Auto service is critical, and without it, you can lose your car or put yourself in danger. Hi, my name is Pete, and after ignoring my brakes for too long, I was in an accident. I made it my goal to learn everything I could about the importance of car service. Regardless of how much or how little you know about cars, I hope that these blogs can help you. I plan to focus on a range of topics related to auto service and possibly some other ideas as well. This is my first blog, and I hope that you enjoy it. When I'm not writing, I work in a coffee shop during the day and part-time for a telemarketing company in the evenings. I enjoy cooking and spending time with my family.
If you get in an accident, you need to take your vehicle in for repairs, and in particular, you may need to go to a panel beater. These car repair experts specialise in repairing the body of your vehicle. If you have never been to one of these car repair companies, you may be wondering what to expect. Here's an overview of the process.
Look Over Your Vehicle
When you bring in your vehicle, the rep from the panel beaters generally starts by looking over your vehicle. To ensure you don't have to wait long, you may want to call in advance and make an appointment. Go with the rep and ask them to explain what they believe needs to be repaired.
Identify What Needs to Be Repaired
Typically, panel beaters use a special marker that can write directly on your vehicle without leaving any permanent marks. They may note that you need a bumper replacement, new lights, touchups for certain scratches or repairs. In some cases, they may even note small issues such as a broken windscreen wiper.
Check for Supplement Repairs
If you are making an insurance claim, your insurer may have already had an adjuster look at your car to assess the potential damages, or the insurer may have made an estimate based on photos of your vehicle. However, the panel beater may need to change the estimate.
They might discover damage that wasn't seen by the adjuster or visible in the photos. In particular, they may note damage to the frame or to other components underneath the body of the car. If your insurance provider is paying for the repairs, make sure that supplemental repairs are covered. If you are paying out of pocket, make it a point to understand the costs involved.
Give You a Time Estimate
After identifying all the necessary repairs, the car repair expert can give you a time estimate. Keep in mind that once they start working, they may discover additional issues which can add extra time to the estimate. To make the process relatively stress-free, try to be as flexible as possible. For instance, you may not want to plan a long driving holiday two days after you bring in your vehicle, just in case the repairs take longer than that.
Sign a Repair Agreement
Finally, you need to sign a repair agreement. This goes over the repairs, the potential costs and any other obligations on your part. Generally, you also agree that if you don't pay the bill, the car repair shop can put a lien on your vehicle. The agreement may also note other terms such as getting a discount for paying in advance.
For more information on this type of car repair, speak to an auto body service near you.
Share