Questions?

Common Questions

  • How is the plains panel & paint different from any other body shop?

    The Plains Panel & Paint has been Browns Plains premier auto repair facility since 1980 and we are an accredited member of the MTAQ.


    Not only do we fully stand by our work but we also specialise in Insurance Claim Handling and work hand in hand with your Insurance Company, so that your claim is expedited in the most timely and efficient manner. “Welcome to the world of pampering”.


    Finally, our collision technicians here at Plains Panel & Paint are certified with continuing education and are certified in: Structural correction, Plastic repairs, Welding, and Refinishing.

  • Plains Panel & Paint does great work, but do they guarantee it?

    We here at The Plains Panel & Paint commit to doing a complete and thorough job when we work on your vehicle. We strive and commit to repairing every single vehicle in order to meet and exceed all manufacturer repair standards. Every repair that is completed at The Plains Panel & Paint is guaranteed for as for 3 years and in some cases the insurance company guarantee the repair for as long as you own the vehicle. 


    Just so you do not have to worry.

  • What types of cars does plains panel & paint specialize in?

    Even without knowing the make or model of your car, we can absolutely fix any and all collision repair problems you may have. You have no need to worry about your car; The Plains Panel & Paint has talented, skilled, and certified technicians who specialise in all makes and models from all over the world. We have specialised certified technicians who can repair every type of car, weather it is made locally for the Domestic, Asian and even the European market. There is no job big or small that we wouldn’t be happy to fix for you.

  • How much will my repair cost me?

    This is a tough one to determine because every accident is different and so each repair costs a different amount. So after we have an opportunity to assess the damage and explain the process/necessary time needed to complete the repair we will be able to quote you an amount.


    If you file a claim with your insurance – You only pay us the excess and in some cases, this is even waived from your insurance company.


    If you were not at fault for the accident and the other party’s insurance is covering you – You pay no out of pocket charges and the other party will be billed accordingly.


    If you decide to pay for the repairs on your own – We will provide you with an estimate and together we will agree on a set amount of repairs done for your car based on the amount you are looking to spend. This agreement will all be taken care of prior to starting any repairs.

Service Related Questions

  • I just got in an accident, What do I do?

    We know that an accident can be very stressful. So we went ahead and put together a step by step instruction guide for you.

    • Make sure your vehicle is off.
    • Assess the accident in order to make sure everyone safe and okay. If someone was injured call for an ambulance. If everyone is alright, call the police and report the accident.
    • After police arrive, give a statement to the officer about what happened. 
    • All insurance information needs to be exchanged at this point.
    • If you decide to lodge an insurance claim at this time then make sure you tell them that The Plains Panel & Paint is your choice of repairer. 
    • If your vehicle is still drivable, bring the damaged vehicle, along with all insurance information to The Plains Panel & Paint Monday through Friday 7:30am – 4:00pm. We will photograph and record all accident related damage.
    • You will need to file a “claims report” with your insurance company. Some insurance companies have a mandatory “Drive-in claims service”, you will need to call and let them know of the damages sustained to your car, whether or not you were at fault for the accident, and that The Plains Panel & Paint is your chosen repair facility of choice.
    • Once you arrive at Plains Panel & Paint, we will walk you through the rest and take care of every little thing for you.

  • What happens if a technician finds more damage to my car than originally thought?

    With the complexity of more modern vehicles, it is not that all uncommon to find something else that is damaged after the initial inspection. This is what is called “hidden” or “Unforeseen” damage. But do not worry, if we do find anything we will document and contact your insurance company right away. 


    Your insurance company may need to come out and inspect the damage for themselves. If they do this could delay repair for 2-5 business days and depending on availability of parts, authorisation of parts for purchase, and delivery an extra couple of days could be added onto this delay. The Plains Panel & Paint puts an enormous amount of effort into working efficiently while still providing you with quality service. So rest assured we are still working to repair your car until the parts come in.

  • Will the plains panel & paint be able match the old paint so it looks like it never happened?

    Thanks to state of the art technology, the talent of all our skilled technicians here at The Plains Panel & Paint and a touch of illusion we can replicate almost any paint color. Our factory trained paint professionals use the computer equipment to identify and match the vehicle color, and then apply the paint to manufacturer’s standards.


