At Automotive Training Center, automotive collision is one of several specialties you can choose to study. Every specialty requires its own set of skills, and automotive collision is no different. In an automotive collision program, you can get hands-on experience using the tools and techniques found in real-world collision shops all over the country.
Collision 101: What You’ll Learn in an Automotive Collision Program
The Big Five
There is plenty to learn in an automotive collision program. Here are five of the major topics that will be covered:
- Estimating
Repair costs are important. Whether it’s an insurance company or the vehicle owner footing the bill, customers want to know the costs ahead of time. Giving estimates that are too far off could make your shop lose money or run into trouble with the Better Business Bureau. Learning to make complete and accurate estimates is an important job that will take you a long way.
- Insurance Billing
Many customers will have auto insurance to cover their repairs. Dealing with insurance companies is an aspect of collision repair, and an important skill to have on the job to ensure the shop receives accurate payment.
- General Automotive Repair
There is more than just bodywork that goes into collision repair. Sometimes engines, the interior, and other parts are damaged. Sending repairs out to other shops takes time and money, so most collision shops try to keep repairs in-house whenever they can.
- Body Work
Welding, hammering, sanding, and fitting new panels are the biggest tasks here. They may look easy, but every one of these skills takes months or years of practice to execute well. Inexperienced mechanics may use excess body filler to make these corrections and end up with obvious, not-so-well-done repairs. Experienced professionals can make it look like nothing ever happened.
- Painting and Prepping
No car looks good without paint, and a paint job won’t look good for very long without the proper prep. Good body workers set the painters up for success, but there is still plenty of other work to do. No part of a collision repair job takes more time or makes a bigger impact than the paint job. While routine paint jobs may not be that exciting, practicing them is a way to perfect your craft. Experienced painters have the opportunities to work painting pinstripes and flames on custom cars.
Collision repair is one of the most interesting jobs in the automotive world. There is nothing quite like taking a wreck and turning it back into a car that its owner can be proud of.
To learn more about collision repair from experts in the field, download this free eBook, Panels, Paints & Graphics: The Future of Collision Repair.
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