Questions and answers on car body repair

The price of removing a dent depends on its size, position and the condition of the paint, so there is no flat rate. If the paint is undamaged and the area can be reached from behind, the dent can usually be pushed out without repainting, which is considerably cheaper. On edges, on aluminium or where the paint is damaged, panel beating and paintwork are needed. Send us photos via the online damage report: you will receive an indicative quote incl. VAT within 24 hours.

With paintless dent repair (PDR), the price per dent depends on diameter, depth and accessibility, not on a fixed flat rate. A shallow dent in the middle of a door is quickly pushed out, while a dent on an edge, in a swage line or in aluminium takes considerably more time. Where there are several dents, for example after hail, the whole vehicle is assessed. Upload photos of the dents in our online damage report, and the indicative quote incl. VAT will follow within 24 hours.

What it costs to paint a bumper depends on whether only one area or the whole part is painted and whether a repair is needed first. The price is driven by the colour and paint system, such as metallic or pearl-effect paint, by cracks in the plastic and by parking sensors and radar sensors that have to be removed and refitted. A partial respray is often enough, and sometimes replacing the bumper makes more sense. With photos sent via our online damage report, you will receive an indicative quote incl. VAT within 24 hours.

The price of removing a scratch depends above all on its depth: a scratch in the clear coat can be polished out, while a scratch down to the primer or the metal has to be painted. Length, position on the panel and the colour also play a part, because some paints are harder to match. If the scratch runs across several parts, the work increases accordingly. Send us photos via the online damage report and you will receive an indicative quote incl. VAT within 24 hours.

The cost of a paint job depends on the surface area, the preparation and the paint: a single bonnet is a manageable job, a full respray a major project. The deciding factors are the condition of the substrate, dents or rust that have to be dealt with first, the colour and the parts that are removed. With a bonnet, the adjoining wings are often blended in so that the colour matches. Send photos via our online damage report and you will receive the indicative quote incl. VAT within 24 hours.

Smart repair generally costs considerably less than a conventional repair, because only the damaged area is treated and not the whole part. The price depends on the size and position of the damage, on the colour and on whether a dent or a crack in the plastic also has to be repaired. Not every type of damage is suitable: on large, highly visible surfaces a partial respray is sometimes the better choice. Based on your photos, you will receive an indicative quote incl. VAT within 24 hours.

At Carrosserie K.I. you receive an indicative quote without obligation and directly from photos, with no need for an appointment on site. In a few minutes you upload the vehicle registration and photos of the damage. You usually receive the indicative quote incl. VAT within 24 hours on working days. The final price is set after the vehicle has been inspected, because hidden damage often only becomes visible once parts have been removed.

Reporting minor damage to your insurer is generally only worthwhile if the repair costs are clearly above your excess. If the amount is below it or only just above it, you pay almost everything yourself anyway and, depending on your policy, risk being downgraded in the no-claims bonus system. So first compare the costs with the excess and a possible premium increase. Our indicative quote incl. VAT, which you receive within 24 hours, gives you a clear basis for this, and you can then decide at your leisure.

Yes, in Switzerland you are in principle free to choose your repairer, including for comprehensive claims. However, some policies with a partner garage model grant a premium discount and require a higher excess if you choose a different repairer. So check your policy. At Carrosserie K.I. you pay the same excess as at your insurer’s partner garage: if your policy requires more for a free choice of repairer, we cover the difference. That way you save up to CHF 1'000 and still choose your body shop yourself.

Yes, in Switzerland hail damage is generally covered by partial comprehensive cover, because hail counts as a natural event. Fully comprehensive cover includes partial comprehensive cover and therefore covers hail as well, whereas third-party liability insurance alone does not. Depending on the policy an excess applies, and some contracts set special conditions for hail, such as repair at a specific workshop. Check your policy. Carrosserie K.I. settles directly with every insurer and prepares the indicative quote within 24 hours.

Report hail damage as quickly as possible, the exact deadline is set out in your insurance terms and conditions. There is no general deadline that applies to all policies, and anyone who waits a long time risks arguments about when and how the damage occurred. Note the date and place of the storm and photograph the vehicle in good light. With our online damage report you document the dents in a few minutes and receive an indicative quote for your insurer within 24 hours.

No, hail damage does not generally lead to a higher premium, because it is handled under partial comprehensive cover, which usually has no bonus-malus system. The bonus level normally relates to third-party liability and collision cover, in other words damage that is your own fault. Exceptions are possible depending on the policy, and insurers can in principle adjust or terminate contracts after a claim. So check your insurance terms and conditions or ask your adviser before you decide.

