The importance of following OEM repair techniques during smash repair

With the cost of living rising, more and more people are looking for ways to save money, especially when an unexpected cost appears. No one plans for an accident, but knowing what your options are before it happens is important, especially with prestige car repairs. Finding the cheapest quote for a smash repair may only be half the story, and OEM repair techniques may save you more money in the long run. 

The difference between OEM repairers and non OEM repairers

While any smash repairer may be able to get your car road legal, there is another question of if the repair was done to Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM)’s specifications. Each manufacturer (like BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Lexus) each has their own guidelines and techniques to use when repairing a vehicle post-accident. These ensure that any technicians working on your vehicle are properly trained and get it back to as-new condition.

In addition to OEM repair techniques, a repairer may not be using genuine parts or following repair instructions on critical areas, leading to further issues down the road. These parts may be from scrapped cars or third-party manufacturers that are not structurally sound or fit for your specific car model. Ensuring your smash repairer is an authorised partner with your car’s brand is critical.

Getting the job done right the first time

By cutting corners and choosing a cheaper smash repairer, you can’t guarantee that the level of work is up to a manufacturer’s standards. While the outside of your car may look brand new, hidden underneath may be third party parts, hidden damage from the crash that was missed or even parts not fit for your make and model of car. These factors can lead to repaired parts failing when placed under stresses that genuine parts would normally stand up to. By doing the job right the first time with OEM parts and repair techniques, you can avoid additional costs from faults that an untrained repairer may miss.

Choosing your own repairer


Depending on your insurance provider, you may be able to select your own repairer when involved in an accident. By speaking to your provider, you can request a specialist smash repairer to look at your vehicle’s specific needs and ensure you get the highest quality repair.

Due to our high standard of quality, seamless and transparent processes, professionalism and customer service, Parramatta Smash Repairs are often recommended by many reliable insurance companies in Australia for prestige insurance repair work.

This includes:

  • IAG
  • Suncorp
  • QBE
  • Allianz
  • Auto & General 
  • And more…

Take control of your car’s smash repair and ensure your car is brought back to as-new condition with a smash repairer using OEM repair techniques and genuine parts. The team at Parramatta Smash Repairs would love to chat with you to discuss your specific needs regarding your vehicle repairs. Give us a call at (02) 9630 7200 or fill out our Contact Us Form 24/7. We will get your vehicle back on the road in no time!

What is the difference between an auto body shop and other auto repair businesses?

Unless you’re especially into cars and driving (or have had some bad luck with your vehicles!), you probably aren’t especially aware of the difference between an auto repair shop and an auto body shop. When something goes wrong with a vehicle, most people’s first instinct is to search simply for car repair near me without being too concerned about the differences in the services that each offers.

However, an auto repair shop and an auto body shop aren’t exactly the same, so it pays to have some understanding of what sorts of services you can expect from each.

Auto repair shop

An auto repair shop primarily deals with any mechanical or electrical repairs your vehicle needs, either in an emergency or as part of a regular tune up and service, so car repair shop mechanics provide a range of services to keep your vehicle roadworthy and give you peace of mind.

Alternatively, if you have an issue with your car’s performance, are hearing noises from underneath the bonnet, or warning lights are showing on your dashboard, then an auto repair shop should be where you head to.

Likewise, it your car breaks down or can’t be driven safely for some reason, you should search for auto repair near me to find an auto repair shop who can deal with your issue straight away, and then get you back on the road as soon as possible.

What services are provided by an auto repair shop?

No matter the age, cost or type of vehicle you drive, it will need maintenance in order to deliver peak performance and safe driving conditions.

An auto repair shop should be able to provide all of the maintenance services you require, including repairing and replacing components that have deteriorated as a result of wear and tear, changing the oil and brake fluid, etc., as well as dealing with any more drastic mechanical and electrical failures that may have occurred.

Auto body shop

A car body shop more commonly works on damage to the exterior bodywork of a vehicle, and will be equipped with a range of specialist tools and facilities, as well as a trained and skilled team, designed to perform this sort of work.

At Parramatta Smash Repairs, we are fully equipped to carry out all types of panel beating and auto body services. Our customised, specialist workshop is kitted out with spray paint booths, PDR (paintless dent removal) and SMART (small to medium area repair technique) tools, and we can offer a comprehensive range of services to get your vehicle back on the road as soon as possible after an accident.

Our highly qualified and skilled technicians are experienced in undertaking panel beating and auto body services on all makes and models of vehicles, as well as being able to access any parts that are required quickly and easily.

In addition, Parramatta Smash Repairs’ long standing in the industry means that we are experienced in dealing with all major insurers, and can help ensure that making a claim is as straightforward stress-free as possible.

