FAQ
Q. Will my vehicle be as safe and structurally sound as it was before the accident?
A. Our guarantee to you is that we have restored your vehicle back to pre accident condition, using the proper equipment, and procedures, as per standards set up by I-car and other training methods. We guarantee that your vehicle is as safe as it was before the accident.
Q. How do I take care of my new paint?
A. Your vehicle has been refinished with basecoat\clearcoat paint. It has already been polished to a high gloss and requires no more polishing for at least 90 days. It can be handwashed anytime after the vehicle has been delivered to the customer.
Q. What are the guarantees for the repairs and refinishing of my vehicle?
A. We offer a lifetime guarantee on our repairs, for as long as you own the vehicle. The warranty is not transferable to the next owner. We offer a limited warranty on rust repairs, where panels were repaired vs. replaced.
Q. How long will it take to get my vehicle repaired?
A. Normally most repairs can be done in the 3 to 5 day range. A simple equation we use is for every (4) hours of estimated repairs, equals 1 day in the shop (because of materials getting proper dry times etc.)
Q. How many estimates do I need to get for my insurance company?
A. You only need one estimate, no matter what you have done in the past. You also have a choice as to where you would like to have your vehicle repaired. In this state the insurance agent or company can not make you take your vehicle to any place that is unacceptable to you the owner. In some cases as with ours, there are direct repair programs, where you just have to bring the car to us and we can write the estimate and start the repairs.
Q. How do I get an estimate if my vehicle is not movable?
A. We can make arrangement to have your vehicle towed to our facility, or in some cases we can go mobile to where your vehicle is located.
Q. How do I get my vehicle in for repairs with my busy schedule?
A. In some cases we will pick up and deliver your vehicle. We also have an after hours drop box where you can place your keys. We have a pick up and delivery service every Monday evening with our car transport which goes to the Twin Cities where you can meet us and we will transport your vehicle to our shop. Call us and we will make every effort to assist you in getting your vehicle to our facility.
Q. How do I pick up my loaner car if I need one?
A. First of all, arrangements have to be made with the service department to make sure a loaner is available on the day that you need one. You may pick up the vehicle when you bring yours in for repairs, or after hours we will make arrangements as to where the car and keys will be located. If you live in the area where we do the transport pickup and delivery, we can deliver a loaner to you when we pick up your vehicle. Rental units must be picked up in person.
Q. What is your opinion about aftermarket and used parts?
A. We use a very limited amount of aftermarket parts, especially in the sheet metal area, because of the problems you can encounter trying to get them to fit properly. In most cases the panels require a lot of extra time to make them fit properly, have the correct gaps, and fit to the contour of the adjoining panels. We do use used parts when required by the insurance companys, in respect to the age and condition of the vehicle we are repairing. We have every confidence in the quality and condition of our used parts, and the parts we buy from our respected vendors. Our warranties as well as the insurance companies still apply to your vehicle even if we have installed used parts. Many suspension parts will still be replaced with new because of the wear factor, and safety issues.
Q. How soon can I drive my vehicle after the windshield has been replaced, and how soon can I wash it?
A. This is a question that has many different answers depending on which installer you are talking to. First of all a windshield is more than just an object that keeps the wind, rain and bugs off your face. A windshield is a very intricate part to the strength and integrity of the ability of your car to protect you in an accident. A properly installed windshield is part of the strength of the roof in a rollover. The airbags use the windshield on the right hand side to deploy, and if you are not wearing a seatbelt it will keep you in the passenger compartment if you are involved in an accident. Therefore when we do an installation we request to keep your vehicle overnight, even if we have to give you a loaner car, strictly because of many safety issues. In warmer weather we change from our winter urethane (the material that bonds the windshield to the vehicle) to a summer urethane that dries with the aid of humidity, so therefore on a very humid day we can let you have your car back after approximately 6 hours. When we consider the vehicle safe to drive, then we are also saying that the vehicle can also be washed.
Q. What is a windshield repair?
A. When a rock or some object comes in contact with your windshield it can damage the glass by either breaking it, creating a star like break, or a circle appearing break, called a bulls eye. In the case of the star or bulls eye if the damge is not larger than a nickel,(or in your line of view) they can probably be repaired. A repair is basically cleaning out the impact area where the object hit, vacuuming out the air that is created between the two layers of glass, and injecting an epoxy to fill the area .This epoxy fills the repaired area and bonds it in most cases to prevent it from breaking it any further. A repair does not make it look like new glass; in fact most times you can see where the repairs were made. We guarantee the repairs that we do, and if they should fail or if you are not satisfied, we will refund your money back, or credit back the insurance companies' money towards a new windshield.
Q. Who pays for my rental when I'm having my repairs done?
A. First of all look at your insurance policy (or contact your agent) to find out if you have rental coverage on your policy. If you are involved in an accident which was determined not to be your fault, therefore you are a claimant against another insurance company; they will in most cases pay for your rental, while your repairs are being done. If you are not covered by any of the above situations, rental cars are still available at a discounted rate.