What Really Happens When Your Car Goes Into a Body Shop
Behind-the-scenes at Elevated Auto Body in Lafayette, CO
At Elevated Auto Body, we believe in transparency and giving you clear insight into the repair process so you can feel confident, informed, and trust the work being done on your vehicle. When your car comes into our shop, here's the step-by-step journey it takes.
1. Initial Inspection & Estimate Authorization
The first stop is our estimators carefully assessing your vehicle. They catalogue visible damage, check for obvious structural issues, and begin working with your insurance: we prepare a detailed estimate outlining parts, labor, paint, scans/calibrations and any necessary sublet work.
We also coordinate with your insurer early, increasing alignment, minimizing surprises down the line.
2. In-Depth Inspection & Supplements
Once the vehicle is inside our facility, our technicians dive deeper. What you see isn’t always the full picture. Hidden damage is common. During this phase we:
Lift panels or remove liners to verify frame, structural or sensor damage
Scan advanced driver-assist systems (ADAS) to check for calibration needs
Document any additional damage and prepare a supplemental repair estimate for insurance approval
This ensures your vehicle is restored to its pre-accident condition, not just what’s visible.
3. Tear-down, Parts Ordering & Repair Planning
With approval secured, we move into tear-down: removing damaged panels, bumpers, lights, sensors, etc. This gives us full access and helps confirm the scope.
Then:
We order parts (OEM, approved aftermarket or recycled if appropriate) and schedule any sub-contracted work (glass, alignment, frame-straightening)
We create a logical workflow: body repair → structural/framing work → sensors/calibrations → paint prep
Because modern vehicles often include aluminum or composite parts, electronic sensors, cameras and safety systems, the teardown phase is more critical than ever.
4. Body Repair & Structural Restoration
Our technicians now perform the core structural and body repair work:
Straightening or replacing damaged frame or unibody segments
Repairing or replacing panels, welds, adhesives, rivets as required
Ensuring proper alignment of doors, hoods, trunk, gaps
Re-installing sensors, wiring, ADAS components (which will later be calibrated)
Regular updates keep you in the loop, because even when your car is in the shop, you’re still in the driver’s seat of the process.
5. Paint, Finish & Reassembly
Once the body work is done, the vehicle is prepped for paint:
Surfaces are sanded, primed, masked
A precision colour-match is done and paint is applied in our controlled-environment spray booth
Clear coat, curing, polishing
Panels re-assembled: trim, lights, sensors, weather-strips
Final detailing: cleaning, buffing, checking appearance
Our goal: the car not only functions like new, it looks like new.
6. Quality Checks & Final Calibration
Before you pick up your vehicle, here’s what happens:
ADAS (driver-assist) systems are scanned and calibrated so everything from lane assist to collision avoidance works as designed
A final road test and alignment check (if applicable) to verify performance
A visual inspection of every panel, trim, finish, gap, paint match
We’ll walk you through the repairs. What was done, what parts were used, any warranty info
You leave knowing everything was done to our high standard.
7. Timeline, Costs & What You Can Expect
One of the biggest questions: How long will this take? Because each vehicle and accident is unique, we provide initial estimates and keep you updated. Timeline depends on:
Extent of damage (visible + hidden)
Parts availability and shipping
Specialized repair or calibration needs
Shop load and scheduling
As for costs: the estimate breakdown we provide includes labor, parts, paint/materials, diagnostics/scans, sublets, shop supplies, even disposal and environmental fees. We’ve published a breakdown to help you understand what you’re paying for.
Our commitment: no hidden charges, no surprises. You’ll have realistic expectations and peace of mind.
Why Trust Elevated Auto Body?
Locally owned, community-focused, serving Lafayette, Boulder and the Front Range.
Technicians trained and certified, working with modern tools and techniques
Eco-conscious: water-based paints, recycling heavy materials, best-in-class repair environment.
Transparent communication each step of the way
When your car enters an auto body shop, it’s more than just “fixing” dents. It’s a thorough process of restoring safety, structure and appearance. At Elevated Auto Body, we walk you through every stage so you’re informed, comfortable and confident in the outcome.
If you ever have questions about the repair process, parts, timeline or cost, please contact us. We’re here to help you every mile of the way.
