Auto Body Inspection Program keeps pace with evolving repair technology
Collision repair continues to become more technically complex as vehicle construction, materials, safety systems, and manufacturer repair procedures evolve. Structural repairs, replacement components, welds, adhesives, and other repairs can involve materials and processes that are not visible after a vehicle is reassembled.
The Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) established the Auto Body Inspection Program in the early 2000s in response to concerns about unsafe or substandard collision repairs. The program provides vehicle owners with an independent, no-cost inspection after collision repairs, offering an additional measure of confidence in the completed repair.
As repair technology changes, BAR continually updates the technical knowledge and training of its field representatives so they can effectively evaluate increasingly complex collision repairs.
Looking under the surface
An auto body inspection begins with a review of the final repair invoice. A specially trained BAR investigator then inspects the vehicle to verify that the repairs listed on the invoice were performed correctly.
Mark Guess, an Automotive Program Specialist who has been involved with the program since its early development and trains the investigators, has encountered vehicles where unrepaired structural damage remained hidden beneath an otherwise finished exterior.
"A vehicle can look perfectly acceptable from the outside, but the structure underneath may tell a different story," Guess said. "We've seen obviously damaged structural components still on the vehicle when the invoice indicated they had been replaced. That can create serious safety concerns if the vehicle is involved in another collision."
Keeping inspection expertise current
BAR provides specialized Structural Damage Analysis training to prepare its investigators to evaluate collision repairs. The hands-on training covers vehicle construction, structural damage, manufacturer repair information, materials, welding, other repair procedures, and vehicle safety technologies. The training addresses the increasing complexity of vehicle construction and repair. Depending on the year, make, and model, manufacturers may use different types of steel, aluminum, composites, adhesives, and other materials, each with specific repair or replacement requirements.
Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) add another level of complexity. Cameras, radar, sensors, and related safety components can be affected by repairs to bumpers, windshields, suspension, and body structures. Manufacturer procedures may require ADAS systems to be scanned, aimed, or recalibrated following a repair. Many recalibrations require specialized equipment and precise positioning to ensure that safety systems function as designed.
BAR continually updates its Structural Damage Analysis training to reflect changes in vehicle technology and repair requirements. In BAR’s training lab, investigators work with vehicle sections as well as entire vehicles that were damaged in real-world collisions. This provides hands-on opportunities to examine structural damage and understand how materials, technologies, and manufacturer procedures affect collision repairs.
"The industry is continuously evolving," Guess said. "Keeping the training current means continually reviewing new materials, technologies, and repair procedures and incorporating those changes into what we teach."
The importance of proper repair procedures
Modern vehicles are engineered to manage crash forces through carefully designed structural components and crumple zones. If those components aren't repaired according to manufacturer-specified procedures, they may not provide the vehicle occupants the protection intended by the vehicle's design.
As an example, Guess recalls an inspection involving a college student's vehicle where a structural component supporting a front MacPherson strut assembly had not been welded properly during the repair. The weld later split, leaving the driver without steering control and the vehicle undrivable.
"This is an example of why proper collision repair is so important," Guess said. "A vehicle may appear to have been properly repaired, however, non-visible structural repairs must be performed correctly in order to provide vehicle occupants with the protection the vehicle was designed to provide."
For BAR and collision repair professionals alike, keeping pace with changes in vehicle technology and repair requirements is essential. BAR’s ongoing technical training helps ensure its investigators maintain the knowledge needed to evaluate complex collision repairs and identify concerns that may not be apparent from a vehicle’s exterior.
The Auto Body Inspection Program applies BAR’s technical expertise to collision repair inspections and supports the organization’s broader mission of promoting proper vehicle repairs and protecting consumers.
Watch BAR’s Auto Body Inspection Program video to see the inspection process in action. Visit the No-cost collision repair inspections webpage for program details.