FAQ’s
Collision and Express Autobody Centers
We will contact you within one business day after you complete the free estimate form. For faster response, call us toll free at 1.888.939.2FIX (1.888.939-2349) and asked to be connected directly to our service representative.
If your repair is an emergency and your vehicle requires immediate attention, we will attempt to provide service right away. For fastest service, drive to one of our shops, or we may ask you to meet us on-site at another job location for fastest attention.
Our repairs are all done from an estimate we agree on. You are welcome to upload a picture of the damage so we can give you an idea over the phone. There are limits to what we can effectively and legally paint on a mobile basis. Larger repairs are done in one of our shops.
We do offer an ultra-convenient mobile service. We are happy to provide you an estimate at your place of business and, if necessary, make the repair there as well. We simply require a dry, well ventilated area with access to electricity and some space to work (two or three parking spots including a spot for our mobile unit).
**(Please note: Mobile services are only available in Hamilton Ont., and the greater Vancouver B.C. area.
Our repair should last for as long as you own the vehicle. Ask us about our satisfaction guarantee. If you’re not happy, we’re not.
We advise customers not to wash their vehicle for two days after our repair to give the paint time to cure. Afterwards, you can wash your vehicle as frequently as you wish.
Depending on your policy details, your insurance company may cover our repair costs. We’d be happy to help you find out. When the repair cost is less than five times your deductible (yes 5 times), it’s often worth NOT making an insurance claim with your insurance company to avoid raising premiums. This varies by insurance company, so ask us to help you with this one.
Anytime, anywhere. We come to you 12 months a year, although to do our repairs we want to create a dry, well-ventilated location to do our work. (Please note: Mobile services are only available in Hamilton Ont., Vancouver B.C., Nanaimo B.C., and Duncan B.C.)
Insurance – Ontario and Alberta
It’s your car! You have the right to have your car repaired at the shop you choose. It’s the Law!
Absolutely not. Once you are comfortable with your selected repairer, advise your insurer. We can help you by making the call with you present. The Insurance Company may wish to send an appraiser to assess the damage. This is normal, and again, we will deal with them for you.
As soon as you have decided that a claim is appropriate, and before authorizing repairs to your vehicle. You’ll want to confirm 2 things with your insurer;
· You want Colorworks to do the repair on your vehicle
· You want to make sure they give you a claim number
If you want, you can come to one of our shops. We’ll explain the whole process to you in great detail and we’ll assist you in making this call.
No. The shop you choose will offer you a full warranty. You can check our full warranty
Lease Return
In many cases, a charge will be levied for damage deemed to be beyond “fair wear and tear”.
Most lease inspectors will use a template, roughly the size of a credit card. If the damage to the car is larger than this, there will usually be a charge applied.
You should arrange for an inspection at least 2 weeks prior to returning the car. This will allow enough time to take care of any issues that would incur a charge.
Often, we can remove a dent by using Paintless dent removal, or buff scratches out, or paint a smaller area of the car than is traditionally necessary. In the vast majority of cases we have saved customers $100’s over the charges that they would have otherwise paid.
Dent Repairs
One little dent can seriously affect your cars resale value, stay on top of little dents and maintain the value of your investment.
NO! Often we can repair small dings and dents using a technique called “Paintless Dent Removal” (PDR)
PDR is usually used to remove small parking dings but can be used on larger dents if there is access behind and the metal is not to stretched.
At Colorworks Express Autobody, 30 years of experience means we metal work and finesse the panel / dent back into shape to ensure minimal body filler before refinishing the panel.
On replaceable panels, like fenders, large dents might sometimes be cheaper to repair by replacing the panel. On structural body panels like roofs and ¼ panels we can repair very large dents keeping the repairs cost effective
Paint Correction
Paint correction is the process of removing imperfections found in the vehicle’s clear coat such as swirls, surface scratches, oxidation, sap, bird dropping etching, and water spots, among other imperfections. At Colorworks Express Autobody Centers, we can take care of any and all of your paint correction needs. Our skilled technicians are highly trained, and we use the best products and tools to ensure your paint correction process is successful.
Anyone can attempt paint correction if they have the proper tools and trailing. Often, holograms and marring will need to be removed after inexperienced detailers attempt it. Colorworks Express Autobody Centers use tools and special products such as an electric polisher, a microfiber buffing pad, and a special cutting compound. Our skilled technicians will cut into the clear coat of a vehicle's paint till the scratches are leveled or removed.
If an inexperienced detailer performs paint correction, the clear coat is already damaged or very worn, or the contamination being removed requires a special process, you could risk damaging your clear coat or even paint and requiring a full spot or panel refinish. At Colorworks Express Autobody Centers, we assess each paint correction to ensure we apply the correct process to it so that you are back on the road with your vehicle looking like new.
Paint correction is a process that can take anywhere from 2 hours to 20 plus hours, in extremely high-end situations, of multiple stages of cutting, compound and polish. Colorworks Express Autobody Centers will give you a free estimate based on your goals for paint correction. We can focus on a specific area or perform paint correction on your entire vehicle to bring it back to a brand new look.
