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FAQ's
What to do if you are
involved in an accident
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Ask if technicians are ICAR trained . If
body technicians, painters, office staff, and even the
detail person that cleans your car are ICAR trained, it
means they have attended a course or series of courses
offered by the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision
Repair (ICAR) to help upgrade their skills. Businesses with
trained personnel are likely to display these and other
certificates or diplomas in the customer waiting area. Look
for the symbol of excellence in collision repair, look for
the ICAR Gold Class Professional emblems proudly displayed.
This indicates the business is committed to a higher level
of training and professionalism.
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Expect the collision repair facility to be
neat, clean and well organized. The flow of existing work
should be almost unnoticeable.
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Note whether the employees are helpful and
courteous. This will give you an idea of how you will be
treated throughout the repair process.
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Ask about the shop policy on replacement
parts. When does the shop feel that non original equipment
manufacturer's parts are to be used? You have the right to
choose which type of parts go on your car.
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Ask how long the shop has been in business.
Does the shop have all required permits from EPA? Does the
shop dispose of its hazardous waste properly and charge you
for the service?
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Ask about the shops painting procedures.
Does the shop have a computerized system for mixing the
paint and keeping up with the waste? Ask about the paint
manufacturer's guarantee. It should be for "as long as you
own your car".
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Check what guarantees the shop offers.
Quality collision repair shops should offer a Limited
Lifetime Guarantee. Always ask to see a copy of a printed
guarantee, read it and ask questions of any parts you do not
understand. Make certain you know what is covered and
not covered.
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Make sure you get a written Damage Appraisal
done by a licensed New York
State Appraiser. Most Insurance Companies require
that a shop only appraise what can be seen, this means that
there is usually hidden damage not appraised. An Insurance
Company has the right to inspect the damages they are paying
to repair or replace and have procedures for these
supplemental items to be submitted for payment.
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A Quality Collision Repair facility can
usually be found by asking your Insurance Agent, family,
friends, neighbors and co-workers for their recommendations.
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I'm afraid that my frame is
bent. If it is, should I sell my car after the repairs are done?
I've been told that if the chassis is bent, that the car will
never be the same again.
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To begin with, your vehicle may have a
chassis (frame). or it may of Unibody construction. However,
as far as you are concerned, no matter which it is, the
answer is simple. If you choose a quality repair facility
that has the proper, up-to-date equipment (a
Unibody bench for example) to
repair your vehicle, you nor anyone else will ever be able
to tell the vehicle had ever been damaged. And as for that
old wife's tale, of course your car will be just as good
after the repair as before. But remember, the quality of the
repair comes from the quality of the people who do that
repair.
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Is my car going to have two different shades
of color because you're only painting the areas that have been
damaged instead of the whole car?
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How soon after my vehicle is repaired and painted can I
wash and wax it?
- The rule we have at Clarkstown International Collision
is that a car should not go through a car wash for at least
2 weeks. You may, however, wash it by hand at anytime.
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