If you’ve been involved in an accident, after notifying the authorities and your insurance company, make your next call is to Dunkin Auto Body.

The repair process doesn’t have to be confusing. At Dunkin Auto Body, we’ll work with you each step of the way to make sure you’re informed and up-to-date on your repair.

Steps of the Repair Process:

#1) Dunkin Auto Body Prepares a Written Estimate
Our estimator will inspect your vehicle and begin to document the damage caused by the collision in the form of an estimate. In some cases you may already have a preliminary estimate of this damage prepared by your insurance company. In any event, this step must be accomplished prior to beginning the repair process.

#2) Repair Authorization
Before any work can begin, you must first sign a repair authorization allowing us to repair your vehicle. At this time it is not unusual for our estimator to request another signature in advance to cover any additional damage that may be found once the repair is underway.

#3) Liable Insurance Company Approves Estimate
The insurance company that is involved must also approve the repair estimate before we can begin work.

#4) Order Parts
Upon receiving approvals from you and the insurance company, we will begin the process of locating and ordering the parts necessary to repair your vehicle.

#5) Parts Received
Once all of the parts are received and checked, we can schedule your vehicle for repair.

#6) Estimated Completion Date
At this time we will provide you with an Estimated Completion Date. It is important to know that certain types of damage become apparent only after your vehicle has been disassembled. Therefore, your vehicle's completion date may need to be revised.

#7) Vehicle Scheduled for Repairs
We will now contact you to schedule a convenient time for your vehicle to be repaired. If your vehicle is already at our Repair Center, repairs may begin immediately.

#8) Vehicle Disassembled and Re-inspected
As your vehicle's outer panels are removed and the physical structure of the vehicle is revealed, often additional or "hidden damage" is discovered. This additional damage is difficult to diagnose at the time of the original estimate as it cannot be seen or predicted until we perform this thorough inspection. Please note that any additional damage may alter your vehicle's completion date.

In the event additional damage is discovered, a Supplemental Damage report may be filed with the liable insurance company. The insurance company must authorize the additional damage before the repair can be continued.

Additional parts may be required to complete the repair. In this case, the additional damage may alter your vehicle's completion date as the remaining parts are ordered and received.

#9) Customer Update
With your permission, we will contact you and update you on the progress of your vehicle's repair at this point. Should anything have affected the completion date we originally gave you, we will let you know and tell you the reasons for the delay.

#10) Vehicle on Unibody Repair Equipment
Your vehicle was manufactured in compliance with tight structural standards. 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 the manufacturers prescribed tolerance to ensure proper operation, location and fit of body and structural parts.

#11) Structural and Body Repairs
Dunkin Auto Body Technicians will now undertake structural and body repairs.

All collision-related repairs require some degree of cosmetic repair and often require replacement of factory panels. We will check for proper fit to ensure your vehicle's parts look, fit and align the way they should.  

#12) Testing & Quality Control
It is at this point in the repair that we begin to check systems for proper functioning and perform quality control of the repair work. An example of a systems check would be the resetting of your safety systems, involving your passive restraint or air bag system.

#13) Customer Update
Once again, we will update you on the progress of your vehicle's repair. Should anything have affected the completion date we originally gave you, we will let you know now and tell you why.

#14) Vehicle Prepped for Paint
Our technicians will begin the refinish process by applying a primer. A surface filter is sprayed on to ensure a quality, uniform and smooth surface. Block sanding is the method of further preparing the surface of your vehicle for paint. We carefully mask your vehicle to protect it from overspray during the painting process.

#15) Vehicle is Painted
We place your vehicle in the state-of-the art GFS paint booth and using computerized color matching technology, begin the painting process. Dunkin Auto Body technicians “bake” on your paint finish to ensure it is just as durable as the original factory paint. We stand behind our paint service with a Lifetime Guarantee.

#16) Reassembly, Alignment & Detailing
Upon completion of the painting process, your vehicle will be reassembled including molding, mirrors and other hardware. Should your repair require wheel realignment or other services such as air conditioning repair, it will be completed at this stage. Your vehicle will then undergo a thorough cleaning.

#17) Final Inspection & Test Drive
Our technicians will test drive your vehicle and perform a quality inspection prior to it being returned to you.

#18) Delivery of Repaired Vehicle
We will contact you and make arrangements for pickup of your completed vehicle.