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Collision Center- Helpful Tips
Transparent Auto Body Repair Process

The auto body repair process isn't a mystery at Nate's Garage & Collision Center. Here is what you can expect after setting an appointment with us.

  • Step 1: Initial Estimate
    Before service are rendered, we provide you with a FREE estimate. This estimate can take about 30 minutes of your time. The vehicle will be inspected for damage and photos will be taken. The Estimator will then compile all data into our system to generat...
  • Step 2: Insurance Approval
    The Estimator will submit our estimate to your insurance company, and they will review the estimate. We will handle all the negotiations required to repair the vehicle to pre accident condition.
  • Step 3: Disassembly
    In this stage, hidden damage is often found, and inner structure repairs are determined. This may require scheduling insurance to re-inspect and ordering additional parts.
  • Step 4: Parts Ordered

    Once estimate or supplement is approved by insurance the required parts for your vehicle are researched and available ones will be ordered.

  • Step 5: Repairs
    At this stage parts start to arrive, and any mechanical work needed will be completed. If there is damage to the body structure with specific tools and measuring system the vehicle is returned back to factory specifications.
  • Step 6: Body Repair
    Our auto body repair experts will get your car looking good again with new sheet metal and finishings.
  • Step 7: Painting
    This stage is when the refinishing process is critical. All parts and panels are prepared for paint, then primed and sealed to assure good adhesion with the final top color and clear coats of paint are applied.
  • Step 8: Final

    This stage includes reassembly, detailing, road tested and final inspection. Delivery is the last step in the repair process.

HAIL YES, we can take care of your hail damage needs.
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  • CONCERN #1

    “It’s only super light hail damage. I can hardly see it… it’s probably only a few hundred dollars damage, so I do not think I will worry about it.”

    Yes, it’s only cosmetic, and maybe it doesn’t bother you. But what many people fail to discover in time, is that very light hail damage is still devastating to your vehicle’s value. $4,000-$7,000 in damage is very typical, even when you can barely see it.

    CONCERN #2

    “Does paintless dent repair work on hail damage?”

    If no paint damage is present, then paintless dent repair is the top choice for car hail damage. In fact, 80% to 90% of dents from hail can be repaired using paintless dent repair methods. This modern technique of hail dent removal can provide a number of advantages.

    Highly-skilled technicians use specialist tools like body picks and metal rods to push the dent out from the inside. The PDR technician will first assess the damage. The goal is to find out how big the dent is, how it can be accessed, and whether PDR will work.

    CONCERN #3

    “If I see hail damage on my car, the first thing I should do is call my insurance company and file a claim, then do what they tell me.”

    After a hailstorm damages a large number of vehicles in an area, insurance companies are often inundated with claims. Sometimes you’ll wait weeks or even months before an adjustor actually inspects your vehicle, creates an “estimate”, and offers a settlement check.

    Keep in mind, depending on their situation, many people will take the money and run… and the insurance company is counting on this.

    Let’s say you understand the value proposition and you definitely want to repair your vehicle. Your insurance company will be happy to provide you with names of repair shops that are on their “Preferred Vendor” list. It is your choice to select a repair shop to perform the repairs on your vehicle. If fact, your choice is protected by Minnesota State Law.

    CONCERN #4

    “If I file a claim for hail damage, they are going to raise my premium, and it’s just not worth it.”

    It will depend upon your state’s laws and insurance carrier’s ratings system, but generally comprehensive claims of this nature don’t affect your rates. There are even some states that don’t allow surcharges for comprehensive claims or claims where you are not at fault.

    Claims for damages caused by natural events typically are not held against you, since they are unforeseeable and out of your control. But you should check with your insurer to be certain.

    CONCERN #5

    “Does hail damage affect the title of the car?”

    Hail damage will be noted on your car’s title only if the following are both true:

    – The insurance company has declared it a total loss.
    – Your state allows hail damage as the sole reason for a salvage title.

    Many states have a “hail” designation to distinguish hail-totaled cars from wrecked or flooded ones. Others simply mark the title as “salvage.”

  • We are here to take your calls and emails. Please call 507-263-2785 or email us at natesgaragebody@gmail.com.

    Along with warm weather and plenty of moisture comes the possibility of hail. Warmth and moisture are a powerful combination that cause the supermassive cumulonimbus clouds that are hail’s source.

    In short, hail is dangerous. It can injure exposed people, damage your home, and it can do a number on your car. Here in Minnesota, the dangers of hail are magnified due to the regularity of hail storms throughout the state. When a storm is on the radar, take proper precautions to ensure your safety and mitigate property damage. Be sure that your home and vehicle(s) are insured, and if you do encounter dents on your vehicle, you can always count us to provide you with Paintless Dent Repair of hail damage.

  • Hail storms roll through Minnesota almost every Spring causing vehicle damage. Do you have hail damage? Have you filed a claim? Hail claims will not go against your driving record and should not effect insurance rates.   Therefore we strive to make the claims process stress-free for our customers. The steps listed below explain how to handle your hail claim.

    * Call your insurance company and file a claim. A claim number will be provided to you. * An adjuster will be scheduled to assess the hail damage and write an estimate. * Drop your vehicle off at Nate's Garage & Collision Center along with the insurance estimate. We do not need to write an estimate. Repairs are started from the insurance estimate. * As a result of estimates being preliminary, most will need revising. Therefore we will review your estimate and if any additional repairs are needed a supplement is submitted to your insurance company. * Once supplements are approved repairs will begin. * Customers are updated throughout the repair process.

