What to Know About OEM Certified Collision Repair
Posted in AUTO BODY, on July 14, 2021
Modern Automotive is an authorized and certified collision center. Our technicians and staff undergo extensive industry and vehicle-specific training in the proper use of factory-approved repair equipment, tools, and technologies. This ensures the repairs meet the manufacturer's exact standards.
We Are Not Concerned About Your First Collision
We are not concerned about the first accident you have because the manufacturer built your vehicle. We are concerned if you get in a second accident after the car has been repaired. That's why it's so important to have your vehicle repaired at a manufacturer-authorized and certified collision center.
Know Where To Go Before Having To Go There
When you are involved in an auto accident, you can be quite unnerved and may have to make a decision on the spot about where to take your vehicle for repairs. Visit the nearest manufacturer's authorized and certified auto body shop. Ask questions so you are well informed on who the best auto body shop is for your specific vehicle. After all, it is up to you where your vehicle gets repaired.
Certifications, Equipment, Training
You don't have to worry about doing the research, the manufacturer of your vehicle has already made Certifications, Equipment, Training, and access to the manufacturers repair procedures and structural restricted parts to fix your vehicle properly.
*Modern automotive is solely provided as a directory to "educate" you, the consumers, on which collision centers are OEM vehicle manufacturer authorized and recognized or recommended collision repair facilities.
What is OEM Certified Collision Repair?
If you have started researching auto body repair shops you probably have noticed OEM Certified Collision Repair Centers. What does this mean and why is it important to you?
Within the last few years, the OEM’s or Original Equipment Manufacturers (car brands, ex. Honda, GM, Nissan, Hyundai, Genesis, Ford, etc) set up certifications for collision repair facilities. The purpose of the certification program is to ensure proper vehicle repair and a great customer experience.
To participate in the program an auto body repair shop must meet the following requirements:
- Proper Equipment (To work with materials like aluminum and technology)
- Advanced Industry Training (Focusing on proper repair methods)
- Pre and Post Scanning
- Excellent Customer Service
- Well-Established Collision Repair Center
- Clean Facility
- Secure area for customer vehicles
- Meet Local, Provincial, and Federal Requirements
Customer Benefits:
These requirements ensure that the vehicle owner will walk into a clean facility and be treated in a professional manner. The customer can expect a skilled technician to complete their vehicle’s repair. In addition, the customer makes an informed choice instead of depending on the insurance company to recommend one of their “preferred” auto body shops. OEM certification also helps weed out collision repair facilities that choose not to invest in technician training or updated equipment.
Proper Equipment:
Equipment standards change every few years, but that doesn’t mean that all auto body shops make the commitment to upgrade. Many vehicles are made partly of aluminum and not every collision repair shop is equipped to handle this material.
Did you know a collision repair facility needs a separate room, separate tools, a special welder, and a certified aluminum trained technician to make the repair? In the past, vehicles were made primarily of steel and most technicians today only know how to repair that one material. If you have a vehicle part or all-aluminum be sure to take it to an auto body repair shop certified for aluminum repair.
Dashboard lights are for driver notifications and there are only a few spaces for important notifications. When a professional auto body shop scans your vehicle, it will scan hundreds of error codes. Scanning a vehicle before and after the repair ensures that everything is in working order. Remember, today’s vehicles are equipped with dozens of onboard computers responsible for everything from automatic mirrors to sensors, lane departure, airbags, etc. Simply put, every car must be scanned before and after repairs to ensure everything is in working condition. Auto body shops that don’t invest in scanners or participate in OEM certification programs will not be able to repair the “entire” vehicle.
Inspection:
Each year OEM certifications must be renewed, which means the shop must provide evidence of annual training. An inspector is sent to the auto body shop to test equipment to confirm accurate performance and to quiz employees as he or she inspects the facility.
What If The Auto Body Repair Facility Doesn’t Have My Vehicle’s Brand Certification?
First off, many but not all OEM’s have a collision repair certification program. If the auto body repair facility has any certifications, then you can rest assured that the shop will be staffed with master technicians with up-to-date repair methods training and the right tools and equipment. Most certifications require many of the same tools and equipment to meet today’s collision repair standards. An auto body shop with any certification must be industry certified. If they are I-Car certified, they are certified to work on any make and model of vehicle.
Modern Automotive- Accreditations and Certifications
Modern Automotive opened in 2011 and is focused on excellent customer service and quality repairs. We are a certified collision repair center for many vehicle brands. Please stop in or click here for an online estimate!