Milani's Autocraft Frequently Asked Questions

(415) 690-7975
110 Hamilton Drive, Suite A
Novato, CA 94949
Joe Milani is a veteran of the auto body industry.
Q: Do I need multiple estimates for my insurance claim?
A: "No, one is enough. Many insurance adjusters know our shop, the quality of our work and our pricing policies."
Q: Do I have to go to the auto body shop my insurance company recommends?
A: "No. You have the right to take your car to whatever shop you wish."
Q: Do you use aftermarket or reconditioned parts?
A: "Not by choice, but sometimes insurance companies will only pay for reconditioned parts. In these cases, we’ll give you the option of paying the difference and going with new parts."
Q: Are aftermarket parts really lower quality?
A: "Some certainly are. Generally, it’s better to go with original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts. That way, you know the quality is as good as when the car came out of the factory."
Q: How long will it take to repair my car?
A: "The average turnaround is five to seven days. Usually, you can use the cost estimate to judge the time it will take. If it’s $2,500 or less, the turnaround will probably be less than five days. If it’s more than $2,500, it’ll likely be five to seven days. A $10,000 repair could take up to three weeks. And if it’s over $10,000, it could take as long as six weeks."
Q: Will the paint match? Do you have to repaint the whole vehicle?
A: "Yes, we’ll match the paint. We have a computerized paint system for more difficult colors and a state-of-the-art, downdraft pressurized spray booth. After the last coat is applied, we run the painted parts through a 60-minute baking and cool-down cycle to fully cure the paint so it matches the factory paint job. Generally, we don’t have to paint the entire car. If we can, we only paint the damaged part, but if the damage is near the edge of a panel, we’ll blend it with the paint on adjacent panels. That’s the industry standard, and all the better shops do it."