What are the steps in the collision repair process?
Most people only go through the collision repair process once or twice, and the not-knowing is half the stress. This is what actually happens to your car at A1 Collision NY, in order.
4525 36 Street, Long Island City 11101, open Monday through Sunday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Call (212) 564-7100.
How do I get my car to the shop after a collision?
If it is drivable, bring it in. If not, call before arranging a tow, because where a car is towed to usually decides where it gets repaired. We run roadside assistance from 8 AM to 8 PM daily.
Do you write the estimate and deal with my insurer?
We write a detailed estimate you can submit with a claim, and deal with the adjuster directly. In New York you choose the shop, not your insurer. See insurance claim repair for how that works.
Why is more damage found after teardown?
Panels come off and the real extent shows. Additional damage is normal, not a sales tactic: a bumper skin hides crash bars, brackets and sometimes structural deformation. Anything found is documented and raised with the insurer as a supplement rather than absorbed quietly or sprung on you at the end.
What comes first, frame straightening or panel work?
If the shell has moved, frame straightening comes before anything cosmetic, measured against the manufacturer’s own dimensions. Then panels, bumpers and dent work.
How is new paint matched to the rest of my car?
Primer, color and clear, matched to the rest of the car using the paint code and the vehicle production date. This is the step where cheap repairs give themselves away. See car painting.
What happens before I get my car back?
The car goes back together, alignment is set, and then you walk the car with us before the keys go back. You get the final invoice at the same time. All auto body work carries a one year warranty, with a two year extension available.
OEM or aftermarket parts: what is the difference?
OEM parts come from the vehicle maker. Aftermarket parts are made by other companies to fit the same car, and recycled parts come off another vehicle of the same model.
| Question | OEM | Aftermarket | Recycled (used) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who makes it | The vehicle maker or its supplier | A third party manufacturer | The vehicle maker, taken from another car |
| Fit and finish | Matches the original | Varies by brand and part | Original fit, condition varies |
| Relative cost | Usually highest | Usually lower | Usually lowest |
| Good to ask | Is it new or reconditioned? | Is the part certified? | What is the mileage and condition? |
Your estimate should list which type is used for each part. Ask before work starts if you want OEM.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How long does the collision repair process take?
It depends on the damage and on parts availability. You get a realistic date at the estimate stage rather than an optimistic one, and you are told if it moves.
See this process applied locally on our collision repair in Long Island City page.
If the vehicle cannot be driven in, tow truck NYC operator A1 Towing NYC will bring it to us. Mechanical servicing rather than body work is handled by auto body shop Long Island City workshop Midtown Center Auto Repair.
Why did the price go up after teardown?
Because damage behind a panel is invisible until the panel is off. That is documented as a supplement and agreed with the insurer, not added quietly.
Do I have to use the shop my insurer names?
No. In New York the choice of repair shop is yours.
What happens at the end of the collision repair process?
A post-repair inspection you attend. You see the work, get the final invoice, and the collision repair process finishes with a one year warranty on the body work.
COME IN OR CALL
A1 Collision NY & Auto Care, 4525 36 Street, Long Island City 11101. Open Monday through Sunday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Call (212) 564-7100 or get in touch.
WHO DOES THE WORK, AND WHAT IT COSTS
- ASE certified technicians carry out the repair
- Expert estimating is where the process starts
- Car rental while your vehicle is with us