Auto Body Repair in Brooklyn

What auto body repair covers

Auto body repair is work on the vehicle's skin: the bolted and welded outer panels and the finish on them. That covers a scuffed bumper, a door ding, a creased fender, a dented door, a damaged quarter panel, a scratch through the clear coat, and any body panel that has to be repaired or replaced outright.

Every one of those repairs ends the same way — the panel has to line up with the panels around it, and the colour has to match. Alignment is why we check gaps and closures before paint, and colour is why we blend into the adjacent panel instead of stopping at the seam. The refinishing process is the same one used on full collision work.

Body repairs from our shop

Customer vehicles repaired at 1903 Broadway, photographed before and after. More work is in the body shop gallery.

Body work by vehicle type

Panel construction differs by manufacturer — aluminium hoods and fenders, bonded panels, high-strength steel — and it changes how a panel is repaired.

Auto body repair questions

What is auto body repair?

Auto body repair is the repair or replacement of a vehicle's outer panels and the finish on them — bumpers, fenders, doors, quarter panels, hoods and trunk lids — along with the dents, creases and scratches in those panels. It is panel-level work. When the impact also moved the structure under the panels, that is collision repair and it starts with structural measurement first.

What is the difference between auto body repair and collision repair?

Auto body repair addresses the panel and the paint on it. Collision repair is the whole accident sequence: structural and frame correction, panel work, refinishing, driver-assist calibration and the insurance claim around it. A parking-lot dent or scuffed bumper is usually body repair; a vehicle that took a real hit is routed through the collision repair process.

Can a dent be repaired without repainting the panel?

Yes, when the factory paint is unbroken and the metal is not stretched or creased over an edge. That is paintless dent repair, and it keeps the original finish, which is the best possible colour match. Once the paint is cracked or the panel is torn, the dent has to be worked conventionally and the panel refinished.

Do you repair or replace a damaged bumper?

Both, depending on the damage. A scuffed or cracked bumper cover can often be repaired, plastic-welded and refinished for less than a new cover. Broken mounting tabs, damaged absorbers or a bumper carrying parking sensors and radar are usually replaced so the mounts and sensors sit where the manufacturer intended.

Can you repair a rusted fender or quarter panel?

Rust has to be cut out or the repair will come back through the new paint. Surface rust can be stripped, treated and refinished; perforated metal needs the affected section replaced. A quarter panel is welded to the body rather than bolted on, so it is sectioned and welded, not unbolted — bring it in and we will tell you which case yours is.

How much does auto body repair cost in Brooklyn?

It depends on the panel, whether the panel is repaired or replaced, and how many adjacent panels have to be blended for the colour to match. Estimates at Frontline are free — call (718) 672-7152 or send photos of the damage through the contact form and we will price your specific repair rather than quote a generic range.

Where is Frontline Automotive's body shop?

Frontline Automotive is at 1903 Broadway, Brooklyn, NY 11207, on the Bushwick / Bed-Stuy side of Broadway, and we serve all five boroughs. Front desk: (718) 672-7152. Monday–Friday 8:00am–6:00pm for repair work; Saturday 9:00am–2:00pm is towing only.

More answers on the full FAQ and definitions in the auto body glossary.