    How does The Plains Panel & Paint go about acquiring the perfect color match for your car? We start by locating your vehicle’s information label (this label has a paint code which identifies the color of your car). Next, our paint technician uses a computerised paint-mixing system to locate the standard color for your car and any known variants. We then determine the best match among these base colors and their variants. Then finally, between tinting and blending, the color match area becomes completely invisible.

  • What if I leave something in my car?

    Our team members here at The Plains Panel & Paint are amongst the most honest and trustworthy individuals you could ever leave your car with (some of which have been with us for over 15 years). And to do their job properly they often have to remove interior parts in order to properly fix your vehicle or prevent the interior from being damaged. 


    As you can imagine, what could be a pen to us could be a birthday present from your grandmother. With that in mind, before leaving your car with us we strongly advise that you remove any and all personal belongings of value from your vehicle because we cannot assume responsibility for a lost item.

Part Related Questions

  • What types of parts does the plains panel & paint use and what is the difference between them?

    We use three different types of parts here at Plains Panel & Paint and the type we use depends on which one your insurance company would prefer we use. The three different types are OEM, Aftermarket (A/M), and Used. Whatever parts we use, we guarantee all our work for as long as you own the vehicle. We will always do top quality repairs and have been doing so since 1980!! 


    OEM – This stands for “Original Equipment Manufacturer”. And this is used to describe replacement parts made for your vehicle by the manufacturer where your car came from. For example, Ford parts which came from the Ford manufacturer.


    Aftermarket (A/M) – This describes a part that was produced by a manufacturer other than the manufacturer that made your car. Aftermarket parts are usually less expensive when compared to new OEM. However, not all Aftermarket parts come with a warranty or if they do it is only for the basic quality of the part. With that in mind it is not the practice of us here at The Plains Panel & Paint to use Aftermarket parts. 


    Used – This is more commonly known in the auto repair and insurance industry as a “Second Hand”. These are most likely genuine OEM parts that have come from a previous damaged vehicle.

  • What happens if I don’t want to have “second hand parts” used to fix my vehicle?

    If you don’t want them, you have to express your concerns to your insurer.


    Second hand parts are only used to restore your vehicle to “pre accident damage” (no better, no worse) conditions than what your vehicle was prior to the accident. We only use Used parts when there is an agreement from all parties. However, if it is stated in your policy your Insurance Company will only pay for used part, you will have to pay the difference out of your own pocket.

Insurance Related Questions

  • Can I have the plains panel & paint repair my car even though my insurance company recommends someone else?

    Yes! The insurance company can always recommend someone to fix your car but they can’t force you to take it any shop you don’t trust. If you want to bring your car to us, then we will be here for you. After you bring it to us once you will never want to go anywhere else and that is a guarantee.

  • What is the difference between third party insurance and comprehensive insurance coverage?

    Generally, Third party insurance only covers the other parties damage to their car or property caused by you. 


    Comprehensive insurance covers all related damage to your car, and covers the other parties vehicle and any property related damage.

  • What is an excess and when do I pay it?

    An excess is simply the portion of the bill that is not covered by your insurance company and you pay your Excess when the repairs are completed. 


    The most common Excess amounts are $600, $750, $1000. Your Excess amount will be stated on your insurance policy form.

  • Can the plains panel & paint cover my excess?

    No, we will not “cover your excess”, nor will any other honest and trust-worthy auto repair company (You should be wary of those who offer to). Your insurance policy is an agreement between you and your Insurance Company.

  • Will this accident make my insurance premium go up?

    There are many factors that go into whether or not your insurance premium will go up. Factors like who was at fault, driving history, and the type of loss all play a big role in determining this. You should always call your insurance company to determine the impact your accident will have on your policy’s premium.

  • Do I have to get multiple estimates? And what happens if the insurance company’s estimate is lower than the one I get from the plains panel & paint?

    No, you do not need multiple estimates; you only need to notify your Insurance Company that you will be having service done at Plains Panel & Paint. Keep in mind that if the Insurance Companies estimate is lower than ours, it is because we do a thorough job assessing the damage done to your vehicle. This goes beyond the obvious damage that is usually reported on an insurance claim. 


    Just bring the insurance estimate in with you and we can go over any differences. If necessary, we’ll notify the insurance company of the changes we need to make. Generally this just takes a phone call for any “supplement repairs”. We will always work hand in hand with your Insurance Company and provide you with the quality service you expect.

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