Cobra Collision Center Repair Process
1. Cobra Collision - Your First Point of Contact
Please contact us if your vehicle needs collision repairs. Our estimators will guide you through the claims process and help coordinate any towing needed.
2. Vehicle Drop Off
Please bring your vehicle to our Cobra Collision location or ask your towing company to transport it to us if the vehicle is not drivable.
3. Authorization
Your Cobra Collision Estimator will ask you to sign a repair authorization, which allows us to repair your vehicle.
4. Damage Evaluation
Your Cobra Collision estimator will map the vehicle with you and write a repair plan. This will include a pre-scan of the vehicle’s software and electrical system, disassembly of the damaged area, and creation of the estimate.
5. Insurance Approval
The insurance company must approve the repair before we may begin work. Often, the longest delays come while waiting for these approvals. We will make every effort to communicate with the insurance provider. We may need your assistance at times, and your help is greatly appreciated. If a supplement to the original repair amount is necessary (for example, if additional damage is discovered during the disassembly of the vehicle), we will submit a request for the supplement to the insurance company. This process also requires approvals and may take additional time. Sometimes more than one supplement is required, depending on the insurance company.
6. Parts Ordered
Upon receiving approvals from you and the insurance company on the repair work and any supplements, we will begin the process of locating and ordering the parts necessary to repair your vehicle.
Please contact us if your vehicle needs collision repairs. Our estimators will guide you through the claims process and help coordinate any towing needed.
2. Vehicle Drop Off
Please bring your vehicle to our Cobra Collision location or ask your towing company to transport it to us if the vehicle is not drivable.
3. Authorization
Your Cobra Collision Estimator will ask you to sign a repair authorization, which allows us to repair your vehicle.
4. Damage Evaluation
Your Cobra Collision estimator will map the vehicle with you and write a repair plan. This will include a pre-scan of the vehicle’s software and electrical system, disassembly of the damaged area, and creation of the estimate.
5. Insurance Approval
The insurance company must approve the repair before we may begin work. Often, the longest delays come while waiting for these approvals. We will make every effort to communicate with the insurance provider. We may need your assistance at times, and your help is greatly appreciated. If a supplement to the original repair amount is necessary (for example, if additional damage is discovered during the disassembly of the vehicle), we will submit a request for the supplement to the insurance company. This process also requires approvals and may take additional time. Sometimes more than one supplement is required, depending on the insurance company.
6. Parts Ordered
Upon receiving approvals from you and the insurance company on the repair work and any supplements, we will begin the process of locating and ordering the parts necessary to repair your vehicle.
7. Parts Received
Once all critical parts are received for the repair, work on the vehicle will begin.
8. Repairs to Vehicle Started
Vehicle Set on Uni-body Repair Equipment (if necessary)
The 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 those prescribed tolerances.
New Panels Installed and Checked for Proper Fit
All collision-related repairs require some degree of cosmetic repair and often require the replacement of factory panels. We will check for proper fit and ensure that your vehicle’s parts look and align as they did when new.
Corrosion Protection Reapplied to Repaired Areas
Most vehicles incorporate some form of corrosion protection applied by the original manufacturer.
All Metal Work Done and Initial Testing
We begin to check all systems for proper functionality and perform quality control of the repair work.
9. Additional Parts Ordered, if Necessary
If we find additional claim-related damage, we will repeat step 5. For this reason, our estimator may have asked you to sign an authorization document in advance to cover these additional repairs.
10. Paint Process Begins
Vehicle Prepped, Primed, and Blocked
Our technicians will begin the refinish process by priming the surface. A thin layer of filler is applied to ensure a quality, uniform, and smooth surface. Block sanding is used to further prepare the vehicle for paint.
Vehicle Is Masked, Taped, and Placed in Paint Booth
To ensure that the highest quality standards are met, we carefully mask your vehicle to protect it from overspray during the refinishing process. We then place your vehicle in a paint booth, a controlled environment where paint material is applied.
Vehicle Is Chemically Cleaned and Tacked
This process removes all outside contaminants that may have been deposited on your vehicle during the repair process.
Vehicle Undergoes Multi-Step Refinishing Process
Most vehicles are coated with a basecoat/clearcoat refinish system. All systems involve several application steps to ensure a quality, factory finish.
11. Reassembly
Once we have completed the refinish process, we reattach the outer parts such as mirrors, moldings, and other hardware.
12. Mechanical
Even though much of the mechanical work (suspension part replacement, alignment, air bags, etc.) will take place during the repair process, all vehicles will have a post-scan of the software completed prior to delivery.
13. Quality Inspection
Your vehicle will go through an extensive post-repair inspection of all work completed. We will also perform a test drive of the vehicle.
14. Detail
The vehicle will be cleaned thoroughly prior to pick up.
15. Active Delivery
The estimator who managed your repair process will review the repair work completed on your vehicle and answer any questions you may have.
Once all critical parts are received for the repair, work on the vehicle will begin.
8. Repairs to Vehicle Started
Vehicle Set on Uni-body Repair Equipment (if necessary)
The 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 those prescribed tolerances.
New Panels Installed and Checked for Proper Fit
All collision-related repairs require some degree of cosmetic repair and often require the replacement of factory panels. We will check for proper fit and ensure that your vehicle’s parts look and align as they did when new.
Corrosion Protection Reapplied to Repaired Areas
Most vehicles incorporate some form of corrosion protection applied by the original manufacturer.
All Metal Work Done and Initial Testing
We begin to check all systems for proper functionality and perform quality control of the repair work.
9. Additional Parts Ordered, if Necessary
If we find additional claim-related damage, we will repeat step 5. For this reason, our estimator may have asked you to sign an authorization document in advance to cover these additional repairs.
10. Paint Process Begins
Vehicle Prepped, Primed, and Blocked
Our technicians will begin the refinish process by priming the surface. A thin layer of filler is applied to ensure a quality, uniform, and smooth surface. Block sanding is used to further prepare the vehicle for paint.
Vehicle Is Masked, Taped, and Placed in Paint Booth
To ensure that the highest quality standards are met, we carefully mask your vehicle to protect it from overspray during the refinishing process. We then place your vehicle in a paint booth, a controlled environment where paint material is applied.
Vehicle Is Chemically Cleaned and Tacked
This process removes all outside contaminants that may have been deposited on your vehicle during the repair process.
Vehicle Undergoes Multi-Step Refinishing Process
Most vehicles are coated with a basecoat/clearcoat refinish system. All systems involve several application steps to ensure a quality, factory finish.
11. Reassembly
Once we have completed the refinish process, we reattach the outer parts such as mirrors, moldings, and other hardware.
12. Mechanical
Even though much of the mechanical work (suspension part replacement, alignment, air bags, etc.) will take place during the repair process, all vehicles will have a post-scan of the software completed prior to delivery.
13. Quality Inspection
Your vehicle will go through an extensive post-repair inspection of all work completed. We will also perform a test drive of the vehicle.
14. Detail
The vehicle will be cleaned thoroughly prior to pick up.
15. Active Delivery
The estimator who managed your repair process will review the repair work completed on your vehicle and answer any questions you may have.