THE REPAIR PROCESS
Insurance companies have shops that they refer people to, but the reality is you can go to any repair shop of your choosing. We have a lot of positive reviews on Google, Yelp, Carwise and our own CSI surveys, but don’t take their word for it, bring your car to us and see for yourself.
Most small repairs, such as mirror replacement, can be done within hours. Cars involved in a collision and are not drivable can take longer. The repair process starts with the estimate. Usually a field adjuster or our estimator inspects and takes pictures of the damage and the car as a whole. This is external assessment. This is the starting point, and usually where the adjuster decides whether the car is repairable or totaled. The next phase is teardown. This is where we see all the internal damage. This is reported to the insurance companies as supplements. This is the part where additional parts are ordered, and if there are delays in parts it will add to the time of the repair. Our technicians concern is your safety, so they make sure all the repairs are done correctly and up to dealer specifications and standards. This is important because we want to make sure that if the car is ever in any subsequent accident, all the safety standards; such as airbags; work. We use OEM parts, especially on areas that affect safety because Aftermarket parts may not perform the same way. This is why it’s important that you choose a shop that’s been trained with latest repair methods to identify all the missing factory recommended procedures and parts that the insurance field adjuster may have missed.
Do Not Pick a shop that can promise to have the car back to you in one day on a collision like this car below! A shop that claims they can repair this in one day probably does not care about the structural integrity of the car let alone your safety!
Drive inVehicle arrives for an estimate or in cases like this the vehicle is left at our shop for disassembly. | DissassemblyYour vehicle is disassembled to find all the hidden damage that is related to the accident. |
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Parts IdentificationAll parts are inspected for damage. This is why you cannot trust a shop that can promise a 1 day turn around on a hit like this. | 3-D MeasuringState of the Art Measuring equipment is used to see if the uni-body / frame is within OEM specification. |
Estimate/SupplementDepending on the scenario. Our estimators will write a very detailed estimate or supplement for the claim using OEM procedures and I-CAR standard procedures. Every part is ordered and checked for quality fit and corrosion protection. | Glass RemovalOur in house glass technician performs any necessary removal of glass for panel replacement or repair. |
De-TrimmingCareful attention is put in removing cosmetic and mechanical trim pieces of your vehicle including door handles and mirrors. This is necessary for the refinish operation and warranty. | MechanicalOur in house mechanic technician performs all suspension and mechanical related operations to minimize the length of the repair. |
Frame Pulling, Cutting, WeldingDepending on the repair your vehicle may need larger panels repaired, pulled, or replaced using specialized frame equipment. All cutting and welding is done by our I-CAR Certified Welder technicians. | Corrosion ProtectionA key step in the repair process and the lifetime warranty we offer is the application of corrosion protection wax and coatings. This ensures maximum protection against rust and corrosion from the daily elements. |
BodyworkBody filler is applied to small repairs or where panels are cut and replaced. In some cases a special primer is applied before filler work and according to OEM recommendations. | PrimerThe vehicle is then masked off and primer is applied to the repaired areas. |
RefinishingAfter the primer has dried, our PPG trained technician prepares the panels and masks the vehicle for painting. By using PPG products, we can offer the lifetime warranty on our coatings. | Factory glossYour vehicle is given a factory like finish. |
AssemblyAfter paint, your vehicle is re-assembled piece by piece. | Electronics and Safety SystemsAll necessary electrical and safety parts are installed that need to be replaced. |
Quality ControlEach replaced or repaired panel is checked for quality fit and appearance. | ScanningScans are performed both before the repair and after to ensure accident related codes are not present. |
VacuumCleaning and vacuum after every repair. | DetailVehicle is cleaned and ready for delivery. |