If you’ve ever been in a car accident, you’ll know how stressful it can be handing your car over to a panel shop for repairs. What exactly happens once your vehicle disappears behind those workshop doors? The South African Motor Body Repairers’ Association (SAMBRA), an association of the Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI), has broken down the step-by-step process to help motorists understand what takes place – and why it can take a little time.
Non-structural vs structural damage
Juan Hanekom, National Director of SAMBRA, says repairs are generally divided into two categories. Non-structural repairs involve parts like doors, fenders, bumpers, and panels – in other words, cosmetic or body damage that doesn’t affect the underlying frame of the car. These parts can either be repaired or replaced using bolt on parts. Structural repairs on the other hand are more complex and involve the vehicle’s chassis or framework and usually require cutting and welding of the vehicle. These need specialised equipment to ensure your car is restored to factory standards and is completely safe to drive again.
A jobs complexity ultimately depends on the severity of the impact and the number of car panels affected. “For this reason, damage could be misleading,” notes Hanekom. “It is often the case that damage that looks severe is actually quite minor and vice versa. This is why it is important for qualified professionals to thoroughly assess and evaluate the work required, which determines the process.”
“Once an accident occurs and your insurance company requests a quotation, the repairer inspects your car, captures detailed photos, and prepares a repair estimate. This is negotiated with your insurer’s appointed assessor, and only once authorisation is given, can the work begin,” explains Hanekom.
It is important to remember that the role of your insurer is to restore you to the position you were in prior to the accident. “This means they have a responsibility to ensure your vehicle is repaired to standard. At the same time it does not mean that pre-existing damage will also be repaired. Your insurer will only authorize what is necessary to achieve this. If something is removed from the quote please take this up with the assigned assessor or your insurer,” says Hanekom
When you book your car in, it will be thoroughly inspected. Technicians strip down the damaged areas to check for any hidden damage. If additional parts are required, these are ordered and scheduled.
From here, repairs progress step by step. For non-structural damage, this usually means replacing or repairing panels, applying corrosion protection, and then preparing the vehicle for painting. The car is masked, taped, and placed in a spray booth where it undergoes a multi-step refinishing process. Finally, it is reassembled, detailed, wheel-aligned and quality-checked before being sanitised again and handed back to you.
For structural damage the process is similar but typically includes more intricate repair techniques dependant on your vehicles damage. In extreme cases this may involve chassis straightening, which uses specialized machines and measuring equipment to restore the vehicles underlying structure to its original specifications.
You may be wondering why all this detail is relevant and important. “Accident repairs today are highly technical,” explains Hanekom. “Modern vehicles are designed with advanced safety systems and lightweight materials. Ensuring a car is repaired to manufacturer specifications is not just about appearance – it is all about the safety of the driver, passengers, and other road users. That’s why reputable repairers like all SAMBRA accredited repairers follow a strict, audited process, whether it’s a small dent or significant structural damage.”
Understanding what goes on behind the scenes helps explain why quality repairs cannot be rushed. Each stage, from inspection and quoting, to sourcing genuine parts, to the final polish and alignment check, is there to ensure that when you collect your car, it is not only looking good as new – it is safe to drive.