Auto Body Repair Classifications You Need To Know
Any vehicle that has sustained damage in an accident should be evaluated by a reputable collision repair shop to determine the type and extent of the damage. It's important that your auto body specialist uses a comprehensive checklist to assess the damage to your car.
When it comes to auto body repair, there is a significant difference between thinking you know what the damage is and actually knowing for sure the amount of damage your vehicle has sustained. Reliable collision repair shops will complete a thorough assessment of your vehicle, then assign it one of the following three classifications.
1. Fast Track
A vehicle with a fast-track classification has sustained minimal damage in an accident. This track requires the least amount of time for repairs and is often the most affordable to complete.
Most fast-track damage is cosmetic in nature, and can include scratches, abrasions, or damage to bolt-on accessories that can easily be removed and replaced.
2. Quick Track
When a collision repair shop classifies your vehicle as a quick-track repair, this means that mild to moderate damage has taken place. In addition to cosmetic damage that will need to be repaired, there are usually some structural problems with a quick-track vehicle as well.
There is often structural displacement caused by the impact during a collision, but this displacement is concentrated within a contained area. Repairs can be completed within a matter of days to get a quick-track vehicle back on the road.
3. Extensive Track
The most serious type of classification that a vehicle involved in an accident can receive is extensive track.
These vehicles will typically have visible structural damage or displacement that needs to be addressed during the repair process. Major components will need to be replaced, and new paint will need to be applied to repair a vehicle that carries an extensive-track classification.
It is standard operating procedure to carefully evaluate all extensive-track vehicles to determine the value of the car once repairs have been made. An insurance company may deem that the cost of repairs is too great with an extensive-track vehicle and opt to total the car instead. If repairs are made, the vehicle's title will likely be branded as a salvage.
Understanding the classifications used by collision repair shops to help assess damage allows you to better determine the condition of your vehicle. You can use classification assignments to help you decide whether the cost of collision repair for your vehicle is a worthwhile investment.
