Body Shop Repair – The auto body repair process in Seattle, Auburn, Bonney Lake, and Centralia, Washington can be confusing if you are not familiar with collision repair. You probably picture a team of fully clothed, talented technicians hard at work restoring your car or other vehicle to its former glory. And, if it does, you won’t be far away But there’s more to the auto body repair process than that, we’ve raised the bar for quality collision and auto body repair at all 4 (four) Collision 1 Puget Sound locations, including our convenient Seattle collision repair center.
If you have been involved in a car accident, it may pay to learn about the auto body repair process Not only will this knowledge allow you to know the potential costs and time frame of the collision repair process, but it will also help you set realistic expectations for auto body repair.
Body Shop Repair
Thousands of hit-and-run accidents occur in Seattle each year Hopefully, you are never involved with one But if you are, here’s what to expect
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Right after an accident occurs, it is important that you assess the damage to your car If you plan to do this, take photos of the actual scene for documentation and case files If you are seriously injured, call an ambulance and the police first for help If the accident occurred outside of Seattle city limits you should contact the appropriate local authorities For a collision that occurred in any part of Washington, you can also use the “Online Motor Vehicle Collision Report” page provided by the Washington State Patrol.
Give an independent statement of the accident to your insurance company and the police Note that both Seattle and other Puget Sound areas have a distracted driving law. You should be honest and declare whether you were on the phone while driving This will prevent further complications with the authorities
Don’t forget to share contact information with the other driver involved in the accident Ask about their insurance policy and how you can approach them for repairs This part is important when it comes to covering collision repair costs If the other driver claims to have no insurance policy, you should seek help from the appropriate legal authorities because Washington requires all drivers to have auto insurance.
You need to take your car to a reliable auto body repair shop in Seattle or closer to get an accurate repair quote. Note: When searching, you may do a better search for “auto body repair shop location” than “auto body shop near me”. While you can easily send any Collision 1 body shop a picture or consult over the phone, taking the car to the shop will result in a more thorough and accurate quote.
How To Tell If Your Body Shop Did The Job Correctly
Our Seattle collision repair center will perform one or more collision repairs, for example, and auto body technicians will perform a visual inspection of your vehicle, assess the level of damage, including interior damage, and determine which parts need to be replaced. Remember that the first estimate will usually only include visible damage When technicians start getting into your car’s exterior, they’ll find more and more damage that can lead to additional repair costs.
Most auto body service centers in the Seattle area will use collision 1 computer software to generate an estimate and send it to your insurance company. You will also be provided with a copy of the repair estimate so that you can compare it with quotes from other repair centers.
A quick word comes down to choosing which quote to proceed with The cheapest option is rarely the best option Always choose the company that provides the most thorough quotes and the one you feel most comfortable trusting.
Also, a word on repair vs repair from your vehicle When it comes to insurance claims, remember that the depreciated value of your vehicle will be considered The older it is, the lower the fee Your insurance company assumes that aging exposes parts of your car to wear and tear. This means you are almost always better off repairing your vehicle rather than scrapping it
Auto Body Shop Discounts
Finally, if you are dealing with the other driver, fault will be determined as mandated by Washington state law. Washington is a pure comparative negligence state where the at-fault party is liable for damages
To give collision repair and auto body technicians a clear picture of your car’s condition, they’ll bring a blueprint. This will be their road map to repairing your vehicle in a systematic process Parts will be torn apart for further testing This is where more damage can occur that the auto body service center has missed in their visual inspection A reliable auto body repair shop will immediately contact you and your insurance company to adjust the estimate if necessary. Don’t worry, this happens regularly and is part of how the industry works
Some insurance companies will request discontinuance first before settling your insurance claim This way, all damages are documented and there is no need to make corrections in the future It is also your insurer’s way of ensuring that you are not making fraudulent claims
Note that you have the final say on when vehicle repairs begin If your vehicle is still in a drivable condition, you can wait until all the materials are ready before starting the repair But before giving the green light to your Seattle or other area auto body repair shop, check with your insurance company to make sure everything is settled.
What Does An Auto Body Shop Do?
You can’t imagine a car frame in a collision Once the collision repair effort begins, one of the first things auto body technicians look at is the car’s framework. They will use a laser frame diagnostic system to achieve the correct shape Frame machines are also used here so that your vehicle is repaired to its pre-accident form. Depending on how damaged your car is, such a process can take days, if not weeks
Metal work comes later This is where the metal parts of your vehicle are replaced as needed Auto body and mechanical repair shops will analyze each part with an electronic measurement system to ensure it’s up to factory standards. It is necessary to ensure that the chassis is straight and the frame has structural integrity for driving Wheel alignment and suspension repairs are also important here as it determines the handling and safety of your vehicle while on the road.
Frame and mechanical repairs are coordinated to avoid emergency adjustments Experienced auto body service centers will know how to do this
After completing mechanical and frame repairs, your vehicle will be ready for painting Surface shall be tapped as required prior to sanding and priming After that, a base coat will be applied that matches the original, followed by a clear coat Once the curing phase is complete, your vehicle will undergo a gloss finishing step to restore it to its pre-impact shine.
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Will be reassessed after the painting process is finished Every piece and part will be restored to its original place Wiring, airbag components, hoses and other effects shall be retained in place if removed This is a painstaking process because the repairman has to make sure that every bit is in the right place Miss one screw and it can jeopardize the driving safety of the vehicle This is another reason why you don’t want to rely on cheap quotes from just any Seattle area auto body shop. Remember the saying: give a banana, get a monkey
An initial inspection will be performed after reassignment It is also common that a Seattle auto body repair shop will conduct a test drive within its facility to make sure everything is running smoothly. Check the wires to see if the doors are installed correctly
After the dirty work, your car will be washed and the interior cleaned to remove any debris and metal dust. The paint will be re-polished for better shine and all other surfaces will be scrubbed to ensure a spotless finish. All lighting components shall also be inspected further as required
This is also the point where auto body repair centers look for minor glitches Every minute detail will be checked and finely tuned to achieve showroom quality
Truck Collision Repair
A visual inspection will be done and another test drive may be done after all the work is done After everything is done, the production manager and head technician should approve the collision repair. All procedures should pass standards and local codes in the Seattle or other relevant Washington area
Finally, the vehicle is ready for collection or delivery Contact your Seattle auto collision repair center