Over the years, vehicle manufacturing has become more advanced and complex, and so have repairs. There are several steps involved in collision repair, and each of these steps may vary based on the type of damage, but we’ve put together some general steps that we take to get your car looking good as new!
1. Inspect and Estimate
To know what needs to be done, we first need to inspect your vehicle. We will examine all possible affected areas to ensure that we understand everything that needs to be repaired. Once the inspection is complete, you will receive an estimate of the timeline and cost of repairs based on our assessment of the vehicle. Inspections can be done in person at one of our shops or by using our online estimating tool and sending in images/video.
2. Breakin’ it Down
After receiving approval to move forward with repairs, we use a tool called the AsTech, which directly connects to the vehicle’s computer system to scan for any electrical issues. Once the electrical system analysis is complete, we disassemble and blueprint any affected areas. If structural damage is found, we will use an electronic measuring tool to determine how to repair the vehicle to factory specifications. Our team closely follows factory standards to ensure your car looks, operates, and feels as good as new once you’re back in the driver’s seat. If additional work may need to be done at any point in the repair process, we will notify you and your insurance company to determine how to proceed.
3. Good as New
The repair process looks different for every vehicle, and we often do one of two things. For minor dents, scratches, or bumps in the car’s body, we use special tools to massage out any imperfections. Sometimes, the damage is beyond repair, so we remove and replace individual parts of the car until all problem areas are back to factory standards.
4. Paint it Black (or Red, or Green, or Blue)
Once the repair process is complete, the refinishing process begins. A computerized camera system scans the vehicle’s color and runs it through our paint manufacturer’s database (Axalta) to find the perfect match. Thanks to our partnerships with many manufacturers, we have many of their specific paint colors on hand to ensure we get an exact match for your vehicle.
5. Checking Our Work
Once the body panels are primed and sealed with top color and a transparent coating, we reassemble the car to its original condition. Our team then completes a detailed inspection of the vehicle to ensure that everything is functioning correctly. This includes a test drive and a post-repair scan of electronic components (blind-spot monitoring, lane departure, park sensors, etc.) to ensure everything is still operational when the rubber hits the road. We then clean both the interior and exterior of the car, so it’s looking nice when you come and pick it up.
6. Hit the Road, Jack!
When you come to pick up your vehicle, we will walk you through your bill in detail. We break down all of the work performed and explain where each fee is coming from, so you can be confident that you’re getting a fair price. And once you finalize your paperwork, you can hit the road, Jack! (And we hope that you don’t have to come back no more, no more, no more, no more!)
Need a high-quality collision repair in Lincoln, Cozad, Eustis, Grand Island, Kearney, or Lexington? Visit us at Eustis, and we’ll get you back on the road in no time!