Car repair is an extremely stressful time, no matter what your insurance company may tell you. Throughout the repair process, they’re trying to get you to go to a body shop of their choosing, and you think it’s because they have your best interest in mind. What you may not realize is there is a major difference between shops that go straight to work on the repair and those who take the time to look up the OEM repair procedures laid out for them, by your car’s manufacturer. We’re here to tell New Jersey drivers the difference between an OEM Certified Repair Technician and someone who is simply “experienced.”
But before we do, it’s important to know that you have the right to choose where your car gets repaired. Your insurance company may pressure you in one direction, but if it’s not where you want to go, you have that right.
What Does An OEM Certified Technician Do?
Quite possibly the biggest way you’ll spot the difference between an OEM Certified Technician and an average technician is their training and a meticulous approach to the repair process. OEM certified repairs take time to research the repair procedures for each individual car so technicians can create a unique repair plan on that particular vehicle. Technicians who don’t follow these repair procedures will “assume” that you can do the same repair for each car. However, this method of car repair is forever in the past. No car repair is ever the same, and the best body shops know this.
Although repair technicians are required to have ASE certification to work on your car, there are no laws stating they need an actual license to work on your car. This means they can do whatever they want to your vehicle and wouldn’t be breaking any laws. However, it is not without putting your safety at risk. Car repair is extremely complex nowadays, which is why car manufacturers will release OEM repair procedures on each of their vehicles. An OEM certified technician only follows these repair procedures, as they are the safest and highest quality repairs out there for your car.
What’s Different Between An OEM Certified Technician And An Average Technician?
Below is a chart of what steel repairs on Honda and Acura vehicles would require:
Body shops that are under contract with insurance companies are required to perform repairs in a certain amount of time. Usually, the given deadline is almost impossible to meet in order to properly perform the repair. As a result, technicians will cut corners in the repair process to shave off time and save money to keep the insurance company satisfied, but critical aspects in the repair process. One of the first is neglecting to look up OEM repair procedures for every repair.
As an example, a technician working in a body shop chain is required to move cars quickly through the shop, meeting these deadlines. Because they’re paid to do this, they’ll probably neglect to look up what a manufacturer has to say about a repair procedure (such as the chart above).
Even if a body technician had this chart memorized, they still would need to check the database to learn what steel is used where on that particular vehicle. Cars all look the same, especially when they are painted. However, no car repair is ever the same. Period.
The OEM certified technician has easy access to this data because the shop owner has made that investment in the business and the technicians. They know how important it is to follow these repair procedures, and refuse to repair your car any other way.
No car repair is ever the same, regardless of how many Hondas or Acuras a technician might have repaired in their career. If a shop isn’t OEM certified, your car will never be the same after the repair. The car’s value decreases, parts won’t fit, and the ADAS features might not perform its designated functions. Not to mention, your safety will be at risk if the ADAS features no longer work properly.
An OEM certified technician has taken the time to get the additional training so they know how to repair your car correctly. They know car repair is in a constant state of change and that following what the manufacturer instructs for their vehicles is the only way cars should be repaired.
Who In New Jersey Follows OEM Repair Procedures ?
Here at Cherry Hill Collision know you have many choices on where to take your car to be repaired in New Jersey. When you come to our shop, your safety is our number one priority and we aim to show you why we are the best at what we do.
We feel that we are truly the best because are committed to giving you the highest quality of repair out there. All of our technicians are up to date on the latest OEM repair procedures and have received extensive training. You will never be left in the dark throughout the repair process. Once you get your car back, it will be looking, running, and operating as if it was brand new!
Let us help you in your auto repair process! We can be reached at (856)-663-0500. If you’d like to schedule an appointment or to get an online quote, click here to get started!
We look forward to hearing from you and helping you in any of your auto repair needs!
