The Repair Process
NJ Law states you are entitled to have your vehicle repaired at the shop of your choice. An insurance company may try to persuade you to one of their own “Direct Repair shops” but ultimately where you have your vehicle repaired is up to you.
We do our best to return your vehicle in a timely manner.
We do not overbook our schedule.
Sometimes part suppliers and availability cause delays, but we do our best to keep you, the insurance company, and the rental company informed.
We specialize in assuring alignments are correct and vehicle health via computer scans are back to factory specifications.
We take pride in our color matching and use state-of-the-art materials.
We have a limited guarantee for our work and craftsmanship, with the exception of aftermarket and LKQ part usage.
If anything arises after the completion of repairs, we encourage you to contact the shop immediately so we can resolve the problem.
Insurance Questions
To initiate a claim, call your insurance carrier, they will issue you a claim number and give you instructions with a step-by-step procedure. Indicate at that time that you want C.A.R.S. Auto body to repair your vehicle. Contact us and we can help you with the process.
Be careful buying insurance online. Please read your policy’s declaration page, make sure you understand your deductible amount (per collision and comprehensive), what your rental coverage amount per day allows, etc.
Deductible is the dollar figure you have selected in your insurance contract, that is the amount owed to our body shop when you pick up your vehicle upon completion of repairs.
If your vehicle is deemed a total loss by the insurance company, negotiate a fair market value and get compensated in order to replace the vehicle as it should not be repaired for numerous reasons.
OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) parts are original parts from the manufacturer, such as GM, Ford, Chrysler, Honda, Mercedes, etc.
Your policy dictates the use of OEM parts or not. Read your policies, add riders when needed. Aftermarket parts are not supplied by the original manufacturer and are not guaranteed to fit or act as the original parts.
Aftermarket components, also referred to as Quality Replacement Parts (QRP), are not produced by the original vehicle manufacturer. These parts are typically more affordable than Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts and may not offer the same level of fit and performance as OEM components.
LKQ means “Like Kind Quality” which is used from a salvage yard in most cases. It is original equipment and can be used in some instances but not if safety is involved or compromised.