When the hit went deeper than the panels.

Every modern vehicle is engineered around a structural system — unibody for most passenger cars and crossovers, body-on-frame for trucks and larger SUVs — that maintains wheel and suspension geometry, distributes crash forces through controlled crumple zones, and supports the airbag system. A structural compromise — even one that's invisible from the outside — can affect all three. Your car may drive normally, steer normally, and look fine. But if it's out of spec by even a few millimetres, the geometry is wrong, the crumple path is compromised, and your safety systems may not perform as designed.

• Any front or rear collision at meaningful speed
• A side impact or T-bone that moved the door pillar
• A rollover or significant side-swipe
• Any collision where the other vehicle's bumper made contact with your frame rail or rocker structure
• Any estimate where a shop is recommending panel repair without mentioning a structural check

1. 1
   Step 1:

   Full damage assessment

   After disassembly, your vehicle is placed on the measuring bench and scanned. Every critical control point is measured against OEM specification. The scope of structural damage is documented with measurements and photos.

2. 2
   Step 2:

   ICBC supplement (if applicable)

   Structural damage often isn't visible in the initial estimate. When we find it, we document it and submit a supplement to ICBC before proceeding. This is standard — it doesn't slow the process if we handle it properly.

3. 3
   Step 3:

   Anchoring and pulling

   The vehicle is secured to the frame bench and structural correction begins — applying force to specific points in the sequence and direction the repair procedure requires. We pull to the measurement target, not by feel.

4. 4
   Step 4:

   Re-measurement

   Every corrected section is measured again. If it's not within spec, we continue. Repair is done when the numbers confirm it, not when it looks right.

5. 5
   Step 5:

   Structural welds and corrosion protection

   Replacement structural sections are welded per OEM procedure. Cut and weld zones receive factory-spec corrosion protection — the failure to apply this is how structural repairs rust from the inside out years later.

6. 6
   Step 6:

   Alignment, ADAS recalibration, and quality inspection

   Wheel alignment is confirmed. Suspension and steering components affected by the collision are checked. Safety systems that rely on accurate vehicle geometry are recalibrated. Final quality inspection before delivery.

How do I know if my car has frame damage?

You often don't — without putting it on a measuring system. After any significant collision, a proper structural assessment is part of a complete repair estimate. If the shop you're talking to doesn't mention structural measurement, ask explicitly. We check as a matter of course.

Can a frame be repaired, or does damage mean the car is totalled?

It depends on the severity, the location, and the vehicle's value. Technicians successfully complete structural repairs on thousands of vehicles every year. Some damage does lead to a total-loss determination. We'll tell you honestly where your vehicle sits, and if it's borderline, we can show you both options.

Will my car ever be the same after frame damage?

A properly measured, OEM-procedure structural repair restores the vehicle to manufacturer specification — the same geometry, the same crumple zone design, the same ADAS mounting accuracy. A repair that's done by eye without measurement is a different story. Ours is not.

Does structural damage void my manufacturer warranty?

The repair itself, done to OEM procedure, does not void the manufacturer's warranty. Cutting corners on procedure — using non-approved weld zones, improper replacement sections, missing corrosion protection — can. Our repairs follow OEM procedure.

Will ICBC cover structural repair?

Structural damage from an insured event is covered under your ICBC claim. Hidden structural damage found during repair is handled via a supplement — we manage that process for you.