    In conclusion we hope these steps help explain the hail claims process. If you have any questions or need further information, please contact us.

  • 3 Mistakes to Avoid When Your Car Sustains Hail Damage

    When your car gets damaged by hail, seek hail damage repair right away –Paintless dent repair (PDR) is a non-invasive and methodical process that can restore your vehicle’s worth. In most cases, PDR is the best solution for auto hail damage repair, saving many drivers considerable time, money and hassle when compared to traditional repair processes. Due to the cost and reduction in value that occurs from using traditional hail repair methods, many individuals have made the following common mistakes, which should be avoided whenever possible.

    Here’s what not to do when your car is damaged by hail.

    1. Attempting DIY Dent Removal

    The dents from hail on your vehicle may seem small, but certainly pack a punch in terms of how much they reduce the value of your vehicle. When there’s not much visible damage, you may be tempted to repair them on your own. You may wonder, why pay for dent removal costs when you could easily watch a YouTube repair video or buy a PDR kit and repair the dents yourself? Here’s why that’s detrimental. For starters, there’s no guarantee that the DIY methods you’ve seen on the internet will prove successful. Worst case, you may chip, scratch or dislodge the original factory paint on the car. When this happens, PDR may be no longer applicable, and without repairs, rust will form and spread on your vehicle.

    2. Waiting Until the Hail Season Is Over to Seek Dent Repair or Claim Insurance

    PDR experts advise car owners to seek paintless dent repair as soon as their cars get hail damage. When hail damage occurs, be it on the roof, hood, or trunk, you should start searching for paintless dent repair near me. If you wait for the hail season to end, another round of hailstorms will worsen the existing dents and increase your costs. If the second round of damage results in cracked paint, rust will begin time form and spread, eating into the metal panels.

    3. Neglecting to Get an Estimate for PDR Hail Damage Removal

    The biggest mistake people make is not getting their vehicle evaluated for PDR repairs after hail damage happens and instead taking their vehicle straight to an auto body shop for traditional repairs. When the hail dents are repaired by a top PDR technician, your car will not be left with incomplete seals, imperfect color matches, over-spray, or damage to adjacent painted panels that comes from traditional repair methods. PDR preserves your vehicle’s factory finish to ensure that your car keeps its value while getting its appearance restored. It’s faster, more cost-effective, preferred by insurance companies and more beneficial for your investment in your vehicle.

Blog
Welcome to our NEW blog. We are so excited to share some tip, tricks and great articles. This is where you can catch up on the latest automotive industry updates as well as what's new at Nate's Garage & Collision Repair Center.

  • Impact of supply chain issues on Collision Repair Shops
    February 2, 2022 at 3:00 PM

    The current supply chain issues is causing immense delays to many collision shops across the US. It is becoming increasingly difficult for auto repair shops to find even minor spare parts these days. In addition, many auto body shops are having a hard time convincing customers that the delay in car repairs is only because of the global shortage in automotive supply and that they are doing their best to avoid delays in car repairs. Below, we’ll look at some of the reasons automotive supplies have delayed.

  • Diagnostic charges: why am I being charged for one?

    March 2, 2022 at 11:00 PM

    Let's talk Diagnostics: I already know what the issue is with my car.

  • Preventing Costly Repairs
    March 7, 2022 at 6:00 PM
    Your vehicle isn't the only aspect of your life with recommended intervals: you have dental cleanings, physical exams, laundry, mowing and paying bills. What would happen if you didn't follow those intervals? Well, you'd get more cavities. ...
  • Make sure you’re not surprised by costly but important fixes

    March 14, 2022 at 8:00 PM

    Getting 200,000 miles of use—or more—from a vehicle is an impressive feat, but it’s not impossible. Owners should be aware, though, that as a vehicle approaches that milestone, many of its components will start to wear out.

  • 3 Signs That Your Car's Air Conditioner Needs Freon

    March 23, 2022 at 12:00 AM
    It's all about the pressureAir conditioning systems leverage high-and-low pressure. Before the Freon is converted into a liquid in the high side, it starts out as a gas in the low pressure side of the system. The vehicle is kept cool by the constant ...
  • Decreased MPG? Poor performance? It may be time for a fuel service.

    April 9, 2022 at 3:00 AM

    Learn how to save $ at the pump

  • Is a Transmission service necessary?
    May 11, 2022 at 2:00 AM

    What can Nate's Garage & BG do for my car?

  • HAIL! Now what?
    May 20, 2022 at 5:00 PM

    Common Questions & Mistakes

Frequently Asked Questions About Nate's Garage & Collision Center.

Still have questions? We've got answers. Email us or give us a call.

  • We are so glad you asked. We have a few options for you, please talk with our service writer or another memeber of our Nate's Garage Team.

    1. Nate's Community Garage- bridging the financial gap for Veterans and people with fixed incomes to afford unexpected costly automotive repair.

    2. Synchrony Car Care- over 1 million auto merchants nationwide including parts, repair, gas, tires, auto insurance and more mysynchrony.com/carcare

  • Nate's Garage works with a variety of vendors including but not limited to NAPA, O'Rielly, LKQ, all major dealerships etc.

  • We accept cash & all major credit cards

  • Yes, we have a full detail shop with different packages for you to choose from. Visit our Collision/Detail tab to get more info.