed to simply replace and fit.
“As Accident Assist celebrates its fifth anniversary, we are gathering more insight into how and why people crash on our roads. From tailgating to being distracted, there are a wide range of reasons why collisions continue to happen.”
* AA Accident Assist repair data, 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025
** Yonder received 10,509 responses from AA members to its online poll between the 13th to 20th May 2025. Yonder is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.
*** Accident Assist and Recovery | Road Accident Assistance | AA