Body repair questions, answered.

Call (217) 793-9777 or request an estimate appointment through Carwise. Appointments are preferred and may be several days out. Tell us whether the vehicle can be driven and whether an insurer is handling the claim before making the trip.

Free estimates. Plan for 30–60 minutes at the shop. Estimate appointments can be several days out. Call ahead to confirm availability and any insurance steps first.

Have your year, make and model, contact details, handling insurer, claim number, existing estimate and any insurer instructions ready. Our estimates are in person. Photos can start a conversation, but do not replace the shop’s inspection. If the vehicle cannot be driven, call to plan next steps.

An estimate appointment is separate from repair drop-off. An online request does not reserve a repair completion date. The shop needs to confirm the estimate, authorization, insurance steps, parts and schedule first.

Appointments are preferred. Walk-ins depend on estimator availability and may need to return at a scheduled time. Call before making the trip.

Kulavic’s works with most insurance companies. Call with the name of the insurer handling your claim so we can confirm the process for your vehicle. We do not list particular carriers as a guarantee of acceptance or coverage.

Contact the insurer handling the claim, then give us its name, your claim number and any estimate, photos or instructions it requests. Some insurers write their own estimate from photos; others send an assignment to the shop. Calling first can prevent an extra trip or an estimate that does not fit the insurer’s process.

Contact the shop when you receive it. Send or bring the estimate, claim number and insurer instructions. We can explain whether another visit is needed. Insurer photo estimates and reviews can take several business days; timing depends on the claim and insurer.

Contact the handling insurer about the claim and any towing arrangements it requires, then call us with the claim details and where the vehicle is going. We need a signed repair authorization and the required insurance steps before work proceeds. A towed vehicle joins the repair schedule; arriving at the shop does not mean work starts that day.

Let the office know which insurer is handling payment before repairs are arranged. Ask your insurer or insurance representative about coverage, deductibles, rental benefits and your claim options. If the handling insurer changes, contact the shop before the repair plan proceeds.

Yes. Tell the office when you call that you are considering self-pay. If you may use insurance, discuss the claim process before an estimate is written. Self-pay and insurance estimates can follow different procedures and prices.

Disassembly can reveal damage that was not visible at the estimate. Additional parts, a revised estimate and insurer approval may be needed. This can change both the final bill and timing. Ask the office about any changes to your repair plan.

Sign the repair authorization and confirm your drop-off date with the office. For a scheduled drivable drop-off, bring a full tank of fuel and remove child seats, strollers and large items so the vehicle can be prepared for required calibrations. Bring any insurance checks already issued for the repair. These preparation steps do not mean you should drive an unsafe or towed vehicle.

Ask the handling insurer whether a rental is covered, who arranges it, and what daily and total limits apply. Coverage can expire before a longer repair is finished. Confirm your transportation plans before drop-off; the shop cannot promise rental coverage or an extension.

Loaners are limited, generally short-term and for local use. They are not guaranteed and should not be your transportation plan for a multiweek collision repair. Confirm availability and all restrictions, including travel outside the area, with the office first.

The total time includes insurance steps, scheduling, parts, repair, paint, reassembly and any required scans or calibration. Larger tow-in jobs can take one to two months from arrival to completion. Paint work alone can require several shop days. These are planning examples, not a promise for your vehicle. Ask the office for the current schedule.

The shop may be waiting for claim information, an estimate or assignment, your signed authorization, insurer approval, parts or a place in the repair schedule. Parts can arrive quickly, take weeks or be back-ordered. Further damage found during the work can require another order.

Text messages are the main way the shop communicates once the repair file is set up. Automated messages are reminders or general status notices, not a live view of every repair stage or part order. Staff can send specific messages about delays or pickup. Confirm your mobile number, tell us if you cannot receive texts, and call (217) 793-9777 for more detail.

Kulavic’s coordinates pre-repair and post-repair scans and any required safety-system calibrations with Advanced Diagnostics & Calibrations (ADC). Many procedures can be handled at the shop. Some makes and models require a dealership visit, and some calibration procedures include a road test. Ask what your vehicle needs and how that affects timing.

Collision repair includes cleanup related to the repair. A full interior and exterior detail or a factory-new appearance is not included as a standard pickup service.

Wait until the shop confirms that your vehicle is ready. At the front desk, collect your final repair paperwork, written warranty and keys, and settle any amount due. If you have questions about the work, ask the team before leaving. A vehicle walkthrough is not automatically included.

Confirm your deductible, any self-pay work and the insurance payment status with the office before arriving. Some insurers pay the shop directly; other repairs may need payment or proof that the insurer has sent it before the vehicle can be released. Bring any repair checks already issued to you.

Call the office to confirm the balance, accepted payment methods and any applicable card fee before pickup. Cash must be exact because the office does not keep change. For a balance over $1,000, ask whether a cashier’s check is required instead of a personal check.

Ask the office and your rental company to confirm return arrangements first. The shop can discuss whether you can leave the rental at pickup and how the rental company will collect it.

You may receive a repair survey through the shop’s Carwise system. That is separate from a Google review. Both are opportunities to describe your experience honestly; contact the office directly about a repair concern.

You receive a written limited lifetime repair warranty at pickup. Coverage applies while you own the vehicle, subject to its terms and exclusions. Replacement parts have their own manufacturer warranty terms, which may be shorter. Read the sheet for the rules on paint, decals, environmental damage, rust and other exclusions, and ask the office about your repair.

Follow the care instructions given for your repair. The shop generally advises waiting 30 days before hand washing and closer to 60 days before using an automatic car wash. Treat fresh paint gently and ask the team before washing if you are unsure about the timing.

Contact (217) 793-9777 promptly rather than waiting. Describe the concern so the shop can arrange a time to inspect it and explain whether another drop-off is needed. Some checks or adjustments can take part or all of a day. Reporting concerns promptly also matters because replacement-part warranty periods vary.

Collision damage, dents and scratches, frame and unibody work, and metal and plastic bodywork. Call about your vehicle and the damaged areas so the team can discuss an inspection.

It depends on the damage, whether the panel is aluminum or steel, its location and the repair plan. We do both repairs and replacements; a dent does not automatically mean a new panel.

Limited gel coat repair and detailing are available by arrangement. Vehicle collision work takes priority, so watercraft availability and turnaround can vary considerably. Call about scope and timing before arranging transport.

Kulavic’s focuses on collision and body repair. General engine repairs, routine mechanical maintenance, tires and suspension service are not offered as stand-alone services. Contact an appropriate mechanical or tire shop for that work.

The shop is at 4601 Wabash Avenue, Springfield, IL 62711. Open the directions link for a route from your location.

Monday–Friday, 7:30 am–5 pm. Saturday & Sunday closed.. Call (217) 793-9777 to confirm availability before planning an estimate or dropping off a vehicle.

Yes. Call (217) 793-9777 before arranging a vehicle drop-off or watercraft transport. For an insurance claim, also check any towing instructions from the handling insurer.