A comprehensive list of images for your free virtual body repair quote

Having been in the industry for nearly 30 years, at CASTLE COACHWORKS (NORTHAMPTON) LIMITED we understand that our customers often want to seek out an estimate before committing to repair work, especially for small or minor dings or when you are at fault. With hikes in insurance prices also at the forefront of people's minds coupled with our frenetic lives, getting across to the bodyshop to see about damage repair isn't always easy to factor into your busy week.?

Not to worry! Our expert team can save you the hassle and provide you with a free body repair quote for damage to your vehicle without the trip. By providing us with accurate images of the areas of damage on a camera or smartphone can make this process a lot quicker and easier all round.

But what do we need to see? Our Vehicle Damage Assessment team have put together a comprehensive list.

What images do we need to see for your body work repair quote?

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• Number plates, front and back. Take the images standing back from your vehicle
• Any model badges on the bonnet boot or tailgate of your vehicle and any sub-model badges on the side of your vehicle (on the wing or door)
• The Chassis or VIN number (Vehicle Identification Number). This is a unique serial number used by the automotive industry to identify individual motor vehicles. It is normally located on a small strip where the passenger side wiper arm sits at the bottom of the windscreen. Alternatively, on some older models, you can find it on a sticker on the inside of either the driver or passenger door
• A clear image of the dashboard, ignition on, displaying the current mileage and any warning lights that might be showing
• Photos showing all 4 corners of the vehicle taken from approx. 2 metres away, clearly showing the complete damaged area to give us an impression of impact direction in the case of an accident
• Images of damaged areas should be taken from about 1 metre away, so we can see the extent of the damage in more detail
• Close-ups showing details of specific areas and damaged parts

?Top tips from our expert team of vehicle damage assessors

Wayne Morris “In the winter months, your vehicle is more likely to be dirty. This can make our job of providing an accurate estimate more challenging as damage can be hidden. Whilst we will always inform you of any further repairs we come across and ensure you are happy for us to carry these out first, giving your car a good clean before you take pictures will help give us all a clearer picture from the outset.”

Andrew Butler “The more images the better. Try taking images from different angles and distances too. It helps if you park the car in an open area so you have enough room to be able to move around freely and assess from all angles. We usually take anywhere between ten and twenty on-site but the more you can show us, the easier it will be to evaluate the damage to give you a precise quote.”

Ellis Lennon “Keep the images as clear as possible. Avoid sending in blurred photos or images with reflections that might disguise the extent of the damage, and zoom out. If the photos are clear we can zoom in ourselves. Landscape images also work better so if you are taking them on your smartphone, turn it on its side.”

If you are making a claim, please also provide the name of your insurance company and claim number. Although, we always advise all of our customers to contact us first in the event of an accident, so we can ensure you get the results you are looking for.

Ready to get snapping?

Head over to the Quote page on our website for your free virtual body repair estimate.

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