Frequently Asked Questions

Please visit our Location section for a map to our shop.

Our hours vary by location, please see our Contact Details section for business hours of the location nearest you..

We use O.E.M. parts (in some instances O.E.M. used parts are figured). We will use alternate parts if you request or approve them.

We have towing services available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you call after hours, the towing company will bill Collision Solution. Please feel free to call us for assistance. Please visit our Towing section for specific information.

Our estimators can advise you when our next opening is. After writing the estimate, seeing the damage, or reviewing the Insurance Company's estimate we can advise you on approximately how long the repairs will take. We will try to get you booked as soon as possible.

We have an after hours drop box available. Please be sure to lock your vehicle and take all personal valuables out of your vehicle including your parking permit and/or garage door opener. The Key drop is labeled in the overhead door.

A general guideline is to look at the total number of hours on your estimate and add preliminary inspection time, paint and/or glass urethane drying time, final inspection and clean-up time. This will equate to approximately 1.5 to 2.0 times the number of repair hours figured. Your estimator can advise you when the estimate is written, how long it will take.

We would be happy to give you a ride, in the general vicinity - approximately a 10 mile radius from our shop. Please arrange in advance so we can accommodate your needs.

Please see our Rental section for contact information for the agency we work with. The cost varies by the size of the vehicle. They will meet you at our shop or take you to their facility in order to drop off their driver and for you to pick up your car.

If you carry rental car coverage, your Insurance Company covers the rental car per the policy provisions. If another company is paying for the damage on your vehicle they may pay for the rental car. If you do not have rental coverage, the cost is approximately $22.00 per day varying by the type of vehicle and the number of days you have it. Collision Solution does not pay for rental cars although we can help with the arrangements.

We can do rust repair, but there is no guarantee. Rust repair on the surface, (rusting where the surface is not distorted by rust pushing outward through the metal) is usually more cost-effective. Many times, the cost of rust repair is too great to recover when you sell your vehicle later, and it becomes a more sensible choice to purchase a new vehicle instead.

Do we have trouble with pearl finishes?

We offer a Nationwide written warranty on workmanship as long as you own your vehicle. Parts and sublet repairs are warranted by the manufacturer or provider. No warranty on rust.

It is okay to wash your vehicle any time you like. We will have already washed your vehicle when you pick it up. We do not recommend using brush type car washes. Please wait 60 days before waxing your newly painted surfaces.

Please contact your Insurance company to report the details of the accident. When we receive your vehicle, we will take pictures of the accident damage. Write our estimate and will call you with the preliminary estimate amount. The State of Illinois requires you to sign an authorization to disassemble your vehicle in order to obtain a more accurate estimate.

Collision Solution Inc. will pay for the tow bill when the vehicle is delivered to us, then we will bill your Insurance Company as applicable. If there is no insurance company involvement the tow bill will be added to the final repair bill. It is a cost associated with the accident.

Insurance checks made payable to Collision Solution Inc. and/or you, personal checks, VISA, Master Card, Discover or cash.

We can assist you within our general vicinity - approximately a 10 mile radius from our shop. Please make advance arrangements for delivery. For a fee, your car can be towed to you.

A certain number of people will be involved in an accident that leaves their vehicle not drivable (severe damage, wheel off, radiator leaking etc.) If this is your situation we can get you in immediately. We leave space open on our appointment calendar to accommodate non-drivable vehicles. If your vehicle is drivable, please ask when our next appointment date is for drivable vehicles.

Allow approximately 15 minutes for the estimate to be written. If there is a substantial amount of damage, or you have an unusual vehicle (such as a specialty sports car), it may take up to 30 minutes to inspect your vehicle and write the estimate.

There's no charge for estimates at our shop, unless your vehicle is over 10 model years old. There may be a fee for mobile estimates. All fees are refundable when the work is completed by us.

No appointment needed weekdays, feel free to stop by. Our business hours vary by location, see our Contact Details page for more information.

We would prefer to see your vehicle in order to write a complete visual estimate. Call us, it may be possible for you to e-mail a photo to us so we can write a preliminary estimate. Please remember if the wrong parts are ordered because of an over the phone estimate the vehicle owner is liable for a 25% restocking charge.

So we can pre-order any needed parts, provide an estimate as needed for your insurance company, etc. The process goes smoother and you get your vehicle back sooner if we prepare in advance for your appointment.

Please talk to one of our estimators. We may be able to do this for a fee that is refundable when repairs are done. Also, we may be able to write a preliminary estimate from an e-mail picture. Please ask for details.

Ideally yes, but it isn't required. On hail damaged vehicles it helps considerably to have the car washed.

An estimate is only an estimate. Vehicles are designed (e.g. bumpers) to cover support systems, brackets, impact absorbers, steel reinforcements, intrusion bars, etc. in a manner that makes it impossible to see all the damage. We need to disassemble the damaged areas to be certain complete repairs are made. With this in mind, it is likely that there could be additional damage to repair, or additional parts ordered. Your insurance company is very aware of this. When they write an estimate they will advise you to take their estimate to a body shop and have the shop call them if additional damage is noticed.

We work with all insurance companies. Bring us their estimate and we contact the insurance company for you if the estimate doesn't cover all the related damage.

Yes! We will order parts in advance of your appointment directly from your insurance estimate...no need to stop in. We could possibly have a few questions you could easily answer over the phone. See our Contact Details section for our fax number.

Yes you can, however, the repair process will go faster if we can write the estimate in advance, pre-order your parts and have Insurance authorization in place.

The person who reviews the damage to your vehicle, and carries forward the repair process.

We work with all insurance companies. Bring us their estimate and we contact the insurance company for you if the estimate doesn't cover all the related damage.

Yes! We will order parts in advance of your appointment directly from your insurance estimate...no need to stop in. We could possibly have a few questions you could easily answer over the phone. See our Contact Details section for our fax number.

When your vehicle is ready to be picked up, the deductible is paid to Collision Solution.

Please hold on to the check until the repairs are completed. We will need to collect it, along with any applicable deductible when we release your vehicle to you. If you are uncomfortable with keeping it we can hold it for you until your car is ready for delivery, at which time you can endorse it over to Collision Solution.

You have two options:

1. Have the check re-issued by the Insurance Company to have two payees on it - your name and Collision Solution Inc.

– or –

2. Have the lien holder sign off on the check prior to picking up your vehicle. (They may ask for a copy of the estimate and the check to be stamped by Collision Solution Inc. "For Deposit Only").

Collision Solution Inc. will pay for the tow bill when the vehicle is delivered to us, then we will bill your Insurance Company as applicable. If there is no insurance company involvement the tow bill will be added to the final repair bill. It is a cost associated with the accident.

You need to provide details of the accident. Please contact your Insurance Agent, Insurance Company, Fleet Manager or Fleet Management Company. You also need to report the accident to the state if property damage exceeds $500.

If the damage on your vehicle is extensive enough to declare it a "Total Loss", meaning the damage exceeds a percentage of value, you and your Insurance Company will calculate the value of your vehicle and settle the claim.