Therefore, whether the damage is caused by an accident with another vehicle or any other reason (such as storm damage, for instance), you should search for body shop near me to find a car body shop that specialises in auto body services, rather than a garage whose main focus is auto repairs.

What services are provided by an auto body shop?

If you’ve been involved in a collision and your vehicle has suffered either major or minor damage to the bodywork, then you need a specialist car body repair shop.

Parramatta Smash Repairs has highly specialised skills and more than 55 years’ experience in the industry, and so we ensure that getting repairs to the body work of any vehicle is as efficient and cost-effective as possible.

As an authorised repairer for Merceds-Benz, BMW, Mini, Lexus and Subaru, we are committed to restoring vehicles in line with manufacturer specifications, and are our fully equipped workshop features a comprehensive array of tools that help us get the job done to the highest standards.

Our licensed technicians utilise a range of sophisticated and innovative equipment and technology, including a designated aluminium repair area, Car-o-liner computerised body alignment systems and in-house computer diagnostic equipment, as well as manufacturer-approved paint systems.

If panels have been dented, paintwork damaged or windows smashed, then you should search for a body shop near me in order to find a garage or workshop that can undertake the sort of repair work your vehicle needs in order to get it back out on the road once more.

You will usually need to come to a specialist in this field like Parramatta Smash Repairs, as most car repair shops are not equipped for this sort of work.

Which One Do You Need?

At Parramatta Smash Repairs, we are specialists in auto body services, and if you search for car repair near me you’ll find that we’re fully equipped to repair any damage to the body of your vehicle, whether its the result of a collision or another form of accident.

However, we also offer an extensive range of services that you would normally expect to find provided by an auto repair shop. This includes mechanical and electrical work, air conditioning repairs, as well as diagnostic services, so we can take care of all your car body repair needs, both inside and out.

As well as repairing exterior paint and body work, we are also an authorised repairer for major makes of vehicles, including Mercedes, Lexus and BMW.

Get the full picture before going with your car insurance’s choice of smash repairer

car insurance smash repair parramatta smash repairs blog feature image

This blog post provides useful consumer information as well as a handy list of car insurers who offer a choice of repairers.

Oh no, a car accident …

When someone has a car accident and needs a smash repairer, they often just go with one of the companies their car insurer recommends. Did you know this may not be mandatory and that you may be able to pick your own repairer? 

To make a better informed choice, it is good to understand the bigger picture, and know what your options are.

Let us walk you through what we know as an industry insider, so you could gain better insights to make a better informed decision if and when you find yourself in this situation.

What you need to know before picking a repairer for your insurance claim

The starting point for a typical claim is that your car insurer suggests one or more repairers from their list. They may also ask you for your preferred locations before giving you their recommendations.

The general advantages of picking a repairer recommended by your car insurer are:

  • Competence – Assurance of general baseline capability because these repairers have been reviewed and approved by your car insurer. This matters to car owners who don’t know any reputable smash repairers themselves, and may neither have the time nor interest to do their own extended research.
  • Convenience – Your insurer has a large repairer database and can pick one or more located close to your home or workplace to minimise your travel time to the repairer to get your vehicle assessed, repaired, and collected.
  • Fixed cost – You are only ‘out of pocket’ based on your excess amount, and there are no extra costs that may arise if what the repairer charges is much higher than what the insurer believes is a reasonable price.

Most car owners are happy enough to pick a repairer recommended by the insurer based on the above information. However, further investigation may, in some cases, get you a better outcome for your particular repair job.

The general advantages of picking your own repairer instead of the one recommended by your insurer are:

  • Specialisation – You may already know a smash repairer who specialises in your make and model of car (especially if it is a luxury or rare model), or is an authorised dealer for your car marque. If so, they are probably able to do a higher quality job than a generalised repairer. Your repairer may also have better equipment or genuine parts a generalist repairer may not have. 
  • Criteria – While you have direct control over why you are choosing your repairer, your insurer’s criteria may not be as transparent, as some insurers may recommend repairers that generally cost the least to them, which may affect capability and quality. This point is especially important if you have exceptionally high standards and expectations for a beloved high-end vehicle.  
  • Capacity – Your repairer may be able to do the job faster than the insurer’s because your repairer has a larger team, or are better organised and resourced.
  • Convenience – Your choice repairer may be located even closer to you or having extended opening times, which makes it even more convenient to you in terms of travelling to the repairer’s shop for assessment and pickup. 
  • Assurance – You may enjoy a higher scope of workmanship guarantee with your preferred repairer than a generalist repairer, and won’t know until you ask.

So, when it comes to picking a repairer recommended by your insurer or choosing your own, the best decision could swing either way, so make sure you are fully informed before deciding. The above potential advantages come from selecting car insurance that allows you to pick your own repairer, so be informed as to which insurers do not provide that option.

