Most Americans will be involved in a car accident at some point in their lives. If no drivers or passengers are hurt, the next item on your agenda after filing an auto insurance claim is figuring out how you’ll repair your vehicle. Many people seeking collision repair services don’t necessarily know what goes into getting their car or truck back on the road. If you’re interested in learning more about the collision repair process, read on for a step-by-step explanation of what happens during auto body repair:
Step 1: Insurance Processing
Once you’ve filed a claim for an auto accident, some insurance companies search for collision repair shop options for you and allow you to pick from a list for truck or car repair. Others provide compensation upfront and require proof of payment at the chosen body shop. Many of our customers seeking auto body repair in Texas have been referred to us by their auto insurance company. However, remember that just because your insurance company suggests a list of shops doesn’t mean you have to pick from that list. For the most part, they must provide you with compensation to visit any qualified collision repair center for collision repair services.
Tip from the pros:
It can be worth your time when you first get a new or used car or truck (pre-accident) to select a local body shop you’d like your vehicle towed to in case it needs repairs in the future. This can save you time and money later down the line.
Step 2: Damage Assessment
Once a car or truck has rolled (or been towed) into our shop, our collision repair services professionals get to work assessing the damage. Different repairs cost different amounts, depending on things such as structural damage, model of car, and if technicians need to order parts.
Tip from the pros:
Remove items you need from your automobile before the collision repair process, such as glasses, house keys, or other daily necessities. The last thing you need is to realize you left your phone or wallet across town — especially since you’ll have no way to get it back without a ride from someone else!
Step 3: Disassembly
In order to determine what parts we need to order and truly check over the car or truck, it will likely be disassembled at least to some degree, whether that’s just removing the hood and front bumper or taking the entire automobile apart.
Tip from the pros:
While it’s not required, giving us the specifications and accident history of your vehicle can be very helpful before the collision repair services process so that we can decide what parts we need to order and assess if you’re looking for OEM or aftermarket replacements.
Step 4: Mechanical Repairs
Mechanical repairs will be assessed and performed first before we get to work on the rest of the car or truck. It’s common sense to make sure the vehicle’s heart is still beating (so to speak) before we repair the rest of it! Collision repair services professionals will check wheel alignment, frame health, and more using standard car repair measurement systems and ratings (based on measurements from when the car or truck was new). Then, we’ll make necessary mechanical and structural repairs to ensure the vehicle will run smoothly and safely.
Tip from the pros:
After you’ve had an accident, your car or truck might be more damaged than you realize. Don’t assume your vehicle is fine because you can only see a dent or a scratch. Serious structural damage such as a bent frame can happen in a collision. Frame damage is easy to overlook but greatly compromises automotive safety and performance.
Step 5: Auto Body Repairs
Auto body panel repairs always come after mechanical repairs in the collision repair process. Using state-of-the-art techniques such as paintless dent repair, auto body repair shop technicians will return your car’s body panels to their former pristine condition. In some cases, dents can be suctioned or carefully hammered out. After more serious collisions, panels will need to be entirely replaced.
Tip from the pros:
To avoid dents and dings to your vehicle in the future, never sit or lean on your hood or allow others to do so, always close your trunk carefully, and schedule collision repair services for dents as they arise so you don’t end up in an unsafe situation.
Step 6: Aesthetic Repairs
Once the car or truck is ready to be paint matched, it will be reassembled, prepped via a combination of cleaning and sanding, and then the painting process will begin. An expert collision repair services professional will precisely match your body paint to the paint necessary for the repair or even use digital color analysis to do so.
Tip from the pros:
Protect your new coat of paint by only visiting touchless car washes, covering your car or truck in the wintertime, and cleaning off bird droppings from your vehicle ASAP.
Step 7: Final Inspection
The last, but not least, step in the collision repair process is the final inspection. Your car or truck will be taken for a test drive, detailed and cleaned, and then inspected once again to ensure it’s truly back to its original condition. Then, you’ll get the phone call you’ve been waiting for to take your beloved vehicle home!
Tip from the pros:
If you have any questions about the process or comments about your car when you pick it up from the shop, now is your chance to talk to the technicians. You don’t want to wait to bring up something important since your insurance claim will be closed once the repair is marked as complete.
Turn to the Best Auto Body Shop in Texas!
If you want to ensure only qualified, perfectionist technicians handle your car or truck, take it or tow it to DFW Pro Bright Star! Our team has years of collision repair experience and will make the collision repair process easy, affordable, and even enjoyable. Get in touch with us today, and let us help you get back on the road!