Collision & Body Work
Collision repair near you
Collision repair at a body shop: damage estimated, structure straightened, panels refinished in matched paint and driver-assist sensors checked.
- Time needed
- More than a day
- plan to leave it
- Mobile service
- At the shop
- drop-off
- Shops in Canada
- 1
- doing this work
- Your price
- You set it
- shops bid on it
You set the budget
Shops near you send their bids
1 shop in Canada does this
Collision & Body Work
What collision repair is
Collision repair brings a vehicle back to its pre-accident shape after an impact. It starts with an estimate: the estimator photographs the damage and lists every panel, part and labour hour. Once the bumper cover and outer panels come off, hidden damage often appears, such as a bent reinforcement bar or a cracked radiator support, and the shop sends a supplement, an added estimate, for you or your insurer to approve before going on.
If the structure has moved, the vehicle goes on a frame machine, is measured against the maker’s figures and is pulled back into line. Dents are worked out, badly bent panels are replaced, seams are resealed and given corrosion protection, and each refinished panel is primed, painted with a colour-matched base coat and sealed with clear coat in a spray booth. The vehicle is then reassembled, driver-assist sensors are recalibrated where fitted, and it is washed before you collect it.
- For cars, EVs, vans and trucks
- Takes more than a day
What does collision repair cost?
It depends on your vehicle and the shop. Post a job with your budget and compare the bids shops near you send.
Get bids
Name your budget. Shops near you bid.
1 shop across Canada does collision repair.
What to expect
Collision repair, step by step
What the job normally covers, what to mention in your request, and the signs that it is time. Every shop says what its bid includes.
The job
What’s included
- Written estimate with photos, listing each panel, part, labour hour and paint operation
- Teardown of the damaged area, with a supplement sent for approval if hidden damage turns up
- Frame or unibody measured and pulled back to the maker’s specifications where the structure has moved
- Dented panels repaired, or replaced with new, recycled or aftermarket parts as agreed on the estimate
- Panels sanded and primed, then colour-matched base coat and clear coat baked in a booth, blended into adjacent panels
- Seam sealer and corrosion protection restored on welded and repaired areas
- Pre-repair and post-repair scans, with camera and radar calibration and airbag system checks where fitted
- Reassembly, a final quality check, a wash and a walk-around with you at pickup
Checklist
Before you post
- 01Ask for an itemized written estimate that says whether each part is new, recycled or aftermarket
- 02Ask how hidden damage is handled: who approves a supplement, and how quickly the shop will call you
- 03If you are claiming, bring your claim number and ask whether the shop deals with your adjuster directly; the choice of shop is yours
- 04Ask whether scans and any camera or radar calibration are included, particularly on newer vehicles with driver-assist features
- 05Get the warranty on paint and workmanship in writing, with what it covers and for how long
- 06Confirm the promised completion date, whether a rental is arranged, and what happens if parts are delayed
Signs
When you need it
- Crumpled, bent or cracked body panels after a collision, a parking-lot hit or a slide into a curb
- Doors, hood or trunk that no longer close flush, or uneven gaps between panels
- A bumper cover pushed in, with the reinforcement behind it bent or a headlight loose in its mount
- A vehicle that pulls to one side or wears tires unevenly after hitting a curb or another vehicle
- An insurance estimate already approved, with a shop needed to carry out the repair
Sound familiar?Tell shops near you what you need and what you want to spend.
Get bidsHow it works
Get collision repair done in four steps
You set the budget and choose the shop. Posting is free, and you pay the shop you hire once the work is 100% done.
- 01
Post your job
Choose the service, describe the job and your vehicle, and set your budget. It takes two minutes and costs nothing.
- 02
Shops compete
Nearby shops that do the work see your request and send their best offer: price, when they can start, what is included.
- 03
Accept the best offer
Compare bids, ratings and distance, then hire one shop. The others are told, politely.
- 04
Talk and get it done
Your conversation with the shop opens right away to agree on the day. You pay only after the job is complete.
Keep exploring
Related services
Bumper repair
Bumper repair for scuffed, cracked or pushed-in plastic covers: repaired, repainted or replaced, with parking sensors and mounts checked afterwards.
Paint repair
Paint repair for faded, peeling or damaged paint on one panel or area: sanded, primed, colour-matched, clear-coated and blended in.
Mechanical Repair
Suspension & steering repair
Clunks, wander, a bouncy ride or heavy steering traced to worn suspension parts, shocks, struts, joints, bearings or the steering rack, then repaired.
Tires & Wheels
Wheel alignment
Wheel alignment on a rack: camber, caster and toe set to specification to stop pulling and uneven tire wear after potholes or suspension work.
Towing, Roadside & Transport
Towing
A towing service sends a tow truck for a vehicle that cannot be driven and delivers it to the shop, home or scrapyard you choose, by flatbed or wheel-lift.
Questions
Questions about collision repair
General answers for drivers in Canada. The shop you hire confirms the details for your vehicle.
Should I go through my insurance or pay for the repair myself?
Pay for it yourself when the repair costs about the same as your deductible or less, and claim when it costs much more. Paying directly keeps a claim off your record, which can matter at renewal. Ask your broker how your insurer treats a claim like yours before you decide, because the answer depends on who was at fault.
Can I choose my own body shop, or must I use the one my insurer suggests?
In most of Canada you may choose your own shop. Insurers often suggest shops they work with, and those can be convenient because the shop and the adjuster settle the estimate between them, but the choice is yours. If you are claiming, tell your insurer where the vehicle is going so the estimate can be approved before work begins.
How long will I be without my vehicle after an accident?
One or two panels can be back in two to four days once parts are on the shelf. Larger repairs commonly take one to three weeks, and structural work takes longer. The usual delays are back-ordered parts and a supplement waiting for insurer approval, so ask for a promised date and for a call when it moves.
How can I tell if my vehicle has frame or structural damage?
Uneven panel gaps, doors that rub or will not close, a hood that sits crooked, steering that pulls and tires that wear unevenly are warning signs, but only measurement confirms structural damage. The shop compares fixed points on the underbody with the maker’s figures. Modern unibody structures are designed to crumple, so repairing them to the maker’s procedure matters for the next impact.
Why did my collision repair estimate go up after the work started?
Estimates are written from what is visible. Once the bumper cover, fender or door skin comes off, the shop can see bent brackets, cracked mounts or a damaged reinforcement, and it writes a supplement listing the extra parts and labour. Your insurer, if you are claiming, has to approve it before the shop goes on. Ask to see photos of what was found.
Something else to ask? Once you hire a shop, you talk to it directly in your request’s conversation.
Ready when you areTell shops near you what you need and what you want to spend.
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