A good rule of thumb is, if your fingernail catches in the scratch, it will likely need more than just a buff and polish. At Colorworks Express Autobody Centers, we offer FREE estimates, so we can take a look at the scratch and provide the best repair plan and pricing for your vehicle.
Smart Paint Repairs
SMART stands for Small and Medium Area Repair Technique. Colorworks Express Autobody Centers specializes in these repairs at all our locations.
SMART stands for Small and Medium Area Repair Technique. These are small to medium size repairs that can be completed in a 1-3 days, often at a reduced cost compared to visiting a full body shop or collision center. Colorworks Autobody Centers specializes in all types of repairs. We can handle anything from a door ding, to a bumper corner scratch/scuff, to much more in order to restore your vehicle to pre-incident condition.
SMART repairs can be very economical when compared with other options. Often, completing a SMART repair can leave your car looking like brand new without a large hit to the wallet. At Colorworks Express Autobody Centers, we will give you a FREE estimate and work with you so that you know your options and understand the costs involved.
Colorworks Express Autobody Centers can help you out with almost any size of SMART repair. An average size job is approximately 1-4 handprints in area.
At Colorworks Express Autobody Centers, we know how to complete an Express repair! It depends on how deep the scratch is and how large it is, as well as if there are other damages. Typically, a small bumper scratch can be repaired in one day. We will give you a FREE estimate before you move forward with the repair.
Ceramic Coating
This is the process of multi-layering a clear, liquid nano-ceramic coating. When cured, this becomes a durable yet flexible glass shield. Colorworks Express Autobody Centers explains Ceramic Coat like an additional clear coat, with 3 times the hardness and unique hydrophobic qualities to keep your vehicle looking like new. Contact us for a FREE Estimate today!
Yes, typically a Ceramic Coat application takes between 2-3 days depending on the package you select. To enable the product to cure properly, it should remain inside for 24 hours after the application.
Colorworks Express Autobody Centers can take care of all your paint correction and SMART repair needs. Before you complete a Ceramic Coat application on your vehicle, we recommend identifying any areas on your vehicle that might require paint correction. If Ceramic Coat is applied to a surface that requires paint correction, it will seal in the area.
Depending on the package you select, or how many coats are applied to your vehicle, Ceramic Coating typically lasts a few years.
Ceramic Coating is semi-permanent, meaning you may need a touch up to maintain the protection and hydrophobic qualities of the product. This is also dependent on how often you wash your vehicle, and with what products, how often it is exposed to harsh weather, etc.
Ceramic Coating is abrasive resistant. Pending on how forceful a scratch or chip impact is, Ceramic Coating will protect your vehicle to a higher degree than only the clear coat. If the impact is stronger, you will need paint correction and the Ceramic Coating reapplied on the damaged panels. Colorworks Express Autobody Centers can take care of all of this for you.
Headlight Restoration
The suns harsh rays constantly attach the plastic lenses which eventually lose their UV resistant coating. Eventually the lens degrades, fades and fogs and reduces light output.
New headlights can be hundreds if not thousands of dollars. Let Colorworks Express Autobody Centers restore your headlights for a fraction of the price!
Modern vehicles commonly have plastic headlight lenses that degrade and Yellow over time. Not only is this unsightly but it reduces your vehicles light output.
We carefully remove the damaged and faded layer of plastic from the lenses, we then polish it to it original luster before we seal it all in with a specialty coating designed to ad back the UV protection so the repair lasts years to come.
Usually we can have your vehicle in an out in approx. 3-4 hours.
Detailing
Absolutely! Colorworks Express Autobody Centers can take care of any of your autobody express needs and are happy to focus on only detailing if you would like. We have a variety of packages to choose from so that you can keep your vehicle looking like brand new on the inside and out.
Typically, any detailing service can be completed in maximum one day. At Colorworks Express Autobody Centers, we also offer other services to keep your vehicle looking like brand new, including cut polishing and ceramic coating. Additional services will increase the amount of time and care we need to take with your vehicle. We strive to deliver the highest quality while being the most convenient and will develop a detailing plan that fits your schedule.
Yes, we do! Colorworks Express Autobody Centers can offer a gift certificate for our detailing services, or any service, at all our locations. Do you have a special occasion coming up? Surprise your friends and family with a gift that will make them feel like a celebrity as they drive their freshly clean car that looks like brand new.
Well of course you can! At Colorworks Express Autobody Centers, our trained technicians bring the highest level of quality to your detail service. We add the convenience of offering multiple packages, saving you time if you were to clean it up yourself. Step into your vehicle after one of our packages and feel like it’s brand new on the inside.
Definitely! Colorworks Express Autobody Centers can tackle any vehicle to make it look like brand new on the inside and out. We can remove large amounts of pet hair, mud, and even stains. By bringing your vehicle to Colorworks Express Autobody Centers, it will look and feel like new on the inside after a thorough clean and dressing to keep you smiling on the road.