Upon arrival, if we have not previously written you an estimate, your damaged vehicle will be thoroughly inspected and a preliminary estimate will be prepared using state-of-the-art estimating computer software. This estimate will be provided to you and/or your insurance company.

No work will begin until we received your written authorization to proceed. Then the damaged portion of your vehicle will be disassembled and will be inspected for any hidden damage. If additional accident-related damage is discovered, Longhorn Collision Center will prepare a supplemental estimate, and submit it to you and/or your insurance company for approval prior to continuing the repair.

Upon approval, our expert technicians will repair or replace the damaged parts as indicated in the estimate. The decision to repair or replace damaged parts depends on the extent of the damage and whether it is more cost effective to repair than replace. This decision is made by the estimator, aided by the computerized estimating program. After repairs are completed, the vehicle proceeds to our paint department for refinishing.

The most important step in the refinishing process is proper preparation. Items such as door handles, mouldings, and nameplates are removed from the part to be painted.

While it is easier and less expensive to simply mask these items with tape, masking leaves rough edges that can lead to pealing and other problems. Unlike so-called "economy" paint & body shops, we will not take this shortcut because the finish (just like all our work) is covered by our limited lifetime warranty, and we want you to be happy with the results. Next the parts are sanded and primed. Those portions of the vehicle not being painted are covered with plastic to prevent overspray.

Using the paint code on your vehicle, the paint is computer-mixed to match the manufacturer's original color. We then apply the base coat to the vehicle. If your vehicle uses a three-stage paint system (such as pearls or metallics), a second color will be appplied. Finally, a clear coat is applied. After the finish has cured, it is buffed (if necessary) and cleaned.

Sometimes slight varations in color occur due to variations in the manufacturer's finishes or due to aging of the paint on your vehicle. To hide these variations we often blend the paint onto the adjacent panels on the vehicle.

In the concluding step, the door handles and other items removed prior to painting are reassembled. The vehicle is then inspected and made ready for pick up. At Longhorn Collision Center our goal is 100% customer satisfaction.