Our Process

The initial estimate of your vehicle’s damage is a visual assessment. This provides us with a general “ballpark” as to what your vehicle will need to begin repairs, the amount of time it will take to make those repairs and the cost associated with the anticipated repairs. Once your vehicle is in the shop, the estimate may be adjusted due to the discovery of additional damage, parts delivery and/or unanticipated expenses. You will be informed of these changes throughout the repair process should they occur. We will be happy to work with those insurance companies who chose to write their own initial estimates. Always keep in mind that you have the right to choose your own service provider. You cannot be required to repair your vehicle at a specified shop.

Only you can set up an insurance claim for your vehicle’s repairs.  Please contact your agent or claims center to get started.  Once the claim has been established, let the insurance company know that you are having your vehicle repaired by York Road Automotive.  Most major insurance companies will forward your claim information directly to us. If they do not, you will need to provide us with the following information:

• Insurance Company
• Claim Number
• Name of your claim’s handler
• Phone Number of your claim’s handler

Every insurance company is slightly different in how they handle a repair claim. It is important for us to have this information, at the beginning of the process, to properly follow the insurance company’s procedures.

We will arrange the pickup and safe delivery of your vehicle to our location. If at any time you feel your vehicle is not safe to drive, please do not drive it. Things to look for are broken headlights/taillights, difficulty steering, fluids leaking, broken glass, flat tires or damaged wheels just to name some. For afterhours towing service, please contact Center Towing at (440) 238-5076.

We can arrange for rental car service at the time you schedule your vehicle for repair. Hertz and Enterprise both work with York Road Automotive and we will be happy to make a reservation with whichever one you prefer. The rental company will meet you in our office when you drop your vehicle off for repair. You can leave your rental with us when the repairs to your vehicle have been completed. Please check with your insurance agent regarding your rental car coverage. Please note; if your claim is with another party’s insurance, you are entitled to rental car service during your repair. If you do not have rental coverage and would like to use the service, please check with Hertz at (216) 661-5427 or Enterprise at (216) 520-5046 regarding available vehicles and rates.

When you bring your vehicle in for repair, we will do our best to get you checked in and on your way as quickly as possible. You will be expected to go over and sign a few documents including the Repair Authorization, Contact Information and a review of your vehicle’s pre-accident condition. Please make sure you remove any personal items you may need, while your vehicle is with us; Garage door openers, cell phone chargers, parking passes, EZ Passes, sunglasses, and golf clubs are commonly left behind. If you are dropping off your vehicle after hours, please use the “Early Bird/Night Owl” key drop located on the side of the building. Documents and envelopes are located in the outside box. Please enclose the signed forms along with your keys in the envelope and place it through the slot in the door.

The first step to restoring your vehicle to its pre-accident condition is to completely disassemble the damaged areas. This allows us to more fully assess the repairs and parts needed by revealing any hidden or underlying damage. We will then revise the estimate, if necessary. Photos will be taken to document the needed repairs. And, this information will be sent to your insurance company. While we wait for the approval we will order any additional parts and update you with our new estimate. This could add to the time we have your vehicle. We will need to have the approval from the insurance company and/or the additional parts before we can begin making the repairs to your vehicle.

Use of a remote diagnostic tool allows our repair technicians to scan a vehicle before and after repair work takes place. Scanning allows any of the vehicle’s issues to be discovered and fully addressed to ensure that all systems are working properly. The high-tech safety and convince features found on most vehicles today, while they make life easier for the driver, they make simple car repairs more complex. Along with physical sensors throughout the vehicle, there are tens of thousands lines of software code that cannot be seen. Post repair scanning assures any trouble codes detected at the beginning of the repair have been fixed and/or additional codes caused during the course of repair have been addressed.

With all necessary approvals and parts in place, we can begin the repair.  Our certified body technicians start with the structural and sheet metal work.  Once completed, your vehicle moves to the paint department for a factory quality refinish.  Everything then moves back to our body technicians for final reassembly.  Some vehicles will occasionally require additional outside work, called a “sublet” on your estimate.  These repairs are sent out to trusted mechanical technicians in our local area who specialize in alignments, major mechanical and electrical work.  Once all of the repair work has been completed, we will thoroughly clean your vehicle inside and out.

DISASSEMBLY OR TEARDOWN

The process of completely disassembling all damaged areas and any areas that are needed to gain access to the repair.  This allows us to “Blueprint” the repair plan, document what is needed and source all parts required.

STRUCTURAL/BODY

Our certified Body Technicians are trained in the latest industry standards to assure a quality repair.  Along with our precision tools and equipment and reliable part sources, the experts at York Road Automotive Service take great care in returning your vehicle to original factory specifications.

REFINISH

We use PPG’s environmentally friendly Aquabase refinishing system to create a durable finish and factory color match for your vehicle.  Our refinish technicians are specifically trained in this system’s use to bring out the brilliance of your vehicle’s color and to guarantee the quality of workmanship and materials used.

REASSEMBLY

This is where everything comes back together.  Our technicians take great care in assuring your vehicle’s fit and finish looks and functions exactly as it did before your accident.    

SUBLET

Occasionally we use trusted mechanical repair shops in our area to assist in your repair.  Major mechanical, electrical and vehicle alignments are sent out to technicians that specialize in this type of repair.

DETAIL

No collision repair is complete without those small finishing touches, which is where our detail department comes in.  We hand wash & buff your vehicle to bring back that original showroom shine.  We thoroughly clean and vacuum the interior of your vehicle to remove any sign that we were ever there repairing your vehicle.

Upon completion of your vehicle, our staff carefully reviews your final estimate and vehicle to assure that all of the repairs have been made properly and meet our standards of excellence. Once we are satisfied that our high standards have been met we will notify you that your vehicle is ready for pick-up.

At York Road Automotive we stand behind all of our workmanship for as long as you own your vehicle. Our goal is to restore your complete confidence in your vehicle as if your accident never occurred. Upon delivery of your vehicle, you will receive a final repair order outlining everything repaired and replaced on your vehicle. And, our Limited Lifetime Warranty on all parts and workmanship for as long as you own your vehicle, in writing.