Specials, Information, and Tips
CONSUMER’SGUIDE TO COLLISION REPAIR
How Do I Choose a Collision
and Refinish Center?
As the owner of a motor vehicle
involved in an accident or submitting an insurance claim,
you have the right to choose the shop where you wish to have
your vehicle repaired. Verify your shop of choice is
registered with the state of Ohio and look for certificates
of technician training and memberships in professional
associations.
Do I Need More Than One
Estimate?
No. Select a repair facility that you feel
comfortable with, then notify your agent or insurance
company, or ask the shop to call the involved insurance
company on your behalf.
Dipody Shops – What Are They?
Direct Repair Programs (DRP) or insurance company referrals
of certain repair facilities could be known as: State Farm’s
“Service First” program, Allstate’s “PRO” program, USAA’s
“STARS” program, Progressive’s “Total Pro or Concierge”
program, and Nationwide’s “Blue-ribbon” program. Please
refer to our glossary of other known insurance company DRF
or referral program names.
Although insurance companies
refer to direct repair programs differently, they
essentially mean the same thing. DRP repair facilities are
shops that have formed strategic alliances with insurers.
The shop meets the insurance company’s criteria of their
specific program and the shop agrees to do business in that
manner. The insurance company’s purpose of DRP (Direct
Repair Programs) is to streamline the claims settlement
process and they work closely with a select repair facility
to accomplish that. The shop agrees to provide many of the
administrative duties of the insurance carrier in exchange
for the referral. All insurance companies, just like repair
facilities are not the same. It is the consumer’s
responsibility to determine if this program is what you
want, or if this is how you want your vehicle repaired. The
repair facility must explain the repair process to you, the
vehicle owner. It should be understood and agreed upon on
what is being repaired vs. what is being replaced, and what
type parts are being utilized in the repair process prior to
the vehicle owner authorizing the shop to proceed with the
vehicle repairs. It is the consumer’s responsibility and
right to choose the repair facility of their choice and
authorize the repairs based on a thorough and agreed upon
damage evaluation. DRP’s (Direct Repair Programs) are an
optional program of the insurance carrier. The consumer is
not required or obligated to use a DRP repair facility.
What Is An Insurance Policy?
A “contract” defining coverage and outlining policy limits.
It further outlines what is covered and what is not. It also
outlines any limits or exclusions of coverage within your
contract. It may also define what type parts they are going
to pay for in the event of a loss. It also defines your
agreed upon deductible for collision and comprehensive
provisions as sometimes these deductibles are not the same.
Notify Your Insurance
Company.
Before authorizing any repairs, notify your
insurance company or agent and tell them where the damaged
vehicle can be inspected. Most, if not all, insurance
policies require notification and they will likely have
questions regarding your accident that only you can answer.
The insurance company may wish to send an adjuster of their
choice to inspect the vehicle and review the shop's estimate
prior to repair. Some insurers have drive-in claims centers
that also could be considered if the vehicle is safe and
drivable.
Is the Work Guaranteed?
Most collision repair centers warranty their collision work
to some degree. Ask to see a copy of the shops written
warranty before repairs are started and have any information
you do not understand clarified. Make sure the terms of the
warranty are acceptable to you. Make sure you receive a copy
of the finalized invoice itemizing repairs including any
supplements. Verify that you are satisfied with the quality
of repairs made to your vehicle prior to payment.
What Do I Do if I Am Not
Satisfied With Repairs After Picking Up My Car?
Immediately contact the repair shop and they will address
any concerns you may have. Will the Repair Shop Have a
Rental Car Waiting For Me When I Drop-off My Vehicle?
If
you need a rental car to drive while your car is in the
shop, most shops can arrange and reserve one for you ahead
of time.
Will The Collision Repair
Shop Help Me Process My Claim?
Some shops will
submit the estimate and repair bill to your insurance
company in your behalf. However, you are still responsible
forth payment to the shop. Talk to the shop owner or
manager, they will attempt to make the transaction as
seamless as possible.
