The Sandrof Way
Frequently Asked auto repair QuestionsRepair Process
I just had an accident, what do i do now?
If you’ve just had an accident, follow these steps:
- Ensure Safety – Check if anyone is injured and call emergency services if needed.
- Document the Scene – Take photos of the damage, get contact information from others involved (always exchange insurance information in case you need it later), and file a police report.
- Contact Your Insurance – Notify your insurance company to start the claims process. They will also help you to get ahold of the other person’s insurance if it was not your fault.
- Schedule Repairs – Reach out to a trusted collision repair shop, like ours, to schedule an assessment of the damage and begin repairs.
We’re here to help guide you through the process and restore your vehicle efficiently!
How Long Will My Repairs Take?
Repair times can vary depending on the extent of the damage and the specific repairs required. Minor repairs may take a few days, while more extensive damage could take longer. At our shops, we provide an estimated completion date after disassembly of the damaged area and assessing your vehicle is complete and strive to finish repairs as efficiently as possible without compromising quality. Our team will keep you updated throughout the process to ensure transparency and minimize any inconvenience.
How does the Process work?
Our collision repair process is designed to be smooth and transparent from start to finish. Here’s a breakdown of the 10 steps involved:
- Check-In – We begin with a detailed check-in, documenting damages with you, performing a video walk-around, and discussing the accident.
- Disassembly & Repair Planning – We disassemble damaged areas to uncover hidden issues and create an accurate repair plan.
- Parts Ordering – All necessary parts are ordered at once to ensure an efficient repair process with accurate completion dates.
- Body Repair – Our skilled technicians restore the damaged areas to their original condition, ensuring structural integrity and safety.
- Paint – We use precise color-matching technology and high-quality PPG paints to achieve a seamless finish that blends with your vehicle’s original paint.
- Reassembly – We meticulously reassemble your vehicle, ensuring everything is properly aligned and securely installed.
- ADAS Calibration – Advanced safety features are recalibrated to ensure they function accurately, restoring your vehicle’s safety systems.
- Detailing – We thoroughly clean your vehicle, inside and out, making sure it looks as good as new.
- Final Quality Control – While we perform checks throughout, we conduct a thorough inspection to guarantee every detail meets our high standards.
- Pickup & Review – Upon completion, we review the repairs with you, answer any questions, and ensure you’re satisfied before returning your vehicle.
This process ensures your vehicle is fully restored to pre-accident condition with exceptional care and quality.
When do I pay my deductable?
Your deductible is due when the repair work on your vehicle is complete but if you prefer to pay it upfront or during the repair process, we have convenient in person and online payment options available. The deductible is the portion of the repair cost that your insurance requires you to cover if the accident was your fault. If you are the claiment on someone elses insurance claim, you will have no deductable payment.
Do you use environmentlay toxic paints?
At our shops, we use PPG Envirobase Waterborne Paint, an eco-friendly, water-based paint system. This high-quality paint reduces harmful emissions and minimizes environmental impact, while still delivering a flawless, durable finish. It’s safer for both our technicians and the environment, without compromising the quality of your vehicle’s appearance.
Rental Vehicles
How to get a rental Vehicle?
Once you have scheduled your drop off date, you will need to follow up with both your insurance company and the rental car company. Your insurance company will need to know you have scheduled repairs in order to set up a direct bill with the rental car company. After they have set up that direct bill, follow up with the rental car company, usually Enterprise or Hertz, to ensure they have all the information they will need from you to make sure they are prepared at the time of drop off.
Do I need to pick up the rental first?
On the day of drop off, let our staff know which rental company your reservation is with and we will be happy to contact them to make sure they are on their way to pick you up.
Where do I drop off my Rental Vehicle?
When picking your vehicle up from repair, Enterprise allows you to leave your rental vehicle with us where they will come and pick it up.
When using Hertz rentals you will need to drop the rental off with them before picking your vehicle up from repair.
Parts
WILL YOU USE AFTERMARKET OR FACTORY PARTS?
Sandrof Auto Body recommends the use of new, original factory parts on all repairs in agreement with manufacturer recommendations. However, depending on the insurance policy, the insurance company may only be willing to pay for aftermarket parts. In this case, if the customer would like new factory parts utilized, the additional cost of the factory parts would be the customer’s responsibility.
If you would like new, factory parts regardless of the insurance coverage, please let our office know at the time of drop off so that the file can be notated and one of our repair planners can be in touch with you to discuss the additional out-of-pocket expenses.
WILL PARTS BE ORDERED BEFORE I DROP OFF FOR REPAIRS?
Sandrof Auto Body preorders parts on an as needed basis. Our parts sourcing team will send out the prewritten estimate to our vendors for pricing and availability. Parts will be preordered if the expected delivery date shows to potentially be a backordered part to ensure that repairs can be completed in a timely manner. Parts that are readily available with a 1-3 day time frame are not ordinarily preordered.
Work orders are prepared from the inside out. A prewritten estimate only allows our shop to preorder parts that can be visibly seen without a disassembly. Once the vehicle is dropped off for repairs, one of our talented disassembly technicians will perform a complete and thorough disassembly of the damaged area. Only at this point, is our parts team able to place a complete and accurate order of all of the parts necessary for your repairs.
What happens to all the damaged parts and hazardous fluids?
All damaged parts and hazardous fluids removed during the repair process are handled responsibly. Damaged parts are either recycled or properly disposed of according to environmental regulations. Hazardous fluids, such as oil, coolant, and refrigerants, are safely collected and disposed of or recycled through certified waste management services. This ensures that all materials are managed in an eco-friendly and compliant manner, minimizing any environmental impact. At our shop, we prioritize safety and sustainability throughout the entire repair process.
