If your car was involved in an accident, you’ll need to take it to a panel beater to be repaired. But what is a panel beater? How do they perform accident repairs?
A panel beater has to undergo years of training and certification to be able to restore your vehicle back to its factory condition. The more experience they have, the quicker and more professional the service will be.
Here’s everything you need to know about panel beating professionals and the work they perform.
Professional panel beaters have to complete a Certificate in Automotive Body Repair Technology from a registered training organisation, followed by an apprenticeship. The training and qualification process generally takes around three years.
They learn specialised panel beating techniques on how to adequately repair an accident-damaged vehicle so that it looks as good as new, but more importantly, so that it’s safe to drive. This includes replacing damaged panels and using specialised tools and equipment.
Panel beaters are required to:
They are also well-versed in working with parts of vehicles that are made from fibreglass, metal and plastic.
Panel beaters restore vehicle bodies back to their pre-accident condition. They first assess the damage and make a diagnosis of what repair work is required, and where. Then they will remove the damaged panels and components, by unbolting or cutting them away if necessary.
If the damaged parts can be repaired, the panel beater will use metalworking, mechanical, and hydraulic equipment to do so. Dents are repaired using plastic fillers and then filed down, before the repaired parts are welded back together.
All parts that had to be replaced are genuine and from the vehicle manufacturer.
Although aesthetical imperfections after smash repairs are important, you also need to test your vehicle to ensure that it’s controlling and working properly.
Tell your smash repairer that you’re taking your car for a test drive, and even invite them to join you. Take note of the steering and whether the car pulls to one side. This could happen because of a bent frame or poor alignment of the body structure. Having this addressed is imperative because it could lead to a second accident.
The steering wheel also shouldn’t be too hard or too easy to turn.
If the repairs needed were due to an accident, also check the airbags. If they were disengaged, check that the fitting is flush and installed correctly so that they are providing safety as they should.
As well as performing functional repairs, panel beaters are also required to improve the way a vehicle looks. They can grind and sand away scratches, chips and scuffs that are present on the body.
Some panel beaters are also qualified spray paint technicians. Once the vehicle has been repaired, those spots are sanded down and then a primer is applied. Colour matching is an integral part of the process to ensure a seamless finish. After the car has been expertly spray painted, the technician will move the car into the baking cycle.
Other paint services include blackout and chrome detailing.
Our team consists of experienced panel beaters who deliver excellent service by utilising cutting-edge technology. Your car will be restored to its former glory with a quick turnaround time and affordable prices.
We emphasise quality repairs at the best rates because our community is important to us. For this reason, we provide free quotes – which you are under no obligation to accept.
Our panel beaters are smash repair experts and can fix any dents and bumps on your car easily. We won’t just replace damaged panels unnecessarily, and we’ll always let you know if more extensive repairs are needed or if parts need replacing.
We will liaise with your insurance company and send them the quote for the necessary repairs. If you need a replacement vehicle while your car is with our panel beaters, we can arrange that for you as well.
Our skilled spray painting team can fix any chips or scratches and expertly cover up the evidence of any auto body repairs. You can expect a flawless finish thanks to our colour-matching solutions, whether it’s just a small touch-up or a complete respray.
Bumper repairs are common, especially because the plastic bumpers present on newer cars are damaged more easily. No matter how old or new a car is, our panel beater service can effectively restore it so that no one can tell it has even been in an accident.
We can fix cars, vans, trucks, bikes and any other vehicles on the roads, whether it’s an antique or a prestige car. Each panel beater on our team is an expert on smash repairs in the automotive industry, so you can trust us to beautifully restore your vehicle.
If you need a skilled panel beater in Sydney, contact our team of professionals today. We’ll answer any questions you have, and you can bring your car in for a free inspection and quote.