You will be notified when your vehicle is ready to be picked up. You can use this website to monitor the status of your repair. Feel free to call or e-mail us if you have questions or concerns.
We ask that you please deactivate your alarm before leaving your vehicle with us. It may be necessary to disconnect your car battery during repairs, so your alarm system may need to be reactivated by the alarm installer if it is not first deactivated. King Collision cannot be responsible for deactivating or reactivating alarms due to the many types and models. We also request that you please leave your key pads with your keys.
Please remove all of your belongings – our technicians will need to access all areas of your vehicle as it gets disassembled, repaired, painted and reassembled. Thanks!
For your convenience, we have installed a drop box located at the front of our building. In it you will find envelopes and a pen so that you can provide information about your vehicle, and any special instructions that you may have. If you will be picking up your vehicle after hours, please call us to make arrangements. We are always happy to accommodate your busy schedule.
There are three types of parts used in the repair process, and it’s important to know that all parts are not created equal.
- Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts are made by or for the manufacturer of your vehicle. These parts are equivalent to the original parts on your vehicle.
- New After Market parts are copies of your OEM parts made by another manufacturer. These parts are generally cheaper than OEM parts, but tend to be of lesser quality than OEM.
- Used or Salvage parts are parts that have been recovered from “totaled” vehicles.
King Collision Centers prefers and requests to use OEM parts over all other types, but the insurance companies set their own policies to comply with Massachusetts mandates on After Market part utilization. Unfortunately, we have no control over their policies. If you are not satisfied with the usage of After Market parts, you may speak with your insurance company Claims Rep or Appraiser to ask them to authorize the use of OEM parts.
We recommend that you endorse the insurance check over to King Collision Center after the repairs are completed. If you deposit the check, your bank will require the check to clear before you are able to draw funds against it, possibly causing a delay in the delivery of your completed vehicle. Please note that our payment policy requires payment in full at the time of the delivery.
The original insurance appraisal is written to identify only the visual damage done to your vehicle. The insurance appraiser did not disassemble your vehicle and methodically inspect each part for damage, so they are unable to assess all of the damage. As collision repair professionals, King Collision Center licensed appraisers will take the time to identify all of the related damage done to your vehicle and obtain the necessary authorization from your insurance company to make these repairs. You should demand that 100% of the damage is repaired. The result of our diligence is that your vehicle gets returned to its pre-accident operation, safety and value.
If your vehicle has mechanical, suspension, electronic, tire or battery damage, etc., your insurance company may assess an additional cost over and above the amount of your deductible for what they call “betterment” or “depreciation”. Here is an example of how betterment is applied: Your vehicle’s tire is blown when the car hits the curb. The tire was approximately 50% worn. The insurance company paid for a new tire costing $100. The new tire is “better” than the old tire because it has all new tread. So, the insurance company may require you to pay $50 towards the cost of the tire. King Collision Center has NO control over the betterment or depreciation charges assessed by the insurance company. You may be able to speak with your insurance company Claims Rep or Appraiser to review these charges.
Generally, our customers are responsible for paying only their insurance deductible, plus any “betterment” or “depreciation” costs, as assessed by your insurance company.
No! In fact, if you’re filing an insurance claim, then you don’t really need an estimate at all; you just need your vehicle repaired. King Collision will negotiate your repairs on your behalf with your insurance company to ensure you get the best possible repair in the fastest time possible. Remember: you have the right to have your vehicle repaired at the repair shop of your choice. We hope you choose King Collision Centers.
We are open Monday through Friday 7:00am to 5:00pm, and 8:00am to 12:00pm on Saturday.
You can certainly walk in to get an estimate, but appointments are strongly recommended. If you let us know in advance that you are coming in, we can make sure one of our estimators is available at the location nearest you! It takes approximately 20 minutes to produce an estimate. We look at the damaged area(s), take notes, snap pictures for your insurance company, enter the information into the computer, look up the parts, materials and labor prices, and print out a complete estimate.
We work with all major insurance companies, and we have developed direct relationships with many of them.
We realize what a huge inconvenience it is to be without your vehicle. However, due to the nature of collision repair, we are unable to provide you with a realistic completion date until we have had an opportunity to:
- Completely and systematically dismantle your vehicle.
- Methodically inspect every part for damage.
- Have your insurance company view the damage and approve our repair plan.
- Order and receive 100% of the parts needed to repair your vehicle.
The time needed to perform these functions and then complete the repair differs for each vehicle. Vehicles that have minimal damage can be repaired in just a day, while others with more extensive damage can take a few weeks. We will complete the repairs as quickly as possible and keep you informed of our progress throughout the entire repair process.
Massachusetts state law provides you with the right to take your vehicle to the repair center of your choice. Here are some tips for making the best decision for you:
- DO NOT select a repair center because they provided you with the lowest estimate. Initial estimates only detail the visual damage to your vehicle. There is almost certainly going to be more damage discovered after the vehicle is disassembled and inspected thoroughly.
- DO NOT select a repair shop because they claim to be able to “save your deductible”. First of all, the practice of “saving a deductible” is illegal. Secondly, if a business will accept $500 fewer dollars to repair your vehicle, do you think they will still perform all of the work specified by the insurance company? You should insist that your vehicle is repaired 100% to ensure your vehicle is restored to its pre-accident operation, safety and value. And if a body shop is willing to cheat the insurance company, they are also willing to cheat you!
- DO evaluate the professionalism of the repair center’s staff. Were they courteous? Did they explain the insurance claim process to you? Were they knowledgeable and did they take a real interest in your vehicle?
- The collision center appraiser should explain your damage estimate to you in detail so you know what needs to be repaired and why.
- DO make sure the repair center has a paint spray booth to ensure the highest quality paint finish possible.
- Ask to see vehicles awaiting delivery and inspect the quality.
- Ask for references of car dealers, insurance agents or customers that have had their vehicles repaired at the center.
- Ask to review the lifetime written warranty. All repair work should be guaranteed in writing.