Yes, many insurers offer to pay out for hail damage instead of having it repaired, but depending on the policy you are not always entitled to this. The payout is generally lower than the repair costs, and the damage remains on the vehicle: the resale value falls, and if the same parts are damaged again later, the earlier damage is usually deducted. For leased vehicles, repair is normally mandatory. Have an indicative quote prepared first, then you can compare both options.

Parking damage caused by an unknown party is generally paid for by parking damage insurance or fully comprehensive cover, and usually not by partial comprehensive cover alone. Parking damage insurance is an add-on which, depending on the policy, involves no loss of bonus but is often limited to a number of claims or a maximum amount. Under the collision cover of a fully comprehensive policy the agreed excess applies and a downgrade is possible. If the person responsible is known, their third-party liability insurance pays. Carrosserie K.I. settles directly with every insurer.

In the case of parking damage with a hit-and-run, you should document the damage immediately and report it to the police and to your insurer. Photograph your vehicle and the surroundings, note the place and time and ask about witnesses or video recordings, for example in a multi-storey car park. If the person responsible remains unknown, your parking damage insurance or fully comprehensive cover pays, depending on the policy, and many insurers require a police report for this. Via our online damage report you receive an indicative quote within 24 hours that you can submit to your insurer.

Bonus protection is an add-on to motor insurance that prevents your premium level from being downgraded after damage that was your own fault. It generally applies to third-party liability and collision claims, but depending on the policy only for a limited number of claims per insurance year. The excess is still payable. Whether you have bonus protection and how often it applies is set out in your policy. With an indicative quote from Carrosserie K.I. you can judge whether reporting the damage to your insurer is worthwhile.

If the other driver is at fault, their motor third-party liability insurance pays for the repair of your vehicle. In Switzerland you can lodge your claim directly with that insurer, and your own excess and your bonus are generally not affected. Where fault is shared, the damage is borne proportionately. A completed accident report, photos and the other party’s details are important. You choose the repairer yourself: Carrosserie K.I. prepares the indicative quote and settles directly with the insurer.

Yes, Carrosserie K.I. handles the claim and settles directly with every insurer. As a rule, you report the damage to your insurer and give us the claim number, and we supply the indicative quote and photos, agree the scope of the repair with the insurer and send the invoice straight to them. With us you pay only your excess, and the same one as at your insurer’s partner garage. On request we also arrange a courtesy car and the collection and delivery service.

After an accident, first secure the scene: switch on the hazard lights, set up the warning triangle and get yourself to safety. If anyone is injured, give assistance and call the ambulance and the police. If there is only damage to property, complete the European Accident Statement with the other party and photograph the vehicles, number plates and accident scene. If the injured party cannot be reached, inform the police. Then report the damage to your insurer and send us the photos via the online damage report.

How long a car body repair takes depends on the extent of the damage: minor damage is quickly repaired, while larger accident damage takes several working days or longer. Time is taken up above all by the delivery of spare parts, approval by the insurer, drying times for the paintwork and the calibration of driver assistance systems. If hidden damage appears once parts have been removed, we always discuss the extra work and the schedule with you first. On request, you can bridge the repair time with a courtesy car.

Yes, at Carrosserie K.I. you receive a courtesy car on request for the duration of the repair. Who pays for it depends on the case: if the other driver is at fault, their third-party liability insurance generally covers the cost of a suitable replacement vehicle. In a comprehensive claim the costs are only covered if your policy includes the corresponding additional cover, so check your policy. Tell us when you report the damage that you would like to stay mobile, and we will clarify the options before the repair.

A car is considered a total loss if repair is no longer technically possible or the repair costs exceed the value of the vehicle before the accident. In the second case this is called an economic total loss. The threshold above which the insurer settles in this way, and whether it pays the current value or an enhanced current-value compensation, is set out in your policy. The assessment is generally carried out by one of the insurer’s vehicle assessors. Our indicative quote shows you early on what order of magnitude the repair is in.

Yes, accident damage can reduce the resale value even if it has been repaired flawlessly, because buyers ask about accident damage and it must not be concealed. How much depends on the age and value of the vehicle and the severity of the damage: minor panel damage hardly matters, structural damage considerably more. A professional repair with an invoice and photo documentation builds trust with buyers. If the other driver is at fault, a loss in value can, depending on the case, be claimed from their insurer for newer vehicles.

You report damage to Carrosserie K.I. online in a few minutes: photograph the vehicle registration, upload photos of the damage, add your insurer and what happened, and send. You usually receive the indicative quote with prices incl. VAT within 24 hours on working days. The final price is set after the vehicle has been inspected, and we always discuss additional work with you first. The report works in German, French and English, and a courtesy car and the collection and delivery service are available on request.

