Schiro’s Collision Repair has Answers
A: Since we are a preferred body shop for several major insurance companies, certified or approved by many major vehicle manufacturers, and the authorized body shop for Ocean Honda and Northridge Toyota, we are well prepared to handle collision repair claims on most foreign and domestic late model vehicles. Our teams at our North Hollywood and Chatsworth locations consists of highly trained and professional customer care managers, highly trained and experienced body repair technicians, PPG certified painters, and highly trained and certified managers. Our commitment to training has earned several of our staff I-CAR Platinum status and both our locations have the I-CAR Gold Class body shop designation and Verifacts Medallion designation.
A: Your insurance company may give you a list of auto body repair facilities on their network, however you have a choice to select a repair facility you are comfortable with. Schiro’s Collision Repair is a preferred body shop for several major insurance companies (a partial list is on our body shop’s Approved Insurance Provider’s page) and we regularly handle claims with all major insurance carriers. If you entrust our company with your repair, we have the experience to handle your claim. You should always choose a shop that you know, trust, and has a long track record of excellence within the industry.
A: For decades, delivering an industry-leading exceptional level of body repair quality is among our highest values. To obtain this objective, we have invested heavily in staff training, equipment, and utilized the finest materials to ensure a proper and safe repair. Our commitment to exceptional quality is backed by our written lifetime warranty.
To ensure our company provides the highest level of body repair quality, safety, and repairs consistent with manufacturer’s recommendations, we partnered with VeriFacts Automotive, the most respected independent third- party quality verification service known to the autobody industry.
Additionally, our internal ten-stage Quality Control Assurance System builds in quality at each step of the collision repair process. As your vehicle advances to each phase of the repairs, each item performed on our quality-control checklist must be inspected and documented before the vehicle is released to the next department. These checkpoints provide safeguards against quality issues potentially being passed on to a customer following the completion of repairs. Some of the items on the checklist include:
- Proper measuring, computerized or mechanical, to ensure precise structural alignment.
- The correct application of corrosion protection.
- A search for flaws or defects in the refinish work.
- The inspection and testing for the quality of structural welds.
- The diagnostic scanning of onboard computers, electronics, and safety systems.
- The inspection and testing of mechanical and suspension components.
- The test-drive which ensures proper drivability and proper system’s functionality
Our objective is to deliver a high-quality collision repair – one that exceeds industry standards as well as your own!
A: Even though the age of the paint, the various types of paint products used at the different manufacturer assembly plants, the specific conditions under which your vehicle was originally painted, and even the length of time the metallic base-color material was agitated on the assembly line will affect the current color of your vehicle, we employ certified painters, utilize the finest PPG paint materials, advanced computerized color matching tools and equipment to ensure a proper color match and gloss. The PPG brand of paint is regarded as one of the highest quality and most advanced refinishing systems in the automotive industry. Mercedes Benz, BMW, Porsche, Audi, are just a few of the auto manufacturers that approve the PPG paint system.
A: The projected time of repairs is usually calculated on a formulated delivery date based on the amount of hours on the repair order. The extent of the damage, the availability of parts (new, used, aftermarket), and even the insurance company paying the claim, are all factors in determining the length of time the repairs to your vehicle will take. Schiro’s Collision Repairs always strives to complete auto body repairs ahead of our promised delivery date and in most cases, your vehicle will be completed before the date given to you. However, there are occasions when crucial parts go on back-order, arrive damaged, or are incorrect – any of which might cause a completion delay. Also, we have a stringent final quality control inspection for every vehicle we repair; if any aspect of the repair does not meet our high standards, there may be a delay as we address any potential concerns.
A: If you are not at fault and you have the insurance information of the party that caused the accident, our Customer Care Manager (CCM) will contact that insurance company to determine if a claim has been opened and if that company has accepted liability for the loss. Once liability has been accepted, our CCM will obtain approval to begin the inspection and repair process. We will also determine the approved amount of the rental car allowance you are entitled while your vehicle is being repaired. Our CCM will also facilitate the car rental reservation and the rental agency’s direct billing to the insurance company so that you do not have to wait for the rental expense reimbursement.
If the insurance company does not intend to immediately accept liability (either because there is a dispute or because they are still in the process of determining all the facts involved), we may recommend that you file a claim with your own insurance company to expedite the repair. This will enable the repairs to be started without delay. Your insurance company will then most likely subrogate against the other party’s insurance. A downside may be that you will only be entitled to the rental car allowance stipulated in your own policy. Also, you may be responsible for your deductible until the subrogation process is resolved, at which point you should be entitled to reimbursement, as well as for certain out-of-pocket rental expenses.
A: OEM stands for “Original Equipment Manufacturer.” These are replacement parts made by your vehicle manufacturer. Some insurance companies will authorize Schiro’s Collision Repair to use only new-OEM parts, depending on your policy and how new your vehicle is. Check your insurance policy to see what your insurer stipulates.
A: Used parts (also known as recycled parts) are factory OEM parts removed from a same make-and-model vehicle that has been salvaged. Most insurance policies require that recycled parts be utilized if your vehicle is a certain age, the parts are cost-effective, and the parts are in good condition. Check your insurance policy to see what your insurer stipulates. When used parts are required, upon taking delivery of the recycled parts our parts managers will thoroughly inspect the parts and accept parts that are in good condition. If the parts are not in good condition, they are rejected. If other good quality used parts are not immediately available, we will seek insurer approval for new OEM parts to be purchased.
A: Aftermarket parts (also known as non-OEM or Alternative Replacement Parts) are new parts manufactured by companies other than the original vehicle manufacturer. The usage of these parts is often written in insurance policies to reduce premiums because they are usually less costly than new OEM parts. When aftermarket parts are required by your insurer, we will request the usage of CAPA (Certified Automotive Parts Association) aftermarket parts. These parts are certified quality parts that meet more stringent quality standards than do most non-CAPA aftermarket parts. If these parts are faulty, we will seek approved by the insurer for new OEM parts to be utilized. Check your insurance policy to see what your company recommends. If quality CAPA certified parts are not on your policy, we will recommend you pay the difference for either CAPA certified aftermarket parts or preferably factory OEM parts.
A: If the damage is not related to the loss for which a claim has been reported, we cannot include the damage on the estimate as this is considered insurance fraud. What we can do is provide you with a separate estimate for this damage at a discounted rate. Further, our Customer Care Managers and Estimators will inspect your vehicle for opportunities to provide additional services as a courtesy, such as removing door dings in the area of repair, buffing out light scratches, touching up rock chips, etc.
A: Unfortunately, we will have to collect the full deductible once the repairs are completed. The insurance company will only pay the cost of repairs above the amount of your deductible. In our experience, shops that waive or discount deductibles have to make up that expense by cutting corners in the repair process – cutting corners is something that Schiro’s Collision Repairs would never do.
A: In order for our company to restore your vehicle’s appearance, drivability and crashworthiness, costly repairs are sometimes needed. Modern vehicles are designed to crumple and absorb collision forces during a collision creating external and often times, internal secondary damage. This adds to the cost of restoring the vehicle to the manufacturer tolerances and specifications. Additionally, a typical repair consists of parts, labor (body, paint, structural, mechanical and sublet labor) and materials. We utilize only the finest paint products and materials on all repairs. In addition to these costs, to repair modern vehicles highly skilled and trained technicians are employed to repair these advanced vehicle designs.