Frequently Asked Questions
Estimates, insurance, repair quality and fleet work — the questions we are asked most, answered properly rather than in one line.
Estimates and booking
Estimates and booking
Does an estimate cost anything?
No. Estimates are free whether you send photos through the website or bring the vehicle in, and there is no obligation to book the work.
Can you quote from photos?
We can give you a realistic range from good photos. A firm figure usually needs the vehicle in front of us, because hidden damage behind a bumper cover or inside a panel is the most common reason an estimate changes.
How soon can you take my vehicle?
It depends on the work and the season — hail fills every shop in Calgary at the same moment. We will give you our honest earliest date when we send the estimate rather than an optimistic one.
Do you do walk-in assessments?
Yes, during business hours for passenger vehicles. For heavy trucks and trailers, call ahead so we can make space and have the right person available.
Insurance
Insurance
Do I have to use the shop my insurer recommends?
No. In Alberta the choice of repair facility belongs to you. Insurers can recommend a shop from their network, and those arrangements have practical advantages, but you are not obliged to accept the recommendation.
Will you deal with my insurance company directly?
Yes. We write the estimate in the format adjusters work in, submit supplements when hidden damage is found, and follow up on authorisations so the claim keeps moving.
What is a supplement?
It is the formal request to add work to an authorised claim after additional damage is exposed during teardown. Supplements are normal. What causes delays is slow submission — we photograph and submit the same day.
Do I still pay my deductible?
Yes, on collection. Be cautious of any shop offering to waive or absorb it — that is insurance fraud and it puts your claim at risk as well as theirs.
What if my vehicle is written off?
You are entitled to see how the insurer reached the value, and comparable local listings are a legitimate basis for discussing it. We can provide our repair assessment to support that conversation.
Repairs and quality
Repairs and quality
How long will my repair take?
A bumper repair and refinish is usually two to four days. Multi-panel work with parts on order runs one to two weeks. Structural and heavy truck repairs depend on parts and authorisations. You get a target date at authorisation and an update whenever it changes.
Will the colour match?
In almost every case. We read the actual panel rather than relying on the paint code alone, verify with a sprayed test card in daylight, and blend into adjacent panels so there is no visible edge.
What is a post-repair scan and why do I need one?
Modern vehicles carry cameras, radar and sensors feeding lane keeping, adaptive cruise and automatic braking. Repairs can move them out of tolerance. We scan every vehicle and recalibrate what the repair touched, then put the reports in your file.
Do you use OEM parts?
We use OEM by default on structural components, safety systems and newer vehicles. Aftermarket and recycled OEM parts can be sensible elsewhere. We explain the options and what your policy covers, and you decide — we do not substitute quietly.
Is the work guaranteed?
Workmanship and refinishing are warranted for as long as you own the vehicle. Parts carry the manufacturer's or supplier's warranty. You receive documentation for both.
Fleet and heavy truck
Fleet and heavy truck
What size fleet do you work with?
Anything from a couple of trucks upward. Small fleets often benefit most from a scheduled program because they have the least slack when a unit goes down.
How fast can you assess a heavy unit?
Get it to us and in most cases you will have a written quote within one business day, with any long-lead parts flagged immediately because those are what drive the timeline.
Can you repair a composite hood instead of replacing it?
Often, yes, and at a fraction of replacement cost with a much shorter lead time. Where the mounting structure is compromised, replacement is the correct call and we will say so.
Do you handle fleet livery and DOT markings?
Yes — fleet colours held on file, lettering, unit numbering, NSC and DOT markings in the sizes and positions the regulations require.
Can you blast in winter?
Yes. Our blasting capability runs year round, so preparation work can be scheduled when your operation has a gap rather than when the weather allows it.
Question not answered here?
Call us or send it through the contact form. Somebody who works on the vehicles will get back to you.