Services

I've been in an accident now what? 

1)The first step you should take after you've been in an accident is to take photos of the damage, the other parties insurance card, registration and drivers license. 

2) Contact your insurance company and start the claim process. If the other party is at fault they will have to admit fault to their insurance before their insurance will take responsibility and cover the damage. Your insurance company should help you with this process, but make sure to follow up with them and provide as much proof as possible that the other party was at fault. Find out what coverage you have, if you have rental coverage and what your deductible is. Don't forget to fine a claim with the DMV if the damage is over $2,500. 

3) After you have your claim started you can give us a call and bring in or tow your vehicle in for an estimate. During this time we will go over the steps that your particular insurance company requires before we schedule the appointment. 

4) If your insurance company has an adjuster that comes to our shop we will schedule your appointment and have the adjuster come to the shop to view the damage and then contact you with the next steps for repair. If your insurance company does not have an adjuster that comes to our shop we will take photos and send our estimate to your insurance company for them to review. Once we hear back from your insurance company we will schedule your appointment to bring in your vehicle for repair. 

5) We will continue to communicate with you and your insurance company about any needed additional repairs and supplements. 

6) Your vehicle is all ready for pick up! 

When you call your insurance company they will try to get you to take your vehicle to one of their preferred shops, these are called DRPs or Direct Repair Program. What this means is that these company have signed a contract with the insurance company that directs them on how to repair the vehicles the way the insurance company requires. We are not and will never be a DRP which means we will not be a recommended shop with your insurance company.  We make sure we work for our customers not the insurance company. We are here to make sure we repair your vehicle to preloss condition correctly. Remember it is always your choice who you take your vehicle to for repair, the insurance company cannot tell you who you have to take your vehicle to for repairs.

Some of the things insurance companies might tell you to try to get you to take your vehicle to another shop are:

"We can't warranty the work if you don't take it to our preferred shop" 

-No need to worry, we are confident in our repairs and warranty our own work! 

"They aren't in our preferred network" 

-We are not in any insurance companies preferred network (DRP) and that is ok! You don't have to take your vehicle to a shop that is in contract with your insurance company. You have the right to repair your vehicle anywhere you choose.

"There may be charges over what will agree to pay if you take it to their shop" 

-Yes that can be true, we try our best to work with your insurance company but at the end of the day we are the repair professionals and know what your car needs to be repaired correctly and safety and they may not want to pay for that. Sometimes your insurance company may not want to pay for OEM parts, OE required safety procedures or materials and operations required to bring your vehicle to preloss condition. If this happens we will always have a conversation with you first and discuss options to move forward! 

Parts

There are different kinds of parts available for your repair. Our shop prefers to follow OE Procedures and use only OEM Parts. 

1.       Types of New Parts

A.       New Original Equipment Manufacture Parts  (“OEM” Parts)

 These are new parts provided by the manufacturer of your vehicle and are called original equipment manufacture (“OEM”) parts or “genuine” parts.  OEM parts are designed and manufactured using the dimensions, guides, patents, molds, materials, and other specifications of the vehicle manufacturer.  They are specifically sold for replacing the corresponding part on your vehicle.

The manufacturer of your vehicle warrants OEM parts.  This means that if a defect or problem arises with an OEM part, your vehicle’s manufacturer is responsible for remedying the problem, and it can usually be resolved through the service department of the automaker’s franchise dealership.

B.       New Aftermarket Parts (“AM Parts”) or “Imitation Crash Parts”

 There are other parts available for use with certain makes and models of vehicles in need of repair.  These other parts are often called imitation crash parts, generic crash parts, non-original equipment manufacture parts, alternative parts, or aftermarket parts “(AM”).  AM parts are made without approval of your vehicle’s manufacturer and do not use the dimensions, guides, patents, molds, materials, and other specifications of your vehicle’s manufacturer.  As a result, AM parts almost never fit properly on the vehicle, are not typically made with metal of the same density or same type of material as OEM parts, and almost always require “retrofitting” to be made to conform as much as possible to the lines, contours, niches, and assembly fittings of your vehicle.

Additionally, AM parts are not guaranteed or warranted by your vehicle’s manufacturer as OEM parts are.  If you have a problem with an AM part, you will likely have to seek a remedy from the manufacturer of the part.  Manufacturers of AM parts are typically located in Asia and do not maintain facilities in the United States for the purpose of remedying or warranting problem parts.  Additionally, changes that the repairer must make to the part to enable it to be used on your vehicle (“retrofitting”) may void or impair the AM part manufacturer’s warranty. 

An insurer may base its reimbursement cost estimate for your vehicle’s repair assuming AM parts will be used in the repair of your vehicle.

2.       Used or Salvage Parts

Other parts available for vehicle repairs are used parts, and an insurer may base its reimbursement cost estimate for your vehicle’s repair assuming used parts will be used in the repair of your vehicle.  These parts may be identified on the cost estimate as “Quality Replacement Parts”, “Recycled Parts”, “LKQ”, “Reconditioned Parts”, “Rebuilt Parts”, “Remanufactured Parts”,  “Economy Replacement Parts” or other name.  While these parts may have been parts installed during the manufacture of a vehicle similar to yours, they are obtained from vehicles that have been declared total losses or have otherwise come into the possession of a salvage dealer or junkyard.  These parts typically have some level of prior damage and may have been exposed to the elements, chemicals, or other substances that can undermine the strength and integrity of the part.  These salvage parts may even include undeployed airbags (“recycled airbags”) from a previously damaged vehicle.

These parts typically do not come with any warranty against defects or ensuring proper performance.  Because these come from vehicles that have made their way to a salvage dealer, the original warranty from the manufacturer has usually become void. 

3.       Risks Associated with AM or Salvage Parts

Because we care about you, our customer, and desire to provide the best repair available to you, we must inform you that using AM parts and/or salvage parts in the repair of your vehicle may carry risks.  These parts may corrode more easily, have paint problems, may not fit properly, and may not last as long as new, OEM parts.  In addition, AM parts and salvage parts are not crash-tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”).  There may be unknown and unforeseen risks and consequences in the use of AM and/or salvage parts that could affect the safety and the crashworthiness of your vehicle. 

4.       Effects Of Repairs With Parts Other Than New OEM Parts

a.       Lease or Finance Agreement Violation

Motor vehicle lease agreements typically require the lessee to have any repairs on the vehicle performed using new OEM parts.  Additionally, motor vehicle finance agreements typically prohibit taking actions which adversely impact the value of the vehicle, which may include repairs using AM or salvage parts.  Please check the terms of your lease or finance agreement to determine if repairs with certain parts may place you in violation of the agreement.

b.       Decrease in Value

Repairs made with other than new OEM parts may adversely affect the value of the Vehicle. 

c.        Parts Warranty

Repairs made with other than new OEM parts may adversely impact your ability to have warranty repairs provided and paid for by your vehicle’s manufacturer in the event of a defect or problem.  If use of an AM part causes or contributes to a problem or failure with your vehicle, the automaker may refuse to repair the vehicle under warranty.  

5.       Repair Facility Policy 

As collision repair professionals, it is the general policy of this facility to use new, genuine OEM parts in the repair of vehicles.  You may decide that you will be satisfied with a repair that includes the use of AM or salvage parts.  Under no circumstances, however, will we install a “recycled” airbag, used suspension,  or any other part we believe to represent a significant risk to the safety of your vehicle.