FAQ

How do I pick a good quality auto body shop?

There are three critical factors to a proper repair. Training, equipment and a verifiable Quality Control Process. Look for trained technicians. Ask for a shop tour; the overall cleanliness and the proper equipment says a lot about a shop. Ask for a copy of their Quality Control Checklist.

Will my repairs be guaranteed?

Stock Auto Body and Mechanical and most reputable auto body shops provide a written lifetime warranty on all workmanship.  

How long will it take to get my car fixed?

For minor damage, such as replacing a bumper cover, a minimum of two days is required. This allows for proper curing time for any primers, fillers, and paint. Beyond that, it’s dependent upon the extent of damage, availability of parts, and approval of payment by the responsible party.

Can you match the paint?

Yes, provided that your vehicle is an original factory color that is not faded or discolored. The following is a brief description of how paint matching works:

Your vehicle carries a paint code printed on a label on your vehicle. This code is broken down into a formula given to automotive paint manufacturers. A repair shop uses the formula to mix the color within their chosen brand of paint. This works fine if your vehicle is precisely the color specified by the paint code. However, in actual production there are often slight variations in color.

If your vehicle is not the exact shade specified by the factory, the first step is “tinting” the color. This is done by varying the amount of the toners used to make up the original formula. Sometimes, a perfect match can’t be achieved by tinting alone. In these cases, “blending” may be required. This is a process where portions of the vehicle adjacent to the repaired area are gradually misted with the tinted paint so that any minor color variance is unnoticeable. This can make the difference between a very good color match and an invisible repair.

What if my frame is bent?

Frame damage is a very common occurrence in an accident. The problem isn’t so much the damage but rather the techniques utilized for repair. At Stock Auto Body and Mechanical we use computerized measuring systems that contain a database for all vehicles commonly sold in the USA. This equipment is used in conjunction with “state of the art” pulling and anchoring equipment. The end result is a vehicle returned to factory specs that will track straight and true.

How soon after my repairs can I wash my car?

Right away. It is best to avoid brush type car washes for the first 30 days until the clear coat reaches it’s maximum hardness.

How soon can I wax my car?

It is recommended to wait at least 60 days before waxing. Although the clear coat reaches its maximum hardness in 30 days, there may still be some additional cure-out of solvents for another 30 days.

What if I get my car back and something isn’t fixed right?

Contact your auto body repair shop immediately! At Stock Auto Body and Mechanical we realize that we are still human and we may make a mistake from time to time. We also know that latent undetected problems can develop after the repair work is done. Either way, we want to get it fixed as soon as possible!