What Drivers Should Know About Collision Repair Work

If you drive vehicles long enough, it's nearly inevitable that your ride will require some collision repair work. It's a good idea to understand some of the concerns that go with fixing a car after a collision. Take a look at three things all folks seeking collision repair services should know.

1. It's Not Just Auto Body Work

Before a collision repair technician deals with the job of restoring your vehicle's outward appearance, there are some basic questions to address. In particular, they will want to confirm that there isn't any damage to the frame or subframe. If everything is fine with the frame, then they'll proceed with handling problems involving panels, fascia, mirrors, lights, and other components.

When there are issues with the frame, they have to be handled first. The majority of U.S. states require that repairs involving the frame have to undergo inspection. In some states, someone from the Department of Transportation or the state police will verify that the repairs to the frame are structurally sound. Also, depending on the extent of the repairs to the frame, you may have to obtain a reconstructed title for the vehicle.

2. Understand What's What

It's wise to know the basic components of your car's body, too. Each of the corners will feature a panel, and this is usually one of the heaviest parts of the body and made from metal. Next, understand more about the front and back feature bumpers. In a modern car, each bumper is usually attached to an absorber. The absorber is similar to the shocks that many vehicles' suspensions have, and the absorber attaches to the frame to distribute the force of a collision. In extremely bad collisions, the absorbers may be damaged.

Many newer rides also have fascia. This is a plastic material that fits on the outside of the bumper's beam. It takes the brunt of minor collisions, such as fender benders in parking lots. The downside is that it's not as sturdy as the beam, but the upside is that it's cheaper to replace and less likely to cause catastrophic damage to other vehicles.

3. It Takes Time

Most collision repair work involves time. The staff at the shop may have to order replacement parts. That may take weeks for rare vehicles, especially ones that OEMs don't license parts for. Depending on the age of the vehicle, the technicians may have to obtain parts from a salvage yard. Also, a lot of the finished work takes time. Chemicals in the paints and clear coats need time to cure. Simply put, quality work takes days, not hours. You can learn more about the process by contacting collision repair services. 

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