What happens to your car, step by step

Typical timing for a car repair at our North Hollywood shop. Structural and EV work runs longer; we tell you which one you're in on day one.

1. 1

   Estimate and pre-repair scan

   Day 1

   We photograph the damage and run a full diagnostic scan before touching anything, so every stored fault is on record from the start.

2. 2

   Disassembly and hidden-damage check

   Day 1–2

   Panels come off. Most collision damage is worse than it looks from outside, and this is where a supplement to the insurer gets written.

3. 3

   Insurance approval

   Day 2–4

   Our estimator sends the documented supplement to your carrier and negotiates it. You don't have to make that call yourself.

4. 4

   Structural and body repair

   Day 3–9

   Measured on the bench and pulled back to factory dimensions, using the welding and bonding methods car specifies for that VIN.

5. 5

   Refinish and colour match

   Day 6–11

   Sprayed to the paint code on your door jamb, blended into adjacent panels so there's no visible edge in daylight.

6. 6

   Reassembly and ADAS recalibration

   Day 8–13

   Cameras, radar and sensors are recalibrated to specification. Skipping this step leaves no warning light — the systems simply aim at the wrong place.

7. 7

   Post-repair scan, road test, delivery

   Final day

   A second full scan, a road test, and a detail. You leave with the scan reports, the parts list and the written lifetime warranty.

Most car repairs finish in [7–14] days. Structural or high-voltage work runs longer, and back-ordered parts are the single most common cause of delay. We tell you which category you're in before you leave the estimate.