Overview: Collision Repair
Collision repair starts after the accident, and the first half of it is paperwork rather than metal. A claim number, an adjuster, photos, an estimate the insurer approves, and a shop that has to agree with all of it before anything gets unbolted. The car is the easy part.
In most states you pick the shop, not your insurer. Insurers run direct repair programs, and a shop inside that network gets the claim moving quickly because the paperwork is already wired up. It is also paid by the company that wants the figure low. Steering rules vary by state, so ask for the referral if you want it, then go where you want.
Modern cars are unibody, which means a hard hit moves things you cannot see from the driveway. Ask whether the shop measures on a frame bench and can show you the readings. Ask about recalibration too: the camera behind the windshield and the radar in the bumper have to be reset once those parts go back on, and that work is a separate line nobody mentions until it appears.
Listings show what each shop states on its own website: the insurers it works with, the certifications it names, whether it handles rentals and towing. These shops need frame equipment and booths, so they sit near highways and industrial parks. Use the state and city lists below to reach them.
Cost of Collision Repair
Collision estimates are built from damage-specific labor, parts and required procedures; insurance payments are separate.
| Service or charge | Planning estimate | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Refinish one reusable bumper cover | $500–$1,200per full cover | Prepare and repaint one complete reusable plastic bumper cover after cosmetic damage.This assumes sound mounting points and no hidden impact damage. Major plastic repair, replacement parts, sensors and calibration are separate.Scope detailsIncluded in this estimate: Agreed surface preparation; Full-cover paint and clear coat Separate unless quoted otherwise: Replacement cover; Impact bar or absorber; Sensor work or calibration |
| Replace and paint one bumper cover | $800–$2,500per cover, installed | Supply, paint and install one replacement plastic bumper cover on a common passenger vehicle.Confirm the part source and all included brackets. Reinforcement, absorber, lights, sensors, hidden damage and required calibration may add cost.Scope detailsIncluded in this estimate: Specified replacement cover; Paint and installation labor Separate unless quoted otherwise: Structural or crash-component repair; Lighting and sensors; ADAS calibration |
| Disassembly and damage assessment | Quote requiredper authorized assessment | An authorized damage-assessment or teardown stage with a written scope and spending cap.Ask about disassembly, reassembly, storage and any credit toward repairs. A free visual estimate may not include this work.Scope detailsAsk the quote to itemize: Agreed disassembly and damage documentation Check separately: Actual collision repairs; Reassembly if separately charged |
| Standard body or refinishing labor | $55–$100per billed labor hour | Standard nonstructural body or refinishing labor at the stated shop rate.Compare billed hours as well as the rate. Parts, paint materials, aluminum work and structural procedures are separate.Scope detailsIncluded in this estimate: Specified body or refinish labor Separate unless quoted otherwise: Parts; Paint and consumable materials; Structural or specialty-material labor |
| Pre-repair and post-repair scans | $170–$400per vehicle, both scans | One pre-repair scan and one post-repair scan, with reports.Scanning identifies stored faults. Troubleshooting, module programming and calibration are separate procedures.Scope detailsIncluded in this estimate: Pre-scan; Post-scan reports Separate unless quoted otherwise: Fault diagnosis and repair; ADAS calibration |
| Required ADAS calibration | $250–$600per specified system | The required calibration procedure for one specified camera or radar system.Request the named system and completion report. Multiple systems, replacement hardware, alignment and transport can add cost.Scope detailsIncluded in this estimate: Specified calibration procedure; Completion documentation Separate unless quoted otherwise: Other systems; Sensor replacement; Separate diagnostic scans; Alignment and transport |
What affects the price
- Hidden damage found during disassembly
- Part source, structural materials and repairability
- Required scans, calibration and sublet work
Questions to ask before booking
- What is my expected out-of-pocket amount, separate from the total repair bill?
- Will you obtain approval before supplements or customer-paid work?
- Does the estimate identify part types, paint materials and all required scans and calibrations?
Before you book
A deductible is your policy payment, not the price of the repair; confirm coverage and any unpaid items.
Related cost guides
- Common auto body repair costsSee defined cosmetic repair scenarios before comparing a full damage estimate.
U.S. planning estimates in USD. Taxes and fees may be extra; confirm the work and written total. Actual quotes can fall outside these ranges.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to use the shop my insurer recommends?
Usually no. The car is yours and in most states the choice of repairer is too, though your policy sets what the insurer will pay. A network shop is faster on approvals and often carries a guarantee backed by the insurer. An independent shop answers to you. If you are pushed hard toward one name, that is worth a question to your state insurance department.
What happens if the insurer calls my car a total loss?
The insurer pays you what the car was worth just before the crash instead of repairing it, and keeps the vehicle. The figure comes from comparable sales, so gather your own: recent listings for the same year and trim, service records, new tires. You can dispute a valuation and many people do. Ask what the title will say if you buy the car back.
Why does a camera or radar need recalibrating after repair?
Because lane keeping, automatic braking and adaptive cruise all aim through parts that just came off the car. A windshield sits a fraction differently, a bumper cover holds the radar at a slightly new angle, and the system keeps trusting its old aim. Recalibration resets it, sometimes on a target board in the shop and sometimes on a road drive. Ask for the printout.
How do I know structural damage was fixed properly?
Ask for the measurement report. A shop that puts a unibody on a bench measures it against factory specification before and after, and the two printouts are the evidence. Ask which panels were replaced against which were pulled, and whether the welds match what the manufacturer specifies for that steel. Guessing on a modern body is how a car stops folding the way it was designed to.
Who pays for a car while mine is being repaired?
Your policy does, if you carry rental coverage, and the other driver's insurer does when they accept fault. There is normally a daily cap and a total cap, so a long parts delay can run you past it. Many collision shops arrange the rental at drop-off. Ask who is billed and what happens to the bill if the repair overruns.
