OEM Certification: The New Normal For Collision Repair

When you take your car to be repaired, do you know what it means when a body shop says they are OEM Certified? Is it a deciding factor for you? Maybe it’s been some time since you last had your car repaired, so you don’t know what this means. Or maybe you had your car recently repaired, but don’t know just how important it is. Not to worry. We’re here to let New Jersey drivers know what a shop means when they say they’re OEM Certified and just how important it is when getting your car repaired.

The Ugly Truth

We’re nearly in the year 2020 and car repair has never been more complicated than it is now. Advancements in car safety technologies (such as ADAS) becoming a standard in almost every new car have paved the way to the new frontier of collision repair. Even if a technician approached a repair the way he or she would just a few years ago, it would cause actually cause structural damage to your vehicle. Not to mention, your risks of getting involved in another accident will significantly increase due to the lack of knowledge of proper car repair. These technicians will claim they know how to properly repair your car out of “experience,” when in actuality, they’re making you an open target on the road.

Because of this, technicians will often cut corners in the repair process to save time and money. Insurance companies will often put on the pressure for technicians to perform faster repairs, but as a result, your car isn’t properly repaired. A lot of things can go wrong with your car when this type of repair happens. Keep reading to find out what happens. 

OEM Repair Procedures

Your car’s manufacturer releases OEM repair procedures for technicians to follow when repairing your specific vehicle. In case you didn’t know, OEM is short for “Original Equipment Manufacturer.” These are the highest quality and safest repairs out there for your car because they come directly from the vehicle’s manufacturer. 

When a shop becomes OEM Certified for a particular brand (like Subaru, Ford, Nissan, etc), this means the technicians at that shop know to follow the repair procedures specifically as the manufacturer instructs. The only parts used are ones designed specifically for your vehicle that is guaranteed to have a perfect fit. OEM repairs also keep the advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) your car is equipped with to perform their designated functions properly. 

One of these biggest reasons why shops won’t become OEM certified is because they want to make more money from the insurance company. When this happens, they’ll typically opt for salvage or aftermarket parts in the repair process because the insurance companies refuse to pay for OEM parts. This is because OEM parts are the most expensive, but for good reason too since they are the safest and top-notch quality. However, the use of aftermarket or salvage parts will cause a whole set of new problems in your car. The car’s value decreases, parts won’t fit, and the ADAS might not perform its designated functions. Not to mention, your safety will be at risk. 

You would think OEM collision repairs would be a requirement in all body shops. However, most states don’t even require a technician to have a license to work on your car. New Jersey is one of them. It’s up to the shop to invest in continuing education for its technicians and follow OEM repair procedures. This is why it’s critical you take your car somewhere that knows the importance of OEM repairs.

Becoming an OEM Certified Body Shop

Although there are a lot of shops who neglect to follow these OEM repair procedures, the best body shops know the importance of OEM certification. Because of this, it’s quickly becoming the new normal for collision repair. OEM Certified repair shop owners will have paid for everything the shop needs to maintain the highest quality of repair possible for that brand, from the equipment to something as simple as a car battery. 

Being an OEM Certified body shop also comes with responsibility, since these shops have committed themselves to follow the guidelines and never take any shortcuts in the repair process. These trained technicians are fueled with the passion to not give you anything then that for repairs on that brand of cars. 

Where In New Jersey Can I Get My Car Properly Repaired? 

Here at Autotech Collision Service, we are committed to providing you the best service when it comes to collision repair. We are OEM certified in over a dozen different brands because we know the importance of these repairs.

We refuse to repair your car any other way than what the manufacturer tells us and never take any shortcuts in the repair process. Each car that comes into our shop receives their own unique repair plan. We have been serving Southern New Jersey for nearly 30 years with our customer-focused mentality and know what it means to perform a safe repair.

At Autotech, 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!