The Difference Between Major and Minor Collision Repairs

What makes “minor collision repairs” minor? What makes “major collision repairs” major? We can all think of examples of each, but where is the line? And, most importantly, how do you know if collision repair technicians are charging you major collision repair money for a minor collision repair?

If you’ve never repaired a vehicle, or maybe even if you have, it’s tough to know about all the different automobile components and how they interact. What might seem like minor collision repairs to a novice are sometimes major collision repairs. This article will look at some examples of each and provide background information on the whole collision repair process.

The Trouble with Collision Repair

There’s no one way to repair a vehicle. For one thing, vehicles have many different parts. For example, brake repair differs from windshield repair in many obvious ways. This surprises no one, but if you knew all the different processes that could be involved in brake repair itself, you might well be surprised.

Transmission repair differs from engine repair, which differs from suspension repair, and so on. Then factor in all the many different makes and models of automobiles and now you have a huge number of variables. But even if you control for these, you’re still going to have differences in the collision repair process.

Repairing the same part on two vehicles that are the same make and model, released in the same year, can still result in two very different collision repairs. How hard an impact is, where an impact occurs, and what your vehicle hits can all drastically change the kind of accident assistance you need. What might be a minor repair for your vehicle can be a major repair for another vehicle of the same kind just because of some minor differences in the circumstances of the crash.

Major Collision Repairs VS. Minor Collision Repairs

Collision repairs are often unique processes that pertain only to the damaged vehicle in question. But this doesn’t mean that some components usually only require minor repairs while repairing other parts is often a major undertaking. Here are some examples of major and minor collision repairs:

Major Collision Repairs

Some examples of common major collision repairs include:

• Frame straightening: Many of the repairs discussed here could be part of accident assistance or just maintenance to repair some wear and tear. Frame straightening, though, is strictly a collision repair. And it’s a major one. If your vehicle suffered a significant impact, automotive technicians may have to pull the frame back into place. Aligning a vehicle’s frame correctly is hard and finicky work.
• Wheel alignment and suspension repair: If a collision has damaged a vehicle such that it needs frame straightening, there’s a good chance it will also require aligning and suspension repair. Steering is often askew after an impact, so collision repair technicians have to ensure the wheels and axles are correctly aligned.
• Transmission overhauls: There are dozens of components inside a transmission and replacing some of the more accessible parts isn’t difficult to do. Transmission overhauls, though, are major repairs, indeed. They’re required when collision repair technicians can’t find the source of a transmission problem or if a transmission is thoroughly damaged. An overhaul involves taking apart the transmission piece-by-piece, replacing the broken parts, and cleaning the still-functioning parts before reassembling them.

Minor Collision Repairs

Some examples of common minor collision repairs include:

• Dent repair: Dent repair is a classic case of a minor repair usually. Collision repair technicians often repair dents by hammering them out. For malleable surfaces, such as a plastic bumper, they can even heat it and stretch it back into shape. Sometimes dents are in hard-to-reach places, though. This can make them trickier to repair. Sometimes there are lots of dents or deep dents that require panel replacement.
• Scratch repair: If you need a dent repair, there’s a good chance you need a scratch repair, too. Scratched paint won’t hinder the functionality of your vehicle, but you don’t want to ignore it. Left unrepaired, the paint can peel and let in moisture, thus exposing the metal underneath to possible oxidation. For scratch repair, it’s wise to visit a certified collision repair shop that offers automotive paint matching. You don’t want a splotch of unmatching paint on your vehicle.
• Auto glass repair: Collision repair technicians have got glass repair down to a science. Whether it’s windshield repair or repairing one of the side windows, a good certified collision repair shop can fix your glass problem within a matter of hours. They can use a resin to fill small cracks or replace an entire windshield with relative ease.

Certified Collision Repair

Whatever type of accident assistance you need, it’s always best to visit a certified collision repair shop. Certifications indicate the technicians have special skills and knowledge for certain types of repairs or certain parts. Certifications can ensure you protect your warranty, as well.

Now you know three usually major collision repairs and three usually minor collision repairs, but it all depends on your situation. Many types of repairs could be major or minor, such as brake repair, engine repair, and more. The collision repair process is always different, but as long as you visit a reputable, certified collision repair shop, you’ll be all right.