Many car owners do not know the difference between collision, restoration, and a body shop or what each of these different types of businesses has to offer. A collision mechanic repairs the functioning of your car after an accident. The majority of traffic collisions create destruction and the potential loss of your car. Restoration reinstates old, often antique vehicles, to their previous working and aesthetic condition. It also restores the vehicle to its “authentic” state. The fundamental service of a body shop is to provide cosmetic repairs or to manufacture the body of an automobile or truck.
Why It’s Crucial to Know The Shops Customers need to know the differences between collision, restoration, and body shops so that they will be able to select the appropriate business offering the services they require. Customers who seek to inform themselves about these varying services before they set about repairing their vehicle, will save a great deal of their valuable time and money. One of the reasons it is so important to identify the proper company is because of the estimates customers will receive, which often vary widely between the shops. Each shop, based on its specialization and experience, will factor in and/or exclude various assumed conditions.
Collision vs. Restoration vs. Body A body shop’s estimate often includes damage that is not immediately apparent as compared with a collision specialist. Different types of shops also have various kinds of rates for labor. Just a dollar or two’s difference in hourly labor charges can make a significant difference by the time you receive the estimate or bill. Another difference to consider is the type of parts each shop will be using. A collision specialist may be more apt or agreeable to using recycled or aftermarket parts than a body shop. In collision repair, your insurance company may also have a say in the types of components used for the repair, whether they be new OEM, aftermarket, or recycled parts.
Collision For many people, it makes the most sense to repair mechanical problems before the cosmetic damages following a collision. The damaged components of your vehicle can be repaired and replaced by the collision repair shop. The mechanic will use high-tech equipment to diagnose, say for example, if your car's check engine light is on, and recommend the necessary parts to initiate or improve its functioning.
Restoration Restoration corrects underlying damage to the vehicle that is difficult to detect and most likely unseen. Inspection frequently entails the use of lasers and ultrasound for example, that measure a vehicle's frame, to properly align and straighten it. A cosmetic restoration technique for replacing a car’s original paint often involves the use of a spectral analyzer, which is a device that can scan factory paint samples as well as your vehicle’s current finish to match and correct the proper shade and help to prevent it from fading over time.
Body Shops Not all mechanics have the necessary skills required to complete collision repair work. It is easier to consider the difference if you compare, say a plastic surgeon to a general practitioner. The body shop specialist will evaluate your vehicle in its entirety for the purposes of repairing the appearance of the vehicle. They can then recommend the required treatment for any dent removal, application of paint, fender repair and/or body part replacement.