There are three critical factors to a proper repair. Training, equipment and a verifiable Quality Control Process. Look for the I-CAR Gold Class Certification to verify training. Ask for a shop tour; the overall cleanliness and the proper equipment says a lot about a shop. Ask for a copy of their Quality Control Checklist.

Most reputable auto body shops provide a lifetime warranty on all workmanship. We absolutely do!

For minor damage, such as replacing a bumper cover, a minimum of two days is required. This allows for proper curing time for any primers, fillers, and paint. Beyond that, it’s dependent upon the extent of damage, availability of parts, and approval of payment by the responsible party.

Yes, provided that your vehicle is an original factory color that is not faded or discolored. The following is a brief description of how paint matching works: Your vehicle carries a paint code printed on a label on your vehicle. This code is broken down into a formula given to automotive paint manufacturers. A repair shop uses the formula to mix the color within their chosen brand of paint. This works fine if your vehicle is precisely the color specified by the paint code. However, in actual production there are often slight variations in color.

If your vehicle is not the exact shade specified by the factory, the first step is “tinting” the color. This is done by varying the amount of the toners used to make up the original formula. Sometimes, a perfect match can’t be achieved by tinting alone. In these cases, “blending” may be required. This is a process where portions of the vehicle adjacent to the repaired area are gradually misted with the tinted paint so that any minor color variance is unnoticeable. This can make the difference between a very good color match and an invisible repair.

Frame damage is a very common occurrence in an accident. The problem isn’t so much the damage but rather the techniques utilized for repair. At Falk, we work in conjunction with local professionals that use computerized measuring systems that contain a database for all vehicles commonly sold in the USA. The end result is a vehicle returned to factory specs that will track straight and true.

Right away. It is best to avoid brush type car washes for the first 30 days until the clear coat reaches its maximum hardness.

It is recommended to wait at least 60 days before waxing. Although the clear coat reaches its maximum hardness in 30 days, there may still be some additional cure-out of solvents for another 30 days.

Contact your auto body repair shop immediately! At Falk we realize that we are still human and we may make a mistake from time to time. We also know that latent undetected problems can develop after the repair work is done. Either way, we want to get it fixed as soon as possible!

Yes. The repair shop choice is always up to you!

The choice is still yours; do some research before accepting their suggestion.

The warranty provided by the insurance company is nothing more than a case of the insurance company holding their network body shops accountable. One of the criteria for an auto body shop to be part of any insurance company network is that the shop provide a lifetime warranty.

One legitimate reason is that it could speed up the repair process. Certain insurance companies allow their network shops to begin repairs as soon as they receive an assignment. But most require approval from a file reviewer before the shop can begin repairs. In the first example the repair is expedited, in the second it is not. Secondly, most insurance companies have been able to reduce staff and claim handling costs by establishing a direct repair network.

You must arrange for payment. Ultimately the vehicle owner is responsible for the cost of all repairs that you have authorized and are not authorized by insurance. If not from the insurance, then how do I go about selecting a body shop? Family and friends are the number one source outside the insurance company. Another good choice is to ask your local car dealer or someone who works in the automotive industry such as a parts store or a paint supplier. All of these sources have one thing in common—Quality Repairs.

The majority of all insurance companies call for the use of used parts. Poor fit is rarely a problem with used parts because they are OEM parts that have been removed from a donor vehicle. The bigger concerns are excessive paint build, rust or previous poor quality repairs that may be hidden under a repaint. Once again, your body shop is the key player. They are the experts who need to make sure that all parts used in your repair are of equal quality to what was taken off of your car.

You need to return it to your shop right away. Most quality shops want to get the repairs done right. Their reputation is on the line with every repair.

If the accident was not your fault and the responsible party has accepted liability then they are required to provide you with reasonable transportation while your car is being repaired. If you are going through your own insurance then you will need to verify if you have rental coverage on your policy in order to be entitled to a rental car.