2. Auto body repair is an industry where highly skilled workers are able
to restore a vehicle to its original glory after it has been damaged.
Sometimes, it may seem like the damaged car or truck would be
better off in the scrap heap, yet when all is said and done it comes out
looking like new.
Ofcourse, auto body repair isn’t magic despite what the end results
may indicate. Auto body specialists require a great deal of training
and practice to make your car look like new after an accident. In the
majority of cases, auto body repair follows a definitive process.
3. Before any auto bodywork takes place you must report
the accident and file a claim with your insurance
company. If the insurance provider feels the car is
fixable, you will get a claim number and you can contact
an auto body shop.
Different insurance companies will have different
procedures they follow, but you should be able to use
whichever auto body shop you like. If you have a
specific one you wish to work with, give them a call or
go find one to perform your repairs.
Filing the Claim
4. If you don’t already have a shop in mind,
you can go with whomever your insurance
company suggests. However, if you want
to go find one on your own, you should
take a few important factors into
consideration.
Choosing a Shop
5. Word of Mouth – Ask your friends, family members or co-workers if
they have any recommendations. It’s often difficult to get an
accurate read from marketing materials alone. People who have
used the service will definitely tell the truth.
Shopping Around – Even if you’re in a rush to get these repairs
started, it makes sense to get a few different estimates before
choosing just one. Sometimes, repair shop estimates can vary
quite a bit.
Ask Questions – Since labor charges are often a big part of the
final cost, ask how much they charge per hour. Also ask if they
provide a warranty, if the shop has theft and fire protection and if
they bill the insurance company directly, or if you have to pay for it
first.
6. After you have chosen an estimate and auto body shop you feel comfortable with, and your
insurance provider has ok’d the repairs, the shop will disassemble the vehicle. During the
disassembly process, it’s common for an auto body shop to find inner damage that was
hidden from the initial inspection. In many cases, the insurance company will have to get
involved once again and more parts will be ordered.
Once the extent of the damage is finalized and any necessary re-inspection is complete, the
replacement parts are ordered. Depending on the availability of parts, the repair process
may begin relatively quickly or it might take some time. If even one part is delayed for
whatever reason, the whole job is delayed.
Disassembly
7. Afterall of the parts have arrived and the repair is scheduled, the real
magic begins. Modern auto body repair shops use sophisticated
equipment to closely analyze your vehicle’s frame to ensure it is
brought back to the exact same specifications. It is crucial for the
balance and performance of the vehicle that everything is exactly as it
should be. Frames bend and twist when they are subject to violent
impact, but luckily modern technology can bring them back,
Once the frame is restored and balanced, any exterior panels and
other metal finishing pieces are installed on the vehicle. After this
portion is completed, the shape and structure of the car or truck will
be right back to where it was originally.
Repair
8. The car will never look complete without a new paint job, but
before that happens, the new panels must be prepped for paint.
The panels must be primed and then sealed properly so they
accept the paint and the paint adheres to the surface the way it
should. After the new parts have been prepared, the final coats of
paint are applied.
Once the paint has dried and the car looks restored, it’s time to
add the finishing details to make the job complete. Any moldings
or fine detail pieces are added back, and then all of the different
systems are checked out to make sure they work effectively.
Paint
9. Before the vehicle can be given back to its owner,
it must be tested out on the road to ensure it
drives like it is supposed to. The whole point of
auto body repair is to restore a vehicle to its pre-
accident condition. And doing that involves much
more than just making it look great.
Once the body shop feels confident that the vehicle
has been properly restored, they will call the
owner to come in and pick it up or deliver it to the
owner and the job is complete.
Delivery