How We Work: The Bodywerks Repair Process
From your first phone call to keys back in your hand. Every step of the Bodywerks repair process, documented so you know exactly what to expect.
Five Steps. One Standard.
The Bodywerks Process
From your first call to keys back in your hand, here is what to expect.
Schedule Estimate
Call us or book online. We schedule your free, no-pressure estimate appointment.
Initial Inspection
We inspect the damage in person and build the initial scope of work with you.
Insurance Coordination
We work directly with your insurance company to negotiate a fair, approved repair.
Quality Repair
Your vehicle comes into the shop. Every step of the repair is completed to factory standards.
Final Delivery
We sand the clear coat for a factory mirror finish, detail the vehicle, and return it ready to drive.
Schedule Your Estimate
The Bodywerks process starts with a phone call or a calendar booking. Call us at 952.461.5070 or schedule online. We will book your free, no-pressure estimate appointment at a time that works for you. Most estimates take 20 to 30 minutes.
If your vehicle is not drivable after an accident, mention that on the call. We offer free pickup within our 25-minute service radius for collision repair customers. We will come to you, document the damage in place, and transport the vehicle back to the shop.
What to bring to your estimate appointment
- Your vehicle (or its location if not drivable)
- Insurance information if available
- Any documentation from your insurance company
- A clear description of what happened and what you noticed
In-Person Damage Inspection
At your estimate appointment, we inspect the damage in person. We document everything visible with photos and written records, identify what is likely hidden inside body panels or behind structural components, and build the initial repair scope with you. We explain what we see, what we are recommending, and why.
This is not a generic, computer-generated estimate. It is built by someone who has been doing this work for years, on your specific vehicle, with your specific damage. We can do this because we are a real body shop, not a volume claim processor.
What you will learn at your inspection
- The full scope of visible damage
- What additional damage may exist
- An honest timeline expectation
- A clear cost estimate (or insurance coverage breakdown)
- Next steps in the process
Insurance Coordination and Approval
For most collision repairs, the insurance process is the most stressful part for the customer. We make it the easiest. After the estimate, we submit the documentation directly to your insurance adjuster. We negotiate the scope of work to make sure the repair your vehicle actually needs gets approved.
We do not have direct repair program agreements with any insurance company. That means we are negotiating on your behalf, not theirs. Our goal is to get the full repair approved at factory standards and keep your out-of-pocket cost at or below your deductible whenever possible.
What we handle at this step
- Direct submission to your insurance adjuster
- Scope negotiation and advocacy
- Approval coordination and documentation
- Supplemental claim handling if hidden damage is found later
- Final payment coordination
Quality Repair in Our Shop
Once the scope is approved, the vehicle comes into our Elko New Market shop. Every step of the repair is performed in-house by our team. We do not subcontract. We do not send paint work to another shop. We do not outsource the parts of the job that matter most.
Disassembly happens first. This is when we uncover any hidden damage that was not visible at the initial inspection. If we find additional damage, we stop, document it, and submit a supplemental claim to your insurance before continuing. No surprises.
Body and structural work happens next. Parts are replaced. Frames are pulled if needed. Sheet metal is repaired or fabricated. Then surface preparation, primer, base coat, and clear coat are applied in our climate-controlled paint booth using the AkzoNobel™ paint system and color match camera technology.
What quality looks like inside our shop
- Manufacturer-recommended repair processes
- AkzoNobel™ paint system
- 3M finishing materials
- Climate-controlled paint booth
- Color match camera technology
- In-house body, paint, and structural work
- 60 years of hands-on experience
Final Quality Control and Delivery
This is the step that separates Bodywerks from high-production collision shops. After the clear coat has cured, we hand-sand every painted panel to remove orange peel and surface imperfections, then polish for a true factory mirror finish. Most shops skip this step to push more cars through the door each week. We do not.
After the clear coat sanding, we conduct a final quality inspection covering body work, paint match, structural integrity, and overall fit and finish. The vehicle is then detailed, pre-cleaned for delivery, and returned to you ready to drive.
Every repair is backed by our Lifetime Workmanship Guarantee. For as long as you own the vehicle, our workmanship is guaranteed against defects.
What you receive at delivery
- A vehicle restored to pre-accident factory condition
- Factory mirror finish on every painted surface
- Detailed and pre-cleaned interior and exterior
- Full repair documentation for your records
- Lifetime Workmanship Guarantee on the work
Why Our Process Looks Different From a Chain Shop
Chain collision shops are built around volume. The faster a vehicle moves through the shop, the more profitable each repair is for the company. That model creates pressure to skip steps, use cheaper parts, and cut quality control corners.
Bodywerks is built around doing the work right. Every step of our process exists because it produces a better repair. We do not skip clear coat sanding. We do not use aftermarket parts on imports without your approval. We do not push your vehicle out the door before quality is verified.
This is why we have been in business since 1966. It is why we have won the Lakeville Sun Readers Choice award five times. And it is why we back every repair with a Lifetime Workmanship Guarantee.
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Process
Ready to Start Your Repair Process?
Call now to schedule your free estimate. Real humans answer every call.