First, stay calm. If there are injuries, call 911 immediately. Do not move your vehicle, unless you are in immediate danger and it would be safer to get your vehicle in a different location. You should get the name of the person(s) driving the other vehicle(s) involved along with their phone number, driver’s license, vehicle license and insurance information. Try to obtain any witness’ name and phone number(s). Note the location, time and date. Use your camera phone to take pictures of the scene, vehicle damage and witnesses.

It is illegal for an insurance company to “steer” a customer to a certain shop, they can recommend a shop, but at the end of the day you as the vehicle owner have a right to have your vehicle fixed wherever you see fit. We work with all insurance companies no matter the size.

You should choose a body shop that provides a complete written estimate, follows a structured repair process for every vehicle and features trained, certified repair experts. A leading collision repair center usually reflects higher quality repair standards. Look for a collision repair center that uses state of art equipments, the highest­quality parts and products to restore your vehicle, who will keep you informed throughout the repair process, provides excellent customer service, delivers your vehicle on time, and conducts a thorough inspection of all repairs before putting you back on the road.

You need to provide details of the accident. Please contact your Insurance Agent, Insurance Company, Fleet Manager or Fleet Management Company. You also need to report the accident to the State of California DMV if property damage exceeds $750.

We would be happy to give you a ride, in the general vicinity ­ approximately a 10 mile radius from our shop. Please arrange in advance so we can accommodate your needs.

Rental cars are available through Neighborhood, Hertz and Enterprise. The cost varies by the size of the vehicle. Either one will meet you at our collision center or take you to their facility (few blocks away) in order to drop off their driver and for you to pick up your car.

If you need a rental car, we would be happy to assist you to make the necessary arrangements. Insurance companies will only pay for a rental car if you have that option on your policy or if you are the claimant. Check your policy and/or call your insurance company to find out if you have rental coverage and what your specific limitations are.

If you carry rental car coverage, your Insurance Company covers the rental car per the policy provisions. If another party’s insurance company is paying for the damage on your vehicle they may pay for the rental car. If you do not have rental coverage, the cost is approximately $25.00 per day varying by the type of vehicle and the number of days you have it. Collision Repair Center does not pay for rental cars although we can help with the arrangements. Please click here for specific rental information.

We have towing services available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you call after hours, the towing company will bill Collision Repair Center. Please feel free to call us for assistance. Please click here for specific towing information.

Collision Repair Center, Inc. will pay for the tow bill when the vehicle is delivered to us, then we will bill your Insurance Company as applicable. If there is no insurance company involvement the tow bill will be added to the final repair bill. It is a cost associated with the accident.

We have an after hours drop box available. Please be sure to lock your vehicle and take all personal valuables out of your vehicle including your parking permit and/or garage door opener.

Ideally yes, but it isn’t required. On hail damaged vehicles it helps considerably to have the car washed.

It is illegal for an insurance company to “steer” a customer to a certain shop, they can recommend a shop, but at the end of the day you as the vehicle owner have a right to have your vehicle fixed wherever you see fit. We work with all insurance companies no matter the size.

When you have an accident, you have the right to determine where you want your vehicle towed and where you to choose to have your vehicle repaired. A high­quality collision repair shop will arrange towing for you, perform high­quality repairs and work with your insurance company. Autocraft Collision Center may offer a limited lifetime warranty on Paint & Workmanship as an added benefit.

1.You have the right to choose the repair shop of your choice.

2. You are entitled to have your vehicle repaired to its pre­accident condition.

3. By law, you are only required to obtain one repair estimate.

4. Choose a shop that has the proper repair equipment. Make sure it’s a Certified Assured Performance Collision Care Center – meeting the highest industry standards and qualifications.

5. Make sure your Collision Repair Center does not fix your vehicle with used or rebuilt parts without your authorization.

6. Always request a written warranty covering labor, materials, parts and paint. Certified Assured Performance Collision Care Repair Centers offer lifetime guarantees on all collision repair work performed on your vehicle.

7. Know that it is against the law for any collision repair facility to bury or absorb a deductible of an insurance policy for a covered automobile.

You should choose a body shop that provides a complete written estimate, follows a structured repair process for every vehicle and features trained, certified repair experts. A leading collision repair center usually reflects higher quality repair standards. Look for a collision repair center that uses state of art equipments, the highest­quality parts and products to restore your vehicle, who will keep you informed throughout the repair process, provides excellent customer service, delivers your vehicle on time, and conducts a thorough inspection of all repairs before putting you back on the road.

We have towing services available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you call after hours, the towing company will bill Collision Repair Center. Please feel free to call us for assistance. Please click here for specific towing information.

Please contact your Insurance company to report the details of the accident. When we receive your vehicle, we will take pictures of the accident damage. Write our estimate and will call you with the preliminary estimate amount. The State of California requires you to sign an authorization to disassemble your vehicle in order to obtain a more accurate estimate.

