The Steps to Repairing Your Tempe Car After a Collision

The first step in collision repair will be choosing which Tempe body shop to use. Don’t choose according to who has the biggest advertisement, seek recommendations from co-workers, family and friends. Some questions you may want to ask the body shop owner might include; what kind of guarantee does your work come with? Are you insured for theft and fire?

Obtaining Estimates

Insurance companies usually require you to obtain two or three estimates from different Tempe body shops. If you find that the estimate from the auto body shop you prefer is higher than others you can always bring in the other estimates and ask if they will price match, but don’t go by price alone, if the price seems way too low it probably means you will get subpar work. In order to provide an estimate for your collision repair the body shop will observe which parts have been damaged and note the cost of those parts. Some Tempe body shops use a computer program to enter this information and the program then compiles a preliminary estimate.

It is a preliminary estimate because there is often hidden damage that can’t be observed until the vehicle has been disassembled. The auto body technician who disassembles your car will then revise the estimate to include the cost of repairing the additional damages found. After the estimate has been completed it will be reviewed by your insurance company. If the damage is extensive your insurance company may determine that the vehicle is not repairable and declare it a total loss. If the car is deemed repairable and the estimate is authorized by both you and your insurance company, then the collision repairs can begin. The estimate should cover all repairs necessary to bring your car back to its pre-collision condition. How long the repairs take will depend on how extensive the damage to your vehicle is. Most insurance companies will cover the cost of a rental vehicle while yours is being repaired.

Beginning the Actual Collision Repair

Aside from damaged body parts there may also be structural damage. Years ago cars had frames that all other parts including the engine were bolted to. Today, nearly all cars have unibody construction, meaning their frame and bodywork have been integrated into one another, although many collision repair shops still refer to structural damage as frame damage.

If there is structural damage, the first step will be to put your car on a frame rack. The auto body technician will have ordered the parts needed, but they cannot begin the collision repair until all of the structural parts have arrived. Frame straightening requires up to date frame repair equipment and a properly trained frame repair technician in order to return the unitized auto body to factory condition. Frame straightening is another area where computer programs are used to analyze your vehicle’s frame in order to ensure a precise repair.

Preparing to Paint

Next comes the exterior body repair where sheet metal is installed, aligned and finished. This is followed by paint preparation, which is one of those unseen job that requires time and skill. This is an important step before priming and sealing the panels. It is impossible to obtain a good paint job without proper preparation.