Dropping your car off at an auto body shop can sometimes seem like a reckless gamble. After all, unless you stick around for every part of the process or you’re familiar with the industry yourself, you have no way of knowing which steps are taken to repair your vehicle. You won't have to worry about the uncertainty at Heinrich Collision, which is the Hilton, NY, area's trusted source for collision repair and many other auto services. 

The specialists at Heinrich Collision want their clients to know their vehicles are in good hands, so they share three key steps this auto body repair shop takes during each job: 

Step 1: Estimate Damage

Before auto body repair can begin, the shop needs to estimate the damage done, including how much the job will cost. This isn't as simple as it sounds, which is why shops like Heinrich Collision employ mechanics with I-Car Gold Class certification. In addition to providing the customer with an estimate, the shop will communicate all necessary information to their insurance company, and work won't start until approval is granted from both. 

Step 2: Source Auto Parts

In some cases, the auto repair in question will simply consist of dents and scratches to the body itself with no replacement parts needed. If the job requires parts, the shop will work hard to source them in a way that's cost-effective, because this is another aspect of the process that will factor into the initial estimate. Junkyards are reliable for a variety of components, but certain situations will call for the assistance of a parts distributor or the original manufacturer. 

Step 3: Perform Auto Body Work

When it's time to do the actual repair work, you'll find most auto body shops work from the inside out. This means swapping the old parts out with the new before moving on to fixing any dents and scratches on the exterior. Once the dent and scratch-free vehicle is sanded and primed, any necessary repainting work is performed. This is another reason to go with a seasoned auto body shop; they'll know exactly how to match small sections with the rest of the paint job.

Dealing with a damaged car or truck is stressful enough as it is, so you need a shop with a solid reputation built on certification, integrity, and above-and-beyond customer service. Heinrich Collision has been family-owned and -operated since 1957, and the team’s extensive experience shows through their services. Visit them online for more information on frame and auto body repair, and call them at (585) 392-7800 to request a quote today.