Every accident and collision repair is unique.
Following is our typical repair and insurance claim process.
We will walk you through and remove any mystery you may have about the process. Most of all, we want you comfortable choosing us to repair your vehicle. We’ll help get your car and your life back on the road.
- First, call Fix Auto Portland East at 503-257-9255 and let’s talk about the best way to proceed with the damage to your vehicle, when an estimate should be prepared and if you’re making an insurance claim (not all insurers process claims the same way).
- If your vehicle is not safe to drive, we will schedule to have it towed to us – this is normally covered by the insurer responsible for the damage.
- Report your claim to the responsible party’s insurance company if you’ll be using insurance to cover the damages.
- Confirm that the insurer is accepting responsibility to pay the claim.
- Provide us with the insurer’s claim number, contact name, phone and fax numbers and email address.
- Under Oregon law, no insurer can require you take your vehicle to a specific shop for repairs or an estimate.
- Tell the insurer you’ve chosen Fix Auto Portland East for repairs. Under Oregon law, no insurer can require you take your vehicle to a specific shop for repairs or an estimate. The insurer may imply you need to get an estimate from, or take your vehicle to a particular shop; you do not have to do this. You can tell the insurer to either inspect your car at Fix Auto Portland East or at yourhome or office. We can help coordinate this for you.
- Provide us a copy of any insurer estimate you’ve received – it’s not necessary for us to prepare an estimate prior to your repair drop-off date if insurance is covering the repair cost. The reason is because it’s very likely there is damage that can’t be seen until the vehicle has been disassembled. Preparing the estimate after disassembly streamlines the repair process by doing each repair step only one time.
- We schedule a repair drop-off date and rental car, if needed, for you.
- You sign a repair authorization with us.
- Tell us if you’ve received any payment for the repairs. All repairs must be paid before we release the car to you. We will do our best to assist you in acquiring the check from the insurer.
- The damaged area is disassembled to have visual access to all accident related damages.
- We request approval from the insurer for all related damages; this approval is needed before we can proceed (some insurers are faster than others to respond).
- Parts are located.
- Once insurer approval is received, parts are ordered.
- Parts are received and checked.
- It is only at this stage in the process that we can provide you an accurate repair timeline.
- Any structural or frame damage repairs are made to factory specifications.
- Sheet metal repairs are made; welded and bolt-on panels are replaced and adjusted for fit.
- Corrosion protection is applied as necessary.
- A quality check is completed.
- Sealers, corrosion protection and primers are applied.
- Block sanding is completed to ensure a smooth final finish.
- Masking and surface cleaning is completed.
- Paint is sprayed and baked on (most paints are a two-stage process, with a color basecoat and then a clearcoat).
- Paint is polished as needed to a factory-type finish.
- A quality check is completed.
- Re-assembly of parts replaced or removed for repair is completed.
- Final fit and finish adjustments are made.
- Any airbag system parts are replaced and a system check is completed.
- Wheel alignment, suspension adjustments and air conditioning recharging are completed as needed.
- Any part price additions or other repair additions or changes needed during the repair are reviewed with insurer and final approvals are received.
- Final paperwork – invoicing, billing, warranties – completed.
- A quality check is completed.
- Vehicle is washed and vacuumed, and over 30 quality inspection points are checked.
- Your estimator or repair planner personally checks your vehicle again prior to pickup.
- We call you to let you know your vehicle is ready to pick up and confirm with you what payment(s) must be made.
- When you arrive, your estimator provides an overview of the repairs.
Please call us with any questions and feel free to use us as a resource for any other vehicle-related issues. We’re here to help; we’ve been doing it every day since 1946!