Absolutely! Anyone who appraises cars for a living can tell you that the quality of collision repair varies dramatically and the quality of repairs makes a big difference in the value of your car. The quality of repair depends on several things:

1. The skills and the attention of the body tech and painter

2. The quality of the equipment and tools

3. The materials, paint and parts used

4. The overall management of the process and quality control.

We have made substantial investment in all areas of quality to ensure the repair of your vehicle is the very best possible. Remember, if your car is damaged, you have the right to choose where it is repaired. If you’re like most people, your car is probably the 2nd biggest investment, so make sure you choose a collision center with the very highest quality repairs.

OEM – Original Equipment Manufactured. New parts sold directly from the dealer.

LKQ – Like Kind and Quality. Used OEM parts taken off a vehicle that was probably totaled or sold for parts.

Aftermarket – New parts made from someone other than the original manufacturer. They are often less expensive then OEM parts. Some aftermarket parts have been certified by CAPA (Certified Automotive Parts Association). CAPA tests for quality standard fits and corrosion protection.

Remanufactured – An OEM part that has been refurbished for resale.

A betterment is a reduction in payment for wear and tear on parts. It is commonly used by insurance companies on replaced parts such as tires, batteries and some suspension items. For example if your tire needs replaced and it was 50% used, the insurance company will only cover 50% of the cost of the new tire as a betterment.

Yes, as the vehicle owner the decision is yours. We do repairs for all of the insurance companies whether or not we participate in their direct repair program. And because we stand behind what we do, all of our customers are given a lifetime warranty.

Typically, if the cost to repair your car exceeds 70% of its market value before it was damaged, then it’s considered a total loss by most insurance companies. Insurance policies contain clauses that limit them from paying more than your car is worth. The insurance company makes the determination if your car is a total loss based on repair costs, salvage value and pre-loss market value.

We must be able to paint the edges that are tightly fit against the car in order to produce a quality repair. Anything less would risk the durability of the paint procedure. Short cuts are not recommended at Altman’s Body Shop.

Yes, we have a secure 24-hour key drop. It is well lit at night and quite easy to find on the front of our building.