You need to provide details of the accident. Please contact your Insurance Agent, Insurance Company, Fleet Manager or Fleet Management Company. You also need to report the accident to the State of California DMV if property damage exceeds $750.

We work with all insurance companies. Bring us their estimate and we contact the insurance company for you if the estimate doesn’t cover all the related damage.

The person who sells you your insurance policy. For most Insurance companies, the agent is the person to whom you report the accident. This initiates the process of the claim being paid by your Insurance company. Your agent can provide answers to what coverage’s you have, etc.

The person who reviews the damage to your vehicle, and carries forward the repair process.

The amount of deductible that you will be responsible for is determined by your insurance policy. If you carry broad collision, and you were not at fault, your insurance company most likely will waive your deductible. Insurance companies determine fault by your account of the accident when you make the claim, and by reviewing the accident report filed with the police department. If you aren’t sure about your deductible, you can call your agent or claim adjuster and he or she can tell you whether your insurance company has waived your deductible or whether you will be responsible to pay this when you pick up your vehicle.

If you have a deductible, it will be your responsibility to pay us when you pick up your vehicle. What forms of payment do you accept?
The easiest and most convenient way to pay for your portion of the repairs to your vehicle is with a cashier’s check, personal check only if under $500 dollar, or cash.

It is insurance fraud to “hide” the deductible. Some insurance companies recognize the value in not doing some of the accident related repairs, if your insurance company agrees, we will offer to adjust the deductible to allow a savings to you, Please see our section on saving deductibles for more information on this subject.

An estimate is only an estimate. Vehicles are designed (e.g. bumpers) to cover support systems, brackets, impact absorbers, steel reinforcements, intrusion bars, etc. in a manner that makes it impossible to see all the damage. We need to disassemble the damaged areas to be certain complete repairs are made. With this in mind, it is likely that there could be additional damage to repair, or additional parts ordered. Your insurance company is very aware of this. When they write an estimate they will advise you to take their estimate to a body shop and have the shop call them if additional damage is noticed.

Please hold on to the check until the repairs are completed. We will need to collect it, along with any applicable deductible when we release your vehicle to you. If you are uncomfortable with keeping it we can hold it for you until your car is ready for delivery, at which time you can endorse it over to Autocraft Collision Center.

You have two options:

(1) Have the check re­issued by the Insurance Company to have two payees on it ­ your name and Autocraft Collision Repair Center, Inc. or
(2) Have the lien holder sign off on the check prior to picking up your vehicle. (They may ask for a copy of the estimate and the check to be stamped by Autocraft Collision Center, Inc. “For Deposit Only”).

If the damage on your vehicle is extensive enough to declare it a “Total Loss”, meaning the damage exceeds a percentage of the vehicle value, you and your Insurance Company will calculate the value of your vehicle and settle the claim.

The repair process begins with you bringing your vehicle in for an estimate with a trained estimator. If you choose Autocraft Collision Center, we will work with your insurance company to process the repair claim. Autocraft Collision Center will conduct a thorough disassembly of all damaged areas of the vehicle to determine any structural or mechanical damage. We will order the needed parts for your vehicle and then complete the repair. Once the repair is complete, we will conduct a detailed inspection of the interior and exterior of your vehicle to ensure a quality repair.

All repairs completed by Autocraft Collision Center come with a limited lifetime warranty. All workmanship and application of paint are guaranteed against failure for as long as you own your vehicle. Parts are subject to their manufacturer’s individual warranties and can differ.

Unfortunately there is no such thing as an average repair. All repair times are based on the individual job, the process of each insurance company’s claim procedure, length of time to procure parts and labor hours on the estimate.

Your advisor can give you an estimate of the time it will take to complete the repairs to your vehicle. Be sure to check with your advisor for the specifics on your vehicle. Things that can delay your repair are special order or backordered parts as well as hidden damage that will need to be identified, estimated and approved.

Your estimate should include a thorough inspection of the work to be done on your vehicle, a description of the repair parts to be used, what items your insurance will and will not cover and the expected amount of the repair. One of the reasons estimates may differ from another shop is thoroughness of the appraisal process. Some estimates may leave necessary repairs out of the initial estimate, causing the amount to be different from another facility. At Autocraft Collision Center we are thorough to identify the steps necessary for a quality and safe repair for your vehicle.

A quality repair begins with a comprehensive inspection to fully assess the damage and repairs needed to the vehicle. A structured repair process should be used to ensure the repair meets the vehicle manufacturer’s standards. A thorough repair should be performed by experts with I­CAR and ASA certifications, and training in the latest vehicle materials and technology and uses the highest quality parts and products should be used to restore your vehicle to pre­accident condition. Before the vehicle is returned to you, a thorough interior and exterior inspection, a test drive and a complete detail should be completed to ensure the repair meets your standards.

