Category: Collision Repair

When your vehicle is involved in a collision, you want to get it repaired as quickly as possible, but you also want to be sure the car is as safe as possible. When you take your car to a NJ collision repair technician, one of the things they should do is inspect the car for a wide range of problems. A highly-trained collision technician will not simply address the cosmetic damage or the issues that can be seen with the naked eye. There are many other factors they must consider when they determine what repairs are needed.

Door Panel Damage

Door panel damage may initially seem minor and you may believe the damage is only to the exterior of the car. A collision involving the door panel can cause significant damage, however. A collision repair technician will inspect the damage to determine if an entirely new panel is necessary. They check for misalignment or unevenness in the door gaps, and if any exists, the entire door panel should be replaced. If there is no misalignment, it is possible the panel can be repaired rather than replaced.

Damage to Fenders or Bumpers

Fender and bumper damage are the most common after a collision which is why they are designed to absorb a significant amount of impact. The fender and bumper are often made of lightweight material, so a collision repair technician will look for cracks or scratches which can usually be fixed easily. If the damage is severe, the fender or bumper will need to be replaced.

Cracked or Chipped Windshields

Your windshield is part of the roof support in your car. Even if the collision caused a minor crack or chip, it could lessen the integrity of your roof. If you are involved in another collision, the roof of your car could collapse. If a chip has broken through both layers of glass in your windshield, you will need to have it replaced. In addition, it is possible that an accident could cause tiny cracks that are not clearly visible. A collision repair technician will recognize those cracks and replace your windshield, keeping you and your passengers safe.

Collision repair technicians should be able to recognize all types of vehicle damage, even damage that is not easily seen. If you have been involved in a collision, schedule an appointment with Elmer’s Auto Body today by calling or by filling out the form online.

No matter how careful you are with your car, dents are going to happen. It doesn’t take much for something to cause a dent, whether it is a rolling shopping cart in a parking lot or the handlebar of a bicycle in the driveway. Even a minor dent should be addressed as a break in the paint could lead to rust, something that is extremely damaging to your car’s exterior. Due to modern technology, minor dents can now be repaired using paintless dent removal which requires no body filler, sanding or painting.

In the Past

In the past, when your car suffered a minor dent, a body repair technician had to either replace the entire section of the car or use a suction tool to remove the dent. The suction tool required that a small hole be drilled near the dent which then required body filler, sanding and painting. The repair was often noticeable because it was difficult to match the paint exactly.

Paintless Dent Removal

Today, instead of removing the section with the dent or drilling a hole and suctioning the dent, auto body technicians can use paintless dent removal. Using this process, the technician restructures the dent from behind or below by pushing the dent back into place. Because the pressure is behind or under the dent, the outside of the car remains intact. This means that there is no need for body filler, sanding or painting the damaged area once the dent is repaired.

What Are The Benefits of Paintless Dent Repair

• Restores Car to Original Quality.
• PDR is much more cost-effective than your average traditional dent repair service.
• There is no body fillers, sanding or repainting.
• Antique cars can also benefit from paintless dent repair without worry of losing its vintage value.
• Reduces Repair Time.

What Can Paintless Dent Repair Fix?

• Hail Damage
• Low Impact Dent Repair
• Minor Dents
• Minor Dings

Vehicle Value

One of the benefits of using paintless dent removal is that the repair is virtually undetectable. This means that the resale value of your car is unaffected. Your car is returned to its original condition and the turnaround time is much faster than with traditional repair methods. Not only does paintless dent repair restore your car quickly, it is often less expensive than traditional types of dent repair.

Dents will happen to your vehicle, no matter how careful you are. If your care suffers a minor dent, it is possible that paintless dent repair can return it to its original condition. If your vehicle has suffered a minor dent, or you have been involved in a collision, contact Elmer’s Auto Body today. You can schedule an appointment by filling out the form online or you can give us a call to speak to our customer service representatives.

After an accident, you may not know what to do to get your car back on the road. There are insurance claims to file, police reports to obtain and you may be dealing with injuries that mean doctors or tests. Throughout all of this, you need to get the damage on your car repaired so you can manage all the other details of the accident. This may be the first time you have dealt with collision repair, so there are some things you need to know to make the process go smoothly.

Use a Skilled Appraiser

The insurance company will probably send their own appraiser to determine how much the damages will cost. A good appraiser should identify all damage done to your vehicle, even damage that may not be visible. If something is found during the repair, you want to be sure the appraiser is willing to convince the insurance company to pay for the additional repairs. Talk to them about their knowledge and experience when they come to appraise the damage. Be sure to ask about hidden damage and what the process is for those repairs.

You Can Choose the Repair Shop

Insurance companies often have relationships with certain collision centers and this is where they typically send one of their policyholders after a collision. You are not required to use a facility that is recommended by the insurance company and have the right to choose where your repairs are done. This is often in your best interest to insure the repairs are high-quality.

Extensive Repairs

You may think the damage to your car is minor but when your car hits something, the impact affects the entire vehicle. Even a minor collision can damage the frame, wheels, interior or drivetrain. Choose a shop that will inspect the entire vehicle and repair damages that may not be visible.

Repairing Body Damage

Commercials for products on television that claim a body panel can be popped back into place using a special tool or household item are not factual. Although there are paintless dent repair techniques, they must be performed by trained technicians who use special tools to gently bend the metal back into shape.

Repairs Without Body Filler

Not so long ago, you could determine if a car had been in an accident by running a magnet over the surface. Sections with body filler meant the car was probably in a collision. That isn’t the case with today’s cars as they sometimes come from the factory with body filler in order to hide any imperfections in the metal. New paintless dent techniques allow body shops to make repairs without the need for body filler or sanding as well.

Warranty Work

Sometimes, insurance companies will tell you that if you go to a repair shop that is not recommended by them, the work will not be covered under warranty. However, warranties are provided by the collision center, not the insurance company. Choose a location that offers a written warranty and guarantees that you will be satisfied with the work.

Original Manufacturer vs. Aftermarket Parts

Original manufacturer parts (OEM) are often higher quality than aftermarket parts. They are parts that were originally made for your vehicle and are patented by the manufacturer. Aftermarket parts may be compatible, but they are not the same as OEM parts.

Do Your Research

You want to be sure your repairs are done in a shop with a good reputation. A good shop will put your needs first and use the highest quality materials. They also offer warranties and satisfaction guarantees. Research any shop you are considering by reading online reviews and talking to friends or relatives.

Is the Car Totaled?

A car is “totaled” by the insurance company when the cost of repairing it is more than the value of the car. An older car will meet the threshold for totaling quicker than a newer car. If your car is only a few years old, it will need to be significantly damaged in order for the insurance company to total it.

Repairs Can Make Cars as Good as New

In the past, a car that had been in a collision was never the same after a repair. With today’s new techniques, vehicles can be returned to their original condition after a collision as long as repairs are done correctly. Today’s repairs give your car the same sound structure, functionality and appearance as it had before the collision.

If your vehicle has been in a collision, schedule an appointment with us today by completing the simple online form. We will get your car back to its original condition and offer a satisfaction guarantee on all work we do.