We are constantly evolving in all aspects of life, from auto repair to our daily lives. In fact, over the past decade, auto repair has rapidly evolved due to the advanced technologies most cars are made with today. It’s been such a rapid shift that even the way a repair estimate is created has had to evolve in order to keep up.
In the past, insurance companies would send you around town collecting three estimates before they paid a claim. Then it became just one estimate, but with a catch. It had to be from an Insurance company recommended body shop.
Then the insurance company adjusters would write and approve the estimate before any work could begin. Now, in some cases, there are no adjusters. There is just a website to upload your own photos. When this has happened, auto repair has not had a positive change.
The best way to create a proper and thorough diagnosis of a damaged vehicle is to create a complete repair plan. This includes a few hours of research on how the manufacturer expects the repair to be made, which is a good thing. In fact, this ensures your car is being repaired exactly how the manufacturer would instruct you to.
But this type of estimate requires the vehicle to be completely taken apart. There is also likely to be a fee involved that will be covered by the insurance claim should you choose to have the repair done. It’s as if every part of the auto repair process comes with its own fine print on what to do and what not to do.
But what about a free estimate? Does that still exist? Unfortunately, those days are slowly coming to an end due to the complexity of car repair.
So, what can you personally do to have the repair happen sooner for your vehicle?
Occasionally, you’ll receive an initial estimate from your insurance company. Sure, the repair process will begin with this initial estimate. However, it is not complete or the final cost of the repair. There will most likely be additional hidden damage that will require a supplement and could possibly total the vehicle. This is completely normal.
A proper and thorough diagnosis of vehicle damage and a repair plan is likely to contain a lot of lingo and jargon that is unfamiliar to you.
That’s why today we are explaining two terms that show up frequently on an estimate and customers find confusing. Those terms are R&R and R&I.
What Does R&R Stand For?
R&R on an auto body estimate stands for “remove and replace.” Remove and replace occurs when a part is removed from a vehicle that cannot be repaired. As a result, the removed part is replaced with a brand new part. There are some repair technicians might attempt to repair the part before replacing it with an entirely new part, but it is not recommended. However, R&R typically refers to removing the damaged part and replacing it with an entirely new replacement part.
Car repair is extremely complex nowadays and requires extensive training from technicians. New Jersey is one of several states where technicians are not required to have a license to operate on your car. Not following OEM repair procedures can cause the advanced safety features (commonly known as ADAS) your car is built with to no longer work. This is why it’s critical you take your vehicle to be repaired at a body shop that knows the importance of following OEM repair guidelines. These are the technicians who have received extensive training on how to repair your vehicle the right way.
The complexity of car repair today creates more steps that need to be paid attention to, or it can create lasting damage to your vehicle. As mentioned above, a repair technician would know if a repair calls for R&R only after they complete a thorough diagnosis of the vehicle. This comes after the car is taken apart so technicians can accurately asses the damage and see what needs to be repaired. Keep in mind that the “replace” part of an R&R repair does not mean a replacement of the damaged part with it being repaired. R&R is a replacement for an entirely new piece for the car.
What Does R&I Stand For?
Unlike R&R, where a part is entirely replaced, R&I stands for “remove and install.” This happens when a part is removed from the damaged car and reinstalled later. The removed part may even be repaired separately if required. Just like in R&R, remove and install calls for a thorough inspection of the vehicle to accurately determine what needs to be done to the vehicle. Highly trained technicians will be able to diagnosis the vehicle and repair it following the repair procedures laid out by your car’s manufacturer, including OEM repair procedures.
Where In New Jersey Can I Get My Car Repaired?
Getting your car repaired can be a confusing time, especially when you have so many options on where to take your vehicle to be repaired. Your insurance company is pressuring you to go to one body shop because they have a relationship with that shop. However, the choice of choosing where your car gets repaired remains in your hands.
We at Autotech Collision Service want to take the stress away from you with our team of skilled technicians and staff. We will work with your insurance company to ensure you not only get the high-quality repair that you deserve but so you can get your car back as soon as possible.
Here at Autotech Collision Center, we’ve been serving Southern New Jersey for nearly 30 years. All of our technicians have received extensive training and are up-to-date on the latest OEM Repair procedures. We will work with you and your insurance company to ensure a stress-free repair.
If you’d like to schedule an appointment or to get an online quote, click any of the buttons below! Or, feel free to give us a call at (856)-232-1833. We look forward to hearing from you!
