Cosmetic repair vs. collision repair
A body shop replaces and rebuilds. It can pull a damaged part off, order a new one, repair what's underneath, and repaint whole panels in a booth. That's the right place for serious damage.
Cosmetic repair is narrower. It fixes the visible damage on the part that's already on the car: the scuffed corner, the cracked bumper cover, the scratch, the chip. Robert Crenshaw does this as a mobile service. He brings his truck and trailer to your driveway, repairs the damage there, and most jobs are done in under three hours.
Neither is better across the board. The question is which one fits your damage.
When cosmetic repair makes sense
If the damage is on the surface and the part underneath is sound, cosmetic repair is usually the faster and less expensive choice. Typical examples:
- Bumper scuffs, scrapes and corner damage (bumper repair)
- Bumper cracks, with most under about 6–8 inches repairable
- Small punctures where the broken piece is still there
- Small dents in a plastic bumper cover
- Light scratches that buff out, and deeper ones that can be touched up and hidden (scratch repair)
- Rock chips and cloudy headlights
When a body shop is the right call
Robert is straightforward about what he turns down. These jobs need a body shop:
- Bumpers with big rips or chunks missing, which need a replacement cover
- Installing a new bumper cover
- Key scratches that run across a panel, since the whole panel has to be sanded and painted
- Dents in metal panels, including hail damage
- Structural or frame damage, and anything mechanical
- Damage behind the bumper, which he doesn't take bumpers off to inspect
- Sensors that need replacing, programming or recalibrating
“Key scratches are a little bit difficult because the entire panel has to be sanded and painted, which is a little bit too much for a mobile service.”
Insurance and your deductible
Small cosmetic damage can cost less to fix than an insurance deductible, in which case a claim wouldn't pay for it anyway. Robert prices with that in mind: he tries to keep repairs under the customer's deductible, or close to it.
He does not handle insurance claims or write insurance-format estimates. If you want the repair to go through your insurance company, a body shop that works with insurers is the better route. If you'd rather pay directly and keep it simple, cosmetic repair usually fits. He can give you a written estimate and a receipt if you ask.
Fender benders between two drivers
Small two-car fender benders are sometimes settled between the drivers without insurance. Robert does take on these jobs, where the at-fault driver pays for the repair, and works between the two drivers to get it done.
Cost, time and convenience
Because cosmetic repair fixes the part you have instead of replacing it, Robert often saves customers hundreds to thousands of dollars compared with a body shop. He doesn't publish prices, since every job is different; text photos and he'll quote from them.
There's also the time. Robert is usually out within 2–3 days of your call, the repair happens at your home, most jobs take under three hours, and you pay when it's done. No drop-off and no days without your car. How it works covers the details.
How to find out which repair you need
Send Robert a photo. If the damage is something he can repair in your driveway, he'll quote it. If it's body-shop work, such as a ripped cover or a scratch down the whole side, he'll tell you that instead. For bumpers specifically, Bumper repair or replacement? goes deeper.
Common questions: Do I need a body shop or cosmetic repair?
Will Robert work with my insurance company?
No. He doesn't handle insurance claims or write insurance-format estimates. He tries to keep repairs under or close to your deductible so you can pay directly.
Someone backed into me and wants to pay instead of using insurance. Can Robert help?
Yes. He handles two-party fender benders where the at-fault driver pays for the repair.
Can I get a written estimate?
Yes, on request, along with a receipt when the work is done. It won't be in an insurance-company format.
How do I pay?
On completion, by cash, check or Venmo. He doesn't take credit cards and doesn't offer financing.
Written from Robert Crenshaw's own explanations of how he works. Nearly 30 years repairing bumpers, and 25 years running his own business.