Today’s modern factory finishes incorporate multiple coats of highly specialized paints. We have made a major investment in the finest computerized paint mixing system available and constantly upgrade our equipment and database to ensure that each vehicle we paint matches the factory original color. We take special pride in our ability to match factory finishes as the final step in the restoration process.

Matching Paint Color ­ Paint Refinish at Autocraft Collision Center a trained refinish facility for BASF-Glasurit® 90 zine. The most advanced waterborne technology available!

No. A car is usually a total loss only when the price of repairs exceeds a high percentage of the insurance company’s determined value of your vehicle. Nowadays, most cars are built using unibody construction (frame and body as one). Our experienced, certified technicians, utilizing our state­of the­art equipment, can return your vehicle to its pre­accident condition. If a frame section is bent beyond repair, that section can simply be replaced

We use O.E.M. parts (in some instances O.E.M. used parts are figured). We will use alternate parts if you request or approve them. What are Aftermarket or LKQ parts?

The use of non OEM parts is a binary decision between you and your insurance company, the details of which are expressed in your policy. Aftermarket parts (commonly referred to by insurance companies as non­OEM, PXN or AFMKT) are new replacement parts made to replicate those which the vehicle maker originally used during production.

LKQ parts, (recycled or used) are considered to be of Like Kind and Quality to those currently on your vehicle. These parts are sold by salvage yards and used as a good cost effective way to repair vehicles with parts from the Original Equipment Manufacturer. They are ordered according to compatibility of year, model and options, Upon deliver all recycled parts are thoroughly inspected to ensure their conditions are at least as good as the original components. Most insurance companies back up the use of LKQ parts with a warranty expressed in your policy.

Other options include reconditioned parts, which are Original Equipment Manufacturerer parts that have been restored to an industry acceptable condition, and OEM Surplus parts which are procured by companies that purchase them from the auto maker when parts are not used during production.

You may wash the vehicle by hand with cool water and a very mild car wash solution using a soft cloth or sponge. Always use clean fresh water and wash your vehicle in the shade. Do not use a commercial car wash. Stiff brushes or sponges could mar the finish and damage the surface. Do not “dry wipe” your vehicle. Dry wiping can scratch the finish.Do not drive on gravel roads.

Chipping the finish is easily done in the first 30 days. Avoid parking under trees and utility lines which are likely to attract birds. Bird droppings have a high acid content and will damage a freshly painted surface. Also, tree sap can mar or spot a freshly painted surface. Do not spill gasoline, oil, antifreeze, transmission fluid, or windshield solvent on the new finish. Do not scrape ice or snow from the newly painted surface. Do not wax or polish the vehicle. This will allow the finish to dry and harden completely.

For Your Vehicle’s Exterior

• Avoid washing your car in the sun.

• Rinse off as much dirt as possible before washing.

• Clean tires first then clean wheels to eliminate brake dust and road salt corrosion.

• Never use household soaps or detergents.

• Wash in straight lines with overlapping strokes to reduce the standing water you need to dry off.

• Be sure to wash the inside bottom edge of doors, lift gate, hood and trunk to eliminate the

trapped dirt and moisture that can cause premature rusting.

• Rinse dirt from moving parts, such as suspension components.

• After driving in salty conditions, always wash your car to prevent corrosion, fading and rust.

• Get a complete vehicle detail at least once a year.

• Do not “dry wipe” your car as it may cause scratching.

• Don’t place grocery bags, luggage or other objects on the car top or trunk.

• Avoid extreme heat and cold by keeping your car parked in the shade or a garage.

• Avoid gravel roads when possible, which can cause paint chipping.

• Do not park directly under trees, which may drip sap onto your vehicle.

• Immediately rinse gasoline, oil, antifreeze, and transmission fluid and windshield solvent spills

off your finish – but do not wipe.

• Flush dirt, bugs and leaves from the front of your radiator with a brush and garden hose to

prevent cooling system problems.

• Remove leaves from your car as soon as possible to prevent the release of acid that can

permanently stain your automobile finish.

• Avoid brush­style car washes as they collect dirt which may scratch the car’s finish.

• Use the lowest setting in do­it­yourself car washes to avoid “blasting” grit into the car’s finish.

• Never wax your car in direct sunlight to prevent the surface temperature of your car from causing

the chemicals in the wax to damage your finish.

• Look for car wax which contains long­lasting synthetic carnauba wax, which is safe for your car’s

finish. • Mask off all textured moldings and bumper parts before rubbing on wax to avoid

discoloring or other damage. Keeping Your Car Clean Inside

• Use a vinyl protectant regularly to prevent fading and cracking and apply protectant with a rag to

avoid spraying directly on the dash.

• Vinyl dashes can also be cleaned using furniture polishes like Lemon Pledge, which leaves a

nice smell, too.

• Vacuum regularly to remove dirt, salt, leaves and other items that can damage carpets and floor

mats. • Leather interiors should be cleaned with leather products that are designed to penetrate

the pores –

• Use only upholstery cleaners designed for cars, not household cleaners.