The time I had to choose between a quick patch or a full quarter panel on a 2015 Civic

This customer came in with a pretty bad dent on the rear quarter, right above the wheel. It was from a parking lot hit and run. The insurance adjuster was pushing hard for us to just pull it out, slap some filler on it, and call it a day to keep the cost down. My gut said that with the way the metal was creased, a proper repair meant cutting out that whole section and welding in a new panel. I argued for it, told the customer it would last longer and look right, even though it meant a bigger bill and waiting for the part. We went with the full replacement. Took two extra days, but when we painted it, you couldn't tell it was ever touched. The customer was thrilled. It just confirmed that sometimes the right fix isn't the fast one. Has anyone else had to really push back on an insurance recommendation to do a job properly?

2 comments

2 Comments

cameron_webb9d ago

Honestly, I have to disagree on this one. I've seen plenty of those quarter panel dents get pulled and filled just fine, it holds up for years if you do it right. Insurance isn't always wrong for wanting to save money, a full cut and weld is a huge job on a car that old. Sometimes a patch is the smart call for the customer's wallet too.

mark_smith598d agoMost Upvoted

Yeah but man, that bondo can crack down the road. My buddy's old truck looked fine for a year, then the whole repair just split open after a cold winter.