Carl's Collision Center

01    Do I have to use the shop my insurance recommends?

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No. You pick the shop. Your insurer can suggest a name, but in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, the choice is yours, and insurance companies are required to work with licensed repair facilities. We work with every major insurance company and we'll talk to your adjuster directly, so picking us doesn't slow anything down.

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02    What should I do right after the accident?

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If anyone's hurt, call 911 first. After that: photos of the damage, photos of the other car, the other driver's license and insurance card, and the police report number if there is one. Then call us. We can tell you whether the car's safe to drive and arrange a tow if it isn't.

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03    Will the repair come with a warranty?

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Yes. We offer a lifetime warranty on all of our repairs.​

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04    Are you certified to fix my vehicle?

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We are I-CAR Gold Class, which is the industry-wide standard, and we also hold OEM certifications from Tesla, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, Honda, Ford, and many others. Certification means the manufacturer trains and audits us on their specific repair procedures, equipment, and parts. We also hold certifications through ASE and the OEC Certified Repair Network. 

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05    Do you fix electric vehicles?

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Yes, We're a Tesla Approved Body Shop, which is rare in this part of New England, and we do a lot of EV work on other vehicles as well. Battery handling, high-voltage disconnects, and the aluminum structure on most EVs all need specific training and equipment. We have both.

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06    Do you do aluminum repair?

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Yes, we conduct aluminum repair in a clean area kept separate from our steel work so the two don't cross-contaminate. That matters on F-150s, newer Mercedes, Volvos, Teslas, and anything else with aluminum structure. Most shops sublet this. We don't.

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07    What about ADAS calibration?

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We do some calibrations in-house, and other more advanced calibrations are conducted by local dealership partners. Either way, your car gets calibrated before it leaves us. ADAS is the lane-keep, automatic-brake, blind-spot, and adaptive-cruise systems, and most panel or windshield work means at least one of them needs a recalibration. We handle the coordination.

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08    Do you replace glass?

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We coordinate it. We work with a couple of glass shops we trust, and they come to us. No separate appointment for you.

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09    Paintless dent repair?

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We bring in a PDR specialist when the damage qualifies. If your car is a candidate for PDR rather than a panel replacement, we'll tell you up front, because it's faster and cheaper.

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10    How long will the repair take?

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It depends on the damage and parts availability. Paying for a small bumper job out-of-pocket might be three or four days. A heavier hit with frame or aluminum work going through an insurance claim could run several weeks, depending on how long it takes for parts to arrive and how long it takes your insurance company to come out and correctly verify the damages and repair procedures. We give you a real timeline at the estimate, and we call if it changes.

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11   Do you use OEM parts or aftermarket parts?

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We use OEM parts as much as possible, and we always fight for insurance companies to pay for OEM parts instead of aftermarket or used parts. If you want OEM and your policy doesn't cover it, ask your adjuster, and ask us. We can usually figure out the difference.

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12    Will you work directly with my insurance company?

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Yes. Estimates, supplements, photos, all of it. You don't have to play middleman. We just need your claim number and adjuster info.

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13    Can I get an estimate?

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Walk in, or call ahead to set a time. Insurance estimates from photos tend to come in light, because there's damage you can't see until the car's on a lift. The real number lands once we get under the panel.

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14    What about a rental car?

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We have Enterprise on-site at our Fall River location, and they'll deliver to the other shops. We also work with several other insurance companies, meaning you have options for a replacement vehicle. Whether your insurance pays for the rental depends on your policy, so check your coverage before the repair starts. If your policy doesn't cover it, you can still rent on your own.

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15    My car can't be driven. Can you help with a tow?

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Yes. Call us and we will coordinate having your vehicle towed to us.

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16    Should I take my belongings out before I drop the car off?

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Yes, please take any personal belongings out of the vehicle if you expect to need them while the vehicle is being repaired with us. If you forget something, you can always come by and we will get it for you later on.