List of car insurers that provide a choice of repairers

Car Insurances Choice of Smash Repairer
Allianz (Allianz) Yes
ANZ (QBE) Yes
Bank of Melbourne (Allianz) Yes
BankSA (Allianz) Yes
Bankwest (Commbank) Yes
CGU (IAG) Yes
Comminsure (Commbank) Yes
GIO – Platinum (AAI) Yes
GIO (AAI) Yes
NAB (Allianz) Yes
RAA (RAA) Yes
RACQ (RACQ) Yes
SGIC (IAG) Yes
SGIO (IAG) Yes
St George (Allianz) Yes
Suncorp – Advantages (AAI) Yes
Suncorp – Extra (AAI) Yes
Suncorp (AAI) Yes
TIO (Allianz) Yes
Westpac (Allianz) Yes
Budget Direct – Gold Low KM (Auto & General) Optional
Budget Direct – Low KM (Auto & General) Optional
Budget Direct (Auto & General) Optional
Catch (Auto & General) Optional
ING (Auto & General) Optional
NRMA (IAG) Optional
QBE (QBE) Optional
RACV (IMA) Optional
Virgin Money (Auto & General) Optional
Youi (Youi) Optional
Coles (IAG) Optional
AAMI (AAI) No
Bingle (AAI) No
Huddle (Hollard) No
Kogan (Hollard) No
RAC (RAC) No
RACT (RACT) No
Real (Hollard) No
Woolworths (Hollard) No

How to make things easier for yourself with Parramatta Smash Repairs

Our award-winning smash repairs team is experienced in handling car insurance claims expertly, with strong empathy for our customers. 

  • We are often recommended by leading insurance companies for repair work on prestige cars. Many of our insurer partners are on the Yes and Optional lists above (marked in bold). 
  • No matter how large or small the claim, we provide excellent support through the whole claim process and provide frequent updates to give you peace of mind. We answer more questions about car insurance claims on this page. 

Our friendly smash repair team welcomes you to give us a go, and come to us if you have any questions on smash repairs, with or without insurance claims.

Hail is not merry. Car hail damage repair in Sydney – What you need to know to get back on the road again

2021-11-29 PSR car hail damage blog feature image

‘Tis the season when hailstorms are going to ravage New South Wales. Be prepared!

During the hail season in Sydney between November and March, most hailstorms hit between 3pm and 7pm, reports Risk Frontiers (formerly Natural Hazards Research Centre). Just last month in October 2021, hailstones between 3cm and 5cm wide in diameter were reported in Penrith, the Blue Mountains and Goulburn.

The high concentration of people, buildings, and cars in metropolitan Sydney means there is a higher exposure and risk of damage by hail in Sydney than the rest of NSW. The highest recent hailstorm damage bill was $673.9 million for an incident in December 2018, and $320 million in January 2020. More than 73% of the 81,194 claims in 2018 were for motor vehicle damage, as were two thirds of the 29,000 claims in 2020.

How to prevent hail damage

If possible, park your vehicles under cover or in a garage. If this is not possible, protect your car with a car cover, especially one that is built to withstand hail.

Unfortunately, we never really know when hail will strike, and if your car is hit while exposed to the elements, come to us to get your car looking good or ready to drive again.

How does hail damage cars?

Hailstones can leave a pock-marked blanket of dents and dimples on car hoods/bonnets, tops, and boots. Dislodged side mirrors or stuck doors could also be caused by hail damage. In some instances, smashed windshields, mirrors or windows may expose the inside of your car to water damage.

The largest recorded hailstones in Sydney are about 3.8 to 4cm wide. Missiles of this size fortunately don’t always smash glass or damage the paintwork on vehicles beyond repair.

What are your repair options for hail damage?

You can count on us to assess the damage honestly and provide advice on the most cost-effective approach to get the best results. Hail damage can range from localised to extensive areas. You don’t need to make an insurance claim if the cost of damage is below your insurance excess, which may be the case for light cases of hail damage.

Without paint damage. If the paint is not affected by the hail damage, we suggest a method that does not require repainting called PDR – paintless dent repair. Purpose-built suctioning tools are used to smoothen the dents. As a fully equipped smash repair shop, we also have the proper tools to get to any dents in awkward positions. 

With paint damage. We provide a choice of several techniques:

Smashed glass and parts replacement. If the hail damage on your car is more extensive, our experienced technicians can help you source for the right parts and do a great job installing them.

Insurance claims. If you should require insurance claims we are happy to coordinate it for you so you can focus on taking care of yourself, and have peace of mind.

You can count on Parramatta Smash Repairs

In summary, be mindful that hail season is upon us. If your car should suffer from hail damage, please let us help you find the most cost-effective way to get your car back into great shape again. Simply give us a call, Parramatta Smash Repairs is happy to help!