Smart repair, also called spot repair, is the localised repair of minor damage, in which only the affected area and not the whole part is treated. Typical cases are small scratches, paint chips, scuffs on the bumper or small dents. The paint is built up locally and blended into the surrounding surface so that the transition is not noticeable. This saves time and material. For large surfaces, tricky colours or deep damage, a partial respray of the part is the cleaner solution.

Paintless dent repair does not work if the paint is cracked or chipped or the metal has been sharply creased or badly stretched. The method also reaches its limits on edges and on double-skinned or reinforced areas that cannot be reached from behind. Surfaces that have already been filled or repainted are tricky, because the paint can crack when the dent is pushed out. In these cases, conventional panel beating and painting is used. Based on your photos, we will tell you which method is an option.

No, deep scratches cannot be polished out, as polishing only removes scratches that lie in the clear coat. Polishing takes off a wafer-thin layer of clear coat until the surface is level again. If the scratch reaches into the colour coat, the primer or the metal, that material is missing and the area has to be painted. As a rule of thumb: if your fingernail catches in the scratch, polishing is usually not enough. Bare metal should be treated quickly so that no rust forms.

A stone chip can be repaired if it is small, lies outside the driver’s direct field of vision and is not at the edge of the windscreen, otherwise the windscreen is replaced. During the repair the chip is filled with resin, which stops cracks from forming and is considerably cheaper than a replacement. Act quickly: dirt, moisture and changes in temperature soon turn a stone chip into a crack. Depending on the policy, glass damage is covered by partial comprehensive cover, so check your policy.

Stone chips in the driver’s direct field of vision must not be repaired, because the repaired area can slightly distort the view. Also unsuitable are damage close to the edge of the windscreen, long cracks, chips that are too large and damage in which the film in the laminated glass or the inner layer of glass is affected. In the area of cameras and sensors, too, the windscreen is usually replaced. In these cases the only option is to change the windscreen, so that stability and a clear view are maintained.

Yes, as a rule the front camera has to be recalibrated after a windscreen replacement. The camera sits on the windscreen, and even the slightest deviation in position or angle distorts what the lane keeping assist, autonomous emergency braking or traffic sign recognition see. Depending on the vehicle, calibration is carried out statically with target boards in the workshop or dynamically during a drive, and the manufacturer’s specifications are decisive. The same often applies after repairs to bumpers with radar sensors.

Which parts are fitted depends on the damage, the vehicle and the insurer’s requirements: the options are original parts from the manufacturer or equivalent aftermarket parts. Original parts are generally the first choice for newer vehicles, for leased vehicles and for safety-relevant components. Aftermarket parts of equivalent quality can be a sensible, cheaper alternative for older vehicles. The deciding factors are accuracy of fit, corrosion protection and the functioning of the sensors. When you receive the quote, ask which parts are planned.

Yes, the manufacturer’s warranty generally remains in place if the repair is carried out professionally and to the manufacturer’s specifications at an independent body shop. Under the Swiss competition rules for the motor vehicle sector, manufacturers may in principle not make their warranty conditional on work being done exclusively at authorised dealers. However, the manufacturer is not liable for damage that is demonstrably caused by an improper repair. Keep the invoice and documentation and check your warranty terms, especially for extended warranties and leasing contracts.

The panel beater brings the metal back into shape, the spray painter provides colour and protection: the two trades work hand in hand on almost every car body repair. The panel beater, known in Switzerland as an Autospengler or Carrosseriespengler, removes dents, straightens, welds and replaces parts. The spray painter then prepares the surface, mixes the colour and paints in the spray booth, which is why the German term Autospritzwerk is also used. Carrosserie K.I. in Biel/Bienne combines panel beating and paintwork under one roof, so you only need one address.

Yes, Carrosserie K.I. repairs all makes, including electric and hybrid vehicles. Special safety rules apply to these vehicles around the high-voltage system and the battery, and many sensors are often affected that are calibrated after the repair. Aluminium behaves differently from steel: it is harder to reshape and requires its own tools and processes, which is why parts are replaced more often. Send us photos via the online damage report and we will tell you within 24 hours how your damage can be repaired.

Our customers come from Biel/Bienne and the whole region to Carrosserie K.I. at Südstrasse 2. These include Nidau, Brügg, Ipsach, Port, Studen, Lyss, Aarberg, Pieterlen, Lengnau, Grenchen, Büren an der Aare, Täuffelen, Ins, Erlach, Murten, La Neuveville, Evilard/Macolin, Péry-La Heutte, Tavannes, Saint-Imier and Moutier. The reasons: a transparent indicative quote, a reply usually within 24 hours (working days), everything from the repair to settlement with the insurer, the same excess as at the partner garage and a collection and delivery service on request.