Like with anything in life that requires a great deal of effort there will almost always be a process that one must follow in order to insure things are done completely and accurately. Body shop repair is no exception. From the initial accident to the insurance claim and estimates through the final repair and completion there are an enormous number of items that need to be addressed. Here is a quick overview, from the management of Northgate Ford, of the steps which may make your life easier when the time comes to get your vehicle repaired:

Step 1. Getting an Estimate
In most larger body shops that are better equipped to handle repairs better, in order to provide the most accurate estimate possible, the collision estimator will enter all the information about the repair into a computerized estimating system. A report is then generated outlining the work that will need to be done along with the costs involved.

Step 2. Getting Insurance Approval
Once an estimate has been obtained from a reputable collision repair shop, a representative from the insurance company may want to inspect the vehicle and prepare their own estimate for comparisons. Before the repair process can begin, in most cases the body shop must work with the insurance company to make sure the figures on the body shop estimate is in line with the figure from the insurance company as well as with the repair procedures needed to fix any damage. Because of this step, it is not uncommon for an insurance company to evaluate as a total loss so no repairs will be needed.

Step 3. Disassembly
Occasionally there may be the need for extra charges due to additional damage that is found after a vehicle has been disassembled for repair. When this happens, photos will be taken of the damage and the owner and possibly the insurance company will be contacted to get approval for any additional repairs.

Step 4. Ordering Parts
Before any work begins and in many cases before you are asked to bring your car in for repair, all parts will be ordered for your vehicle’s repair to make sure they are available when the work begins. This insures the repairs are done quickly and efficiently with the least amount of inconvenience to the customer. Occasionally, there may be the need to place a special order for parts which can then add time to the repair process.

Step 5. Frame Repair
Most larger collision repair shops are equipped with sophisticated repair systems that enable them to carefully and accurately measure, analyze, and align the frame of your vehicle to restore it to its original factory specifications.

Step 6. Body Repair
Depending on the nature of the damage to the vehicle, there may be the need to perform some major body repair. The body repair process involves replacing any damaged exterior parts as well as any necessary metal finishing.

Step 7. Paint
After all of the repairs have been completed and parts replaced, the next step is to repaint the repaired areas. Generally a computerized paint-mixing system will be used in order to match your vehicle’s paint color perfectly. To ensure the best adhesion possible, the areas to be painted are sanded down then are masked and primed for refinishing.

Step 8. Reassembly
After all necessary repairs are completed and the vehicle has been repainted, the next step is to reassemble any parts that were removed and/or repaired. A check is then made to verify that your car is structurally sound and ready for delivery.

Step 9. Inspection
When everything has been put back together and the technician is satisfied that the work is complete, a test-drive of your vehicle is completed in order to perform a quality control system check to make sure everything functions correctly and the repairs have been completed successfully.

Step 10. Completion
When your car is ready for pick up, the repair service manager will meet with you to review your invoice and answer any questions. The goal should be to make sure you’re 100 percent satisfied with the work.

Author Bio: Dan Mercurio is President of DealerLinkUSA and administers quality Search Engine Marketing campaigns for Northgate Ford.

Category: Automotive
Keywords: Northgate Ford, Body Shop Repair