Once your car is booked in and you hand over the keys, it can feel like it disappears into a black box for a few days. You get updates, maybe a phone call or two, and then a finished car. Here is what actually happens in between.
The first day: a proper look, not a quick glance
Before any work starts, your car gets a full assessment, not just of the damage you called about, but a check for anything that isn’t obvious from the outside. Panels can hide bent structure underneath, and a bumper knock can sometimes affect sensors or alignment you would never spot by eye. This stage decides what the job actually involves, not just what it looked like in the car park.
If you are going through insurance, this is also when the repair plan gets confirmed with them, parts get ordered, and a realistic timeline gets set. We would rather tell you an honest number of days upfront than a fast one that slips.
Stripping back before building up
For anything beyond a light scuff, the damaged area gets stripped back so the technician can see exactly what they are working with. Trim gets removed carefully and kept safe, and any structural work happens before a single coat of paint goes anywhere near the car. Painting over a problem underneath is exactly the kind of shortcut that causes issues later, so it does not happen here.
Getting the paint right
Paint matching is one of the parts customers notice most, because a slightly wrong shade is obvious the moment the car is back in daylight. We use a PPG colour matching system to get as close to your exact factory finish as possible, accounting for the fact that paint can fade slightly with age and sun exposure. The panel gets primed, painted, and clear coated in a controlled environment, then left to cure properly rather than rushed out the door while still soft.
Putting it back together and checking it
Once paint has cured, everything that was removed goes back on: trim, badges, lights, sensors. Then comes a full check, not just that the repair looks right, but that everything the car relies on actually works. Panel gaps get checked against the rest of the car, lights and sensors get tested, and if anything needed recalibrating (cameras, parking sensors, that sort of thing) it gets done and verified before the car goes anywhere near you.
A car that looks perfect but has a warning light waiting to appear on the drive home is not a finished job.
The bit you actually see: collection
When you collect your car, you should be able to ask what was done and get a straight answer, not a vague one. If insurance is involved, that paperwork gets sorted so you are not left chasing anyone afterward. And if anything does not look or feel right once you are driving it, you should be able to come back and get it looked at without an argument.
Why it takes as long as it does
Every stage above needs the previous one to actually be finished, structural work before paint, paint fully cured before reassembly, reassembly checked before collection. Skipping ahead to hit a faster deadline is how cars end up back in a workshop a second time. We would rather give you a realistic timeline once and be right about it.
Frequently asked questions
Can I see my car while it’s being repaired?
Yes, just ask when you drop it off or give us a call. We’re happy to show you progress if you want to see it.
What if I’m not happy with the finished repair?
Come back and talk to us. A repair that isn’t right gets put right, that’s part of what BS10125 accreditation means in practice, not just on paper.
Do I get updates while my car is in for repair?
Yes. You’ll hear from us at key points, particularly if the repair plan changes once we’ve had a proper look underneath the damage.
Will my car be checked for hidden damage, not just what’s visible?
Always. The initial assessment looks past the obvious damage specifically to catch anything that isn’t visible from outside the car.
How do I know if my car needs recalibration after repair?
If your car has cameras, parking sensors, or driver assistance features anywhere near the repaired area, it gets checked as standard, you don’t need to ask for it separately.