What to Expect During the Auto Body Repair Process

The auto body repair process can be difficult and confusing to understand, especially if you are new to auto repairs. But you have to make sure that your car is changed back to the way it was before, and it is critical for car owners to understand the body repair process.

If you’re unfamiliar with what happens during vehicle body repair, here’s a rundown of what to expect.

 

Determine the Full Amount of Damage

The first step in any auto body repair process is determining the full extent of the damage to your vehicle. It’s important to figure out how bad the damage to your car is as soon as possible after an accident. If you want to document what happened and file a lawsuit about it, you should take photographs of the scene.

Photographs of the pre-accident condition are also required.

 

Estimating the Repair Cost

You will need to drive your vehicle to a reputable auto body repair shop like Scott’s Collision Repair  in Paris, TX, or one that is closer to you, to get an exact estimate for the cost of the full-service collision repair and schedule an appointment. Paintless dent repair and glass replacement are two examples of full-service collision repair.

You can also contact them online to get an estimate. Also, you can get a rough estimate by emailing pictures or calling any body shop. However, bringing the car in will give you a much more accurate estimate.

 

Metal and Frame Repair

Accidents involving collisions can distort the vehicle’s structure to an unfathomable degree. One of the first things an auto body specialist will look at when repairing the damage caused by the accident is the vehicle’s frame. They want to use laser frame diagnostic equipment to achieve proper shaping.

Also, frame machines are used to fix your car so that it looks the same as it did before the accident. This procedure may take several days or weeks to complete, depending on the severity of the damage to your vehicle.

The next step is to begin working on the metal. Metal components of your vehicle will be repaired or replaced here as needed. An electronic measuring system will be used to evaluate each component to ensure that the mechanical and cosmetic repairs to the car are up to the manufacturer’s standards.

This is needed to make sure the chassis is level and the structure is strong enough to drive safely. Repairs to your car’s wheel alignment and suspension are also important because these factors affect your vehicle’s maneuverability and safety on the road.

To avoid the need for last-minute changes, the frame and mechanical repairs must be completed concurrently. Auto body shops with a lot of experience in collision repairs will be able to do this.

 

Reassembly and Refinishing

Your vehicle will be ready for painting once the frame and mechanical components have been repaired. Prior to sanding and priming, surfaces will be taped as needed. Following that, a base coat that is an exact duplicate of the first one will be applied, followed by a clear coat. After the curing process is complete, your vehicle will have a glossy finish.

 

Frame Repair

This will restore its luster prior to the accident. After the painting process is complete, the component parts will be reassembled. After the restoration is finished, each component will be reattached to its original location. If any parts were removed, such as wiring, airbag components, or hoses, they will be replaced.

Furthermore, they will put the vehicle through an in-house test drive to ensure that everything is working properly. They will inspect the doors to determine whether they were properly installed and whether the wiring needs to be changed.

 

Paintless Dent Repair

Detailing and Cleaning

Following the completion of the laborious tasks, your personal or rental car will be washed and cleaned on the inside to remove any debris and metal dust that has accumulated. Every surface, including the paint, will be cleaned well and polished again to bring back its original shine.

Every component of the lamp will be subjected to additional inspections as deemed necessary. At this time, the auto body shop also checks the car for any small problems. To ensure that the car is “showroom quality,” every detail will be scrutinized and altered.

After all of the repairs are done, the focus will be on visual checks and maybe another test drive. Both the production manager and the head technician must sign off on the collision repair when it is done.

 

Final Inspection and Delivery

The last step is getting the car ready to be dropped off or picked up at the collision repair shop. They will contact you to set up a face-to-face meeting to discuss the collision repair procedure. You have the right to ask for a complete, itemized list of all the repairs and parts that are part of the car work.

The technician will also provide you with a final cost calculation and a detailed itemization of everything that was charged.

 

Why Should You Hire An Auto Body Repair Specialist?

Auto body repair is not an easy process, so you will need to hire certified technicians to do the work. There are several specialists you could find in Paris, Texas, or surrounding areas, and one of them is Scott’s Collision Repair.

We are Paris, TX’s leader in collision repair with nearly 20 years of experience in the auto industry, and we guarantee repair quality. Contact us today and get a quote.