The Nelson Collision Repair Process

1. Nelson – Your First Point of Contact

Please contact us if your vehicle needs collision repairs. Our estimators will guide you through the claims process and help coordinate any towing needed.

2. Vehicle Drop Off

Please bring your vehicle to Nelson Collision or contact Nelson Towing to transport it to us if the vehicle is not drivable.

3. Authorization

Your Nelson Estimator will ask you to sign a repair authorization, which allows us to repair your vehicle.

4. Damage Evaluation

Your Nelson estimator will map the vehicle with you and write a repair plan. This will include a pre-scan of the vehicle’s software and electrical system, disassembly of the damaged area, and creation of the estimate.

5. Insurance Approval

The insurance company must approve the repair before we may begin work. Often, the longest delays come while waiting for these approvals. We will make every effort to communicate with the insurance provider. We may need your assistance at times, and your help is greatly appreciated. If a supplement to the original repair amount is necessary (for example, if additional damage is discovered during the disassembly of the vehicle), we will submit a request for the supplement to the insurance company. This process also requires approvals and may take additional time. Sometimes more than one supplement is required, depending on the insurance company.

6. Parts Ordered

Upon receiving approvals from you and the insurance company on the repair work and any supplements, we will begin the process of locating and ordering the parts necessary to repair your vehicle.

7. Parts Received

Once all critical parts are received for the repair, work on the vehicle will begin.

8. Repairs to Vehicle Started

Vehicle Set on Uni-body Repair Equipment (if necessary)

The exact location and fit of integral parts are critical to the operation and appearance of your vehicle. In this process, we measure your vehicle against published factory specifications and return your vehicle to within those prescribed tolerances.

New Panels Installed and Checked for Proper Fit

All collision-related repairs require some degree of cosmetic repair and often require replacement of factory panels. We will check for proper fit and ensure that your vehicle’s parts look and align as they did when new.

Corrosion Protection Reapplied to Repaired Areas

Most vehicles incorporate some form of corrosion protection applied by the original manufacturer.

All Metal Work Done and Initial Testing

We begin to check all systems for proper functionality and perform quality control of the repair work.

9. Additional Parts Ordered, if Necessary

If we find additional claim-related damage, we will repeat step 5. For this reason, our estimator may have asked you to sign an authorization document in advance to cover these additional repairs.

10. Paint Process Begins

Vehicle Prepped, Primed, and Blocked

Our technicians will begin the refinish process by priming the surface. A thin layer of filler is applied to ensure a quality, uniform, and smooth surface. Block sanding is used to further prepare the vehicle for paint.

Vehicle Is Masked, Taped, and Placed in Paint Booth

To ensure that the highest quality standards are met, we carefully mask your vehicle to protect it from overspray during the refinish process. We then place your vehicle in a paint booth, a controlled environment where paint material is applied.

Vehicle Is Chemically Cleaned and Tacked

This process removes all outside contaminates that may have been deposited on your vehicle during the repair process.

Vehicle Undergoes Multi-Step Refinishing Process

Most vehicles are coated with a basecoat/clearcoat refinish system. All systems involve several application steps to ensure a quality, factory finish.

11. Reassembly

Once we have completed the refinish process, we reattach the outer parts such as mirrors, moldings, and other hardware.

12. Mechanical

Even though much of the mechanical work (suspension part replacement, alignment, air bags, etc.) will take place during the repair process, all vehicles will have a post-scan of the software completed prior to delivery.

13. Quality Inspection

Your vehicle will go through an extensive post-repair inspection of all work completed. We will also perform a test drive of the vehicle.

14. Detail

The vehicle will be cleaned thoroughly prior to pickup.

15. Active Delivery

The estimator who managed your repair process will review the repair work completed on your vehicle and answer any questions you may have.