Our Repair Process

Every car that comes through Thames Autos follows the same five steps — whether it’s a bumper scuff or a major accident repair. It’s how we guarantee the finish, and it means you always know exactly where your repair is up to.

The five steps

2. Assessment

   Send photos through our estimate form, WhatsApp them, or drop in Mon–Sat. We inspect the damage properly — including what’s underneath the visible panel, where crash bars, sensor brackets and mounting points hide. You get an honest verdict: what needs repairing, what doesn’t, and whether insurance or private is the smarter route.

3. Estimate & approval

   A clear written estimate with a fixed timescale. On insurance claims we deal with your insurer’s engineer and the whole approval process for you, and we arrange your free courtesy car for day one so you’re never off the road.

4. Repair & refinish

   Panel work by technicians with 20+ years in the trade, paint mixed to your manufacturer’s exact colour code, and refinishing in our heated spray booth using genuine or OEM-equivalent parts. No shortcuts, no filler where metal should be worked.

5. Quality control

   Before we sign anything off, every repair passes a multi-point inspection: panel gaps and alignment, paint match under daylight lamps, parking sensor and ADAS operation, and a road check where the repair calls for it.

6. Handover

   Your car comes back washed, with the work explained and the guarantee in writing. Collection and delivery are available across East London — and if anything ever isn’t right, you bring it back. That’s the deal.

Typical timescales

• SMART repairs & light scuffs — often same day
• Single panel repairs — 1–2 days
• Multi-panel or dent + respray work — 3–5 days
• Accident repairs — typically 1–2 weeks depending on parts

Our written guarantee

All repair and refinishing work is guaranteed in writing against defects in workmanship and finish. It’s why so much of our work comes from repeat customers and word of mouth across Ilford and Seven Kings. Ready to start? Get your free estimate or see finished repairs in the gallery.