The Repair Process
In order to successfully repair your vehicle and working with your insurance company, we follow the process as outlined below.
Repair Steps
If an insurance company is going to be involved you will need to contact them for your claim number, in most cases this is all you will need to start this process. If your vehicle is not already at are facility, please call so we can schedule your vehicle for repair. If you cannot drive the vehicle we will make arrangements to have it towed.
- Estimate: During the Estimating Process the vehicle is inspected and relevant data is entered into the computer systems. This data is compiled into an estimate that determines the estimated cost of repairs. However, often there is hidden damage that cannot be seen until after the vehicle is in the shop.
- Insurance Approval: Once the estimate is completed, the insurance company will review the estimate. There may be some negotiations on the price and procedures required to repair the vehicle. Once this process is completed, the vehicle begins the actual repair process.
- Disassembly: In Disassembly hidden damage is often found, and inner structure repairs are determined. Many times this will require scheduling insurance re-inspection and ordering additional parts. This could extend the amount of time your vehicle will be in the shop.
- Order Parts: The required parts for your vehicle are ordered, and are here when you drop your vehicle off. If a additional part needs to be ordered, the order will be placed as soon as possible. Although many parts may arrive very quickly, the repair process cannot begin until the shop receives all of the structural parts.
- Structure Repair: In the Structure Repair area, the unitized body is returned back to factory specifications. A computer based measurement system is used to analyze the frame of your vehicle, this system aides our technicians with an accurate repair.
- Body Repair: The Body Repair Department replaces exterior panels, and all metal finishing that may be required. The vehicle begins to come back to life as sheet metal is installed, repaired and aligned. From here the vehicle will go to the paint department for preparation.
- Paint: Paint Preparation is a critical step in the refinishing process of every vehicle. All panels in the repair process are prepared for paint, then primed and sealed to assure good adhesion when the final top color and clear coats of paint are applied.
- Reassembly: Finally the vehicle is back to the body technician for reassembly. The vehicle is almost complete and ready for delivery when it is in this stage.
- Detailing: During the repair process the vehicle accumulates dust from the repairs. It will be cleaned. A final inspection will assure that the vehicle is restored to its pre-accident condition.
- Completion: Delivery is the last step in the repair process. When the customer arrives to pick up the vehicle, the final paper work is completed. All payments are collected at this time. Payments can consist of a deductible, insurance company check and payment from you if you are paying for the entire repair yourself.