FAQ

That mainly depends on the extent of the damage and the availability of parts. The manager will be able to give you a good idea of how long your repair will take when you come in for your estimate.

If your car is driveable you might be directed to take it to an accident reporting center, or if the police have been called and the damage is limited you will just exchange insurance information and police reports with anyone else involved in the accident. If your car is not driveable you will need to have it towed (your insurance company will pay for this) it is best to have it towed to the shop that you want to have the car repaired at. Instruct the tow truck driver where you want it towed, if it is taken to a compound there will be additional charges for storage and for a second tow to get it to a shop – this will all increase your claim and eventually your insurance rates.

Call your insurance broker, agent or the insurance carrier directly to report the accident and start the claim. Your broker will be able to advise you if it is best to put the claim through or to pay out of pocket (sometimes if the damage is limited you might be better to pay out of pocket to avoid an increase in rates). If you do start the claim, remember IT’S YOUR CHOICE where to have the repairs done. It’s your car, your insurance policy and your choice. Ask friends and family for referrals and then follow up on those referrals; visit the shop, check out their Facebook page for reviews and then CHOOSE YOUR SHOP. The shop will do the estimate, arrange a rental or loaner and deal with your insurance company.

After the repairs be sure to get a copy of the estimate so you know what parts were put on and if they are factory or after-market. Walk around the car with the shop owner to have all the repairs explained to you and inspect the quality of the finish.
The insurance company will pay for the repairs, you will be required to pay the deductible as set out in your policy – less any discounts offered by the shop.

For collision repairs; your guarantee is for as long as you own your car. The guarantee is from your BODY SHOP, not your insurance company. For rust repairs, we are honest – if you had rust once, we guarantee it will come back. We do quality work, but the truth is there is only so much product we can put in your car to protect it, and winter driving in Canada on salt and sanded roads will take its toll on your car. We do our best, but no one can guarantee rust won’t come back – don’t be fooled.

We do rust repairs but not complete restorations for antique cars/ trucks. Your best defense against rust is oil undercoating. There are many places that offer this service and the best time to invest in that is in the fall before winter driving.

If no one else was involved – it is simply up to you to get a quote, choose a shop and have the repairs done – be sure to let the shop know that you are NOT going through insurance and that you would appreciate any savings they can pass on to you.
If someone else was involved; you need to decide who is at fault and who is paying for the repairs. Once that is decided, you each choose the shop of your choice to have the repairs done at. Typically; the repairs are paid for PRIOR to being completed if they are paid by any one other then the car owner. It is safer for the car owner to be assured the funds are available for the repairs prior to the work being done. If the payment can not be arranged; you still have the option of calling your insurance company, however once the repairs are done – someone has to pay the bill to have the car released. It is best to have this dealt with up front and with the body shop so everyone understands who is paying for what and when that payment is required.

Every car has a paint code embedded on the door panel, we take that code, enter it in our computer system and it gives us the formula to mix it. When a car has some fading, we also have a color gun we can use to find the closest formula to the color it is now. We use PPG water based and environmentally friendly paint system and clear coat in a semi-down draft paint booth.

Many small rock chips and cracks can be repaired without needing to replace your windshield, saving you time and money. If your rock chip is smaller than a quarter in diameter, it may be repairable. If your windshield crack is less than 6” long (the size of a dollar bill), it may be repairable.

We offer paintless dent repair / PDR service at select locations.

Yes. Whether your automotive paint is damaged due to a collision, vandalism, or related, we can help. Our computerized color matching system ensures a seamless repair.

Yes! we clean every vehicle after the repairs are completed. Our auto detailers do amazing work and your vehicle will be polished. Interior cleaning can be performed at an extra cost.

Normally about 30 minutes including reviewing the claims process with you. In some cases, vehicles are damaged internally beyond what is visible without dismantling the vehicle. In this case, we will notify your insurance company appraiser upon their arrival.

A “direct repair shop”, or “preferred shop” is a body shop that has formed an agreement with various insurance companies ensuring lower shop rates in exchange for persuading policy holders that have been in car accidents to get the repairs done at their shop. This agreement between the insurance company and the body shop has nothing to do with guarantees, quality of repairs, or customer satisfaction. It is simply; the body shop gives discounts to insurance companies and make up the difference in higher volume.

Your insurance company can NOT make you go to a shop you don’t want, however some of them can be aggressive when trying to persuade you. It is easy to feel intimidated by your insurance company, if you are – then simply go to the shop of your choice and ask that shop to deal with your insurance company for you – it is part of our service.

Tachoir Auto has installed the best available technology to repair both traditional frames and today’s more common unibody construction. We are equipped with CAR-O-LINER and the GUY CHART P4 SYSTEMS. Both are pinpoint-accurate for measuring deviations from manufacturers’ specifications and restoring your frame or unibody to its original dimensions.