You can ask us anything. But, chances are, someone already has. For quick answers, browse our FAQs to see if we already have your answer.
Why does my Insurance Company list Sterling Autobody as a Repair Facility Option? Expand
Insurance companies refer their customers to autobody repair facilities they trust. You have the option to choose any repair shop you want. Insurance companies have extremely high standards when choosing which shops to work with and they have aggressive re-inspection programs to ensure that the shops they recommend are providing quality repairs in a timely manner. Most of all, they want to make sure you were satisfied with the overall claim experience, and the repair process is a big part of that.
Will my vehicle ever be the same after an accident? Expand
Yes! The professionals at our auto body shop return vehicles to their previous condition – both structurally and cosmetically. We’ll do our best to get your life back on the road. Also, we back that with a Limited Lifetime Warranty on our workmanship and parts for as long as you own the vehicle.
What is Sterling’s Warranty? Expand
Sterling Autobody provides the following 4-Part Limited Lifetime Warranty, honored at all Sterling Autobody Centers nationwide, for as long as you own the vehicle.
Metal Repairs: Lifetime Warranty provided on all metal repairs, excluding rust repairs.
Paint Repairs: Lifetime Warranty provided on all paint repairs, excluding rust repairs for the length of time you own your vehicle.
Mechanical Repairs: Lifetime Warranty provided on all mechanical repairs pertaining to the original collision damage, excluding alignments.
Parts, Materials and Installation: Lifetime Warranty on parts, materials and installation by or at the store, excluding alignments.
Please note: Due to normal wear and tear on vehicles, vehicle maintenance items (i.e. oil filter, air conditioning recharge, tires, brakes, alignments, suspension parts, batteries, etc.) are not covered under this Limited Lifetime Warranty.
Will you accept the estimate I received from My Insurance Company? Expand
Yes! Sterling Autobody Centers works with all insurance providers. Provide us with their estimate and we will take it from there.
Can I just stop by for an estimate? Expand
Yes! Please keep in mind that a complete damage report may take up to 1 hour to complete. While you wait, you can take advantage of our customer waiting area and enjoy refreshments. For your convenience you can also call for a specific appointment time. Times vary by market. Please contact us at 800-GO-STERLING or schedule an appointment on our website for specific dates and times in your area.
Why can’t I get an estimate over the phone? Expand
Each vehicle is different and unless thoroughly viewed, it will be difficult to assess the true damage. Oftentimes there is hidden damage to parts other than the exterior cosmetic damage. We want to make sure our trained estimators thoroughly assess the damage to make sure you have the most accurate cost of repair and that when you are ready to have the car repaired there are no surprises. Additionally, without an accurate estimate, there could be delays involved as additional parts could need to be ordered once repairs begin. Please contact 800-GO-STERLING and we’ll get you scheduled into one of our repair facilities to have a professional view the damages. Please remember, an estimate is no charge to you.
What Can I Expect When I Drop Off my Car? Expand
Upon dropping off your car, you will be greeted by a Sterling Customer Service Representative who will review the vehicle damage with you, check your vehicle functions and ask you to sign an authorization for repairs. After you have gathered your personal belongings from the car, we will confirm your contact information and notate your preferences for receiving follow up communication as your vehicle moves through the repair process. We will also connect you with an Enterprise Rent-A- Car representative to help secure a rental car if one is needed.
Can Sterling Help Coordinate a Rental Car? Expand
Sterling will make arrangements for ON-SITE RENTAL CARS. Our unique relationship with Enterprise Rent-A-Car allows us the opportunity to provide our customers with assistance in coordinating on-site car rentals while work is being done on their car. In many Sterling locations, there is an on-site Enterprise rental office, staffed by Enterprise employees to provide optimum service. In our locations where it is not possible to have an Enterprise office, a nearby Enterprise representative will deliver the rental car to Sterling for the customer’s convenience and will also pick up the rental at Sterling when the customer’s repair work is complete.
What is an Aftermarket Crash part? Expand
An aftermarket crash part is a brand new part manufactured by a company other than the vehicle’s original maker. When writing an estimate with aftermarket parts the body shop is required by the insurance company to use certified aftermarket parts when available. This means that the parts are guaranteed by the manufacturer for fit, finish, and corrosion protection. Sterling does not use aftermarket parts on estimates for current year vehicles that have less than 10,000 miles on them. The customer does have the option to refuse the use of aftermarket parts when signing the authorization. In this case we will not include them on the estimate.
What are LKQ parts? Expand
A LKQ part is a salvage part. The term LKQ stands for “like kind and quality”. We do not include LKQ parts on estimates for current year vehicles that have less than 10,000 miles on them. The wording in the customer’s insurance policy does provide for replacement with LKQ parts (see note below). We will not know until we write the estimate in Damage Analysis if there will be LKQ parts available for your vehicle and if these parts will be cost effective in completing the repair. If the estimate does include LKQ parts the customer will be made aware of this as soon as the estimate is completed. We will only use LKQ parts from a vehicle of the same or newer year model. We will not accept or use any parts that are not in good condition. We will guarantee the repairs for as long as you own the vehicle.
How can you match my paint if you are not a dealer? Expand
Paint is mixed using a paint code by the vehicle’s manufacturer, which is located on a label attached to the vehicle. All shops, including dealers, use this code to mix paint on each job. Again, Sterling provides a lifetime guarantee for our workmanship. If the paint on the vehicle is in poor condition, faded or peeling, we will be able to paint the damaged panels with the correct color, but it may look different from the paint that is on the rest of the vehicle. The newly painted areas will be brighter and shinier than the rest of the vehicle.
What is the difference between Waterborne paint and Solvent based paint? Expand
Solvent based coatings use chemical compounds as the main solvent for thinning pigment solids. Although effective, this method releases Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) into the atmosphere. Waterborne coatings use water as the primary solvent which greatly reduces VOC emissions. Sterling uses the least amount of solvent-based products as possible.
Do Waterborne coatings perform as well as solvent-borne? Expand
Absolutely! We currently use Sikkens Autowave and this product has proven to be the best Waterborne paint system on the market, meeting the highest standards for car repair. In fact, most car manufacturers today feature Waterborne right from the factory.