What If Repair Costs Exceed
the Original Estimate?
Oftentimes in the collision
repair process, especially after and during disassembly,
additional damages are found resulting in more labor and
parts needed to restore the vehicle to pre-accident
condition. Parts sometimes come in at a higher price than
quoted. These additional charges are called a supplement.
What If My Airbags Have
Deployed?
Ohio Revised Code Section 4549.20 was
enacted on September 16, 2004and prohibits any person from
installing in any motor vehicle any air bag other than the
one designed in accordance with and meeting federal law
standards for the make, model and year of the vehicle.
Currently, all vehicle manufacturers state that only new,
OEM parts be utilized after an airbag deployment. Further,
they also often times require other components to be
replaced to insure the system is fully restored to make
certain it will function as it was originally designed and
intended to perform in a subsequent accident.
The Following is a
Glossary of Abbreviations and Terms Commonly Used in the
Collision Industry and the Estimating Process.
OEM – The
abbreviation “OEM” implies that the parrot parts are made by
the original car company manufacturer orbits licensed
supplier and is a genuine new part warranted byte vehicle
manufacturer.
A/M -This
abbreviation for “aftermarket” indicates parts made by a
manufacturer other than the original vehicle manufacturer.
These parts are warranted by the manufacturer of the said
parts their distributor. There are two levels of aftermarket
parts – one being “certified” and the other “noncertified”.
QRP – Quality
Replacement Part, another term for Aftermarket Parts.
Competitive Parts – Another term
for Aftermarket Parts.
LKQ – Like, Kind
and Quality – meaning used parts from a salvage vehicle of
the same make and model, usually from the same year or newer
than the vehicle being repaired with comparable or less
mileage than the vehicle it is being used for.
Recycled – used
parts from a salvage vehicle that re-enters commerce when
sold to a repair shop. The repairer then takes the used
component and performs the necessary steps to put it in a
recycled condition that will then be utilized in the repair
process.
Remanufactured Part
– A used, original factory part that has been refurbished to
new condition. (This could be an original car company
(OEM)part or an aftermarket supplier.) This procedure could
be performed by an original car company supplier or a
licensed aftermarket supplier for the car company.
Rebuilt Part – A
rebuilt part may not be an original car company part; it
could be an aftermarket supplied part. This is a part that
is being repaired and serviced for the purpose of resale.
Rebuilt parts are typically supplied by an aftermarket
source.
CAPA – This
abbreviation is for “Certified Automotive Parts Association”
- CAPA parts are aftermarket parts certified by an unbiased
third party that insures the quality of the parts they test
are equal to or greater than the original car company part.
O/H – Overhaul -
Remove an assembly, disassemble, clean and visually inspect
it, replace needed parts, reassemble and reinstall on the
vehicle making any necessary adjustments.
R&I – Remove and
Install – Usually referring to parts being removed from a
vehicle to facilitate repairs or to allow access. The same
part is then reinstalled on the same vehicle it was removed
from.
R&R – Remove and
Replace – This abbreviation means the part is being removed
and replaced with a new, recycled or aftermarket part.
Overlap – An
automatic deduction made by the estimating system when two
processes are duplicated. Therefore, not allowing for excess
charges.
Blend - A
process of gradually blending the paint into the adjacent
panel being replaced or repaired to facilitate an acceptable
color match.
Tint – Means
time spent by a painter to tint the color to achieve an
acceptable paint match.
Flex Additive/Materials
– A product put in paint to make the paint flexible for use
on soft parts, such as bumper covers and side moldings.
Color Sand and Buff
– Process of sanding a repainted surface with ultra fine
sandpaper to remove minor surface imperfections in the
paint, or to achieve the same texture of the paint finish as
the rest of the vehicle. After sanding the repainted parts
are then buffed to restore original gloss. This process may
also be referred to as “Denib and Buff”, “Final Sand and
Buff” or “Finessing”.
PDR – Paintless
Dent Repair – The process using specialty tools to remove
minor, rounded dents, such as hail damage dents, without
damaging the paint.
