When you take your car to be repaired, you would assume that the technicians would know what they’re doing, right? If it’s been a while since you got your car repaired, you might be wondering if there is a right or wrong way to collision repair? Car repair has had a lot of changes over the past years, and as a result, the need for technicians to be OEM certified is essential to a proper car repair. You used to be able to drop your car off at the shop and trust the technicians would know what to do. Nowadays, depending on where you take your car, technicians will get right to work based on “experience.”
Your insurance company might be pressuring you to go to one body shop over another. But no matter how much pressure they put on and what they tell you, you get to decide where you get your car repaired.
What Does An OEM Certified Technician Do Differently?
The most significant difference between OEM Certified Technicians and an average repair technician comes down to their repair process and their training. Body shops that follow OEM repair procedures will see what is required for that particular repair, from equipment to specific materials.
Although repair technicians are required to have ASE certification, the state of New Jersey does not require repair technicians to be licensed to work on your car. This means they can do whatever they want throughout the repair, and it wouldn’t be illegal. However, car repair has become extremely sophisticated over the past few year years due to the advancements to car technologies. Because of this, your car’s manufacturer releases OEM repair procedures that are the safest and highest quality repairs out there for your vehicle. Technicians who follow OEM repair procedures will never take any shortcuts in the repair process because your safety is their top priority.
Take a look at this chart below on steel repairs for Honda and Acura vehicles:
Body shops that are under contract with insurance companies are required to perform repairs in a certain amount of time. These are known as high-production body shops, that are usually part of a body shop chain. Most times, that deadline is significantly shorter than the actual repair can be completed in. It’s usually a completely unrealistic time frame. As a result, corners will often be cut in the repair process. One of the first is neglecting to look up OEM repair procedures for every repair. These technicians won’t “have the time” to look up what the OEM says instead of making it a top priority.
As you saw in the above chart, there are eight types of steel in a Honda, and some can be heated while others can’t. Some can be hammered back into shape, while others will stress crack if hit with body hammers. It all depends on the repair, which is why following OEM repair procedures is an essential part of the repair process.
Even if a body technician had this chart memorized, they still would need to check the database to learn what steel is used where on that particular vehicle. They may have repaired hundreds of Honda Civics, but they’re not the same vehicle. Period.
If a shop doesn’t follow OEM repair procedures, your car will never be the same after the repair. Any problems may be “fixed,” but it’s just a mask for what you got as a result of the lousy repair practice. The car’s value decreases, parts won’t fit, and the ADAS features might not perform its designated functions. Not to mention, your safety will be at risk if the ADAS features no longer work properly.
An OEM certified technician has taken the time to get the additional training, so they know how to repair your car correctly. They know car repair is in a constant state of change and that following what the manufacturer instructs for their vehicles is the only way cars should be repaired.
Who In New Jersey Is An OEM Certified Repair Shop?
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!
