Repair Process:

There are many steps involved in the repair process.  The more damage caused in the accident, the more complex the repair process is.  Listed below are the necessary steps for an "average" collision repair.

Administrative:  After the estimate has been written, the insurance company and owner approvals are obtained.

Parts:  In most cases, parts are ordered before the vehicle goes into production.

Disassembly:  The estimate is given to the technician that has been assigned to repair your vehicle.  Damaged parts are removed, and a list is prepared for the Customer Service Representative that details all hidden damage, if any, found at this time.

Revised Estimate:  The Customer Service Representative makes changes to the estimate based on additional damage that is found and forwards this information to the insurance company.

Additional Parts:  Many times, additional parts will need to be ordered after the estimate is revised.

Structural Repairs:  If any damage is found to the inner structure, it is repaired on our state-of-the-art frame rack.

Cosmetic Repairs:  After removing the vehicle from the frame rack, sheet metal repair and replacement operations are performed.

Refinish Preparation:  All panels that will need to be refinished go through a very thorough preparation process.

Refinishing:  The outside finish is applied in our downdraft/heated spray booth.

Polishing:  The exterior of the vehicle is polished as needed to match the original factory finish and texture.

Reassembly:  The vehicle goes back to the body shop to have door handles, moldings, etc reinstalled.

Mechanical Repairs:  Any mechanical operations that are performed by a specialist, such as air bag replacement, are performed at this time.

Detailing:  The vehicle is cleaned thoroughly inside and out. 

Quality Control:  Each area that was repaired is checked closely to ensure that all work was properly completed.  In addition, most repaired vehicles are road tested.  Many areas are checked for proper operation; instrument panel gauges, stereo operation, power windows and locks, as well as all lights, just to name a few.  If anything is found not operating correcly it is either repaired, or if it is something not related to the loss, the customer is notified.

Customer Called:  The customer is contacted every 3 to 5 days during the repair to keep them informed as to the progress of the repairs.

Customer Satisfaction Index:  The customer is mailed a thank you card with questions on their level of satisfaction approximately one week after they pick up their vehicle to make sure that they are happy with not only the repair work, but the entire repair process.