Frame & Structural Repair in Bellevue, WA
We repair frame and structural damage on all makes and models, from full-frame pickups to unibody cars. The structure is measured on our Chief measuring system, pulled back to the manufacturer’s specification and measured again. Call us first, and we’ll tell you whether to drive the car in or have it towed.
A modern car absorbs a crash by folding in places its designers chose, and the bend often sits behind a panel that looks fine. The Chief checks points on the structure against the manufacturer’s dimensions, so a rail that is out of place shows up on the readout even when the car looks straight.
Three steps between a bent structure and a straight one.
We put the car on the Chief and measure the structure against the manufacturer’s dimensions, and we write the estimate from those readings.
Our own technicians pull the structure back toward specification. When a rail is too damaged to pull and the manufacturer’s repair procedure calls for replacing a section, our body technicians cut it out and weld in the new one. Two of them are I-CAR certified in steel welding.
The structure is measured a second time to confirm it is back within the manufacturer’s tolerance before any panel goes on. The before-and-after printout goes home with you.
Full-frame pickups and unibody cars both go on the same bench. If the structure itself is aluminum, bring the car in and we will tell you where it should go.
Suspension, alignment and cameras.
A hit hard enough to bend a frame often damages the suspension as well. Suspension parts and the wheel alignment are done by a specialist vendor, and the car goes to their shop for the alignment before it comes back to us.
If the repair disturbed a camera or radar sensor, an independent calibration specialist re-aims it at our shop, and you get the post-scan report. Our ADAS calibration guide explains when that step is needed.
When the estimate gets close to what the car is worth.
Once you’ve filed a claim with your insurer, Fix Auto Bellevue handles it from there. Frame damage is where an estimate most often comes near the car’s value, and the total-loss decision belongs to your insurer, measured against its own threshold. If our estimate lands near that line, the insurer’s total-loss team reviews it and may ask us to take the car apart for a more accurate figure before it decides.
If more damage turns up once the car is apart, we photograph it and send it to your adjuster as a supplement. Rust found once the car is apart is quoted separately, because insurers treat it as unrelated prior damage and do not pay for it.
What people ask about frame repair.
Can a bent car frame be straightened?
Yes, in most cases. Our technicians pull the structure back toward the manufacturer's dimensions on the Chief and measure it again when the pull is done. A section too damaged to pull is cut out and replaced following the manufacturer's procedure. Whether the repair is worth it against the car's value is a separate question, and on a claim your insurer answers it.
Can I drive my car if the frame is bent?
It depends on the damage, so call us before you drive it anywhere. A car that pulls hard to one side, has a wheel sitting at an odd angle, rubs a tire or shows warning lights should be towed rather than driven. Whether to tow also depends on your insurance, and we'll talk it through with you on the phone.
Is a car totaled if the frame is bent?
Not automatically. Your insurer makes the total-loss call, and each insurer sets its own threshold for how the repair cost compares with the car's value. We write the estimate, and if it lands near that threshold the insurer's total-loss team reviews it, sometimes after asking us to take the car apart for a firmer number.
Who does the frame work?
Our own body technicians measure and pull the structure at our shop, and they do the welding. Two of them are I-CAR certified in steel welding. Suspension parts and the wheel alignment go to a specialist vendor, and the car goes to their shop for the alignment. Camera and sensor calibration is done by an independent specialist at our shop.
What happens if you find rust during the repair?
That turns on how much rust there is, how close it sits to the damage and whether it gets in the way of the repair. Rust is not collision damage, so insurers treat it as unrelated prior damage and do not pay for it. We show you what we found, quote that work separately, and you decide whether to add it.
Get your free estimate.
Start it right here, or call us at (425) 641-5475 to arrange a look. We’ll tell you what the frame repair involves before you commit to anything. Limited lifetime warranty on workmanship, honored at 200+ shops for as long as you own the car.