Electric vehicle collision repair, done to the manufacturer procedure
Tesla, Rivian, Ford Lightning, Hyundai and Kia EVs, and hybrids with high-voltage packs. Repaired in Sarasota by technicians who isolate the battery first and calibrate the sensors last.
An electric car in a collision is two repairs in one. There is the body and structure, which is the same craft as any modern car, and there is a battery pack carrying several hundred volts under the floor, which is not. A shop that treats an EV like a gas car — cutting, welding and heating before the pack is isolated — risks the technician, the battery and the car. We do it in the other order.
What the repair actually involves
- High-voltage isolation first. The pack is de-energized and locked out to the manufacturer's written procedure before any panel comes off. Orange cabling and connectors are handled by a certified technician, not the body tech.
- Structural measuring. EV floors are the battery enclosure. The shell is put on the Car-O-Liner bench and measured electronically so the enclosure geometry, mounting points and crush zones come back inside factory tolerance.
- Aluminum and mixed materials. Most EVs mix aluminum, high-strength steel and bonded joins. We use the join method the manufacturer specifies — rivet, adhesive or weld — never a substitute.
- Thermal system and enclosure checks. Coolant loops, enclosure seals and mounting hardware are inspected and documented before the car is put back together.
- Calibration and scan before delivery. Cameras, radar and ultrasonic sensors are recalibrated and a post-repair diagnostic scan confirms no faults are stored.
Tesla specifically
Teslas, including the Cybertruck, come through the bay regularly. The stainless body on a Cybertruck and the aluminum castings on Model 3, Y, S and X each have their own repair rules; where Tesla specifies replacement over repair, that is what we quote, and we say so in the estimate.
Insurance and EVs
EV estimates run higher than insurers' first offers more often than not, because the procedures take longer and the parts are dearer. We document every step with photos and the OEM procedure reference so the supplement is approved rather than argued about. You are not obliged to use the shop on your insurer's list — in Florida you choose.
Send four photos, get a written estimate
Whole corner, straight on, a close-up, and anything the insurer sent you. We reply with the number and a drop-off time. Monday to Friday, 8am–6pm, Whitfield Park, Sarasota.
Asked before you book
Is it safe to drive my EV after a collision?
If there are warning messages about the high-voltage system, a burning smell, coolant on the ground or the car will not go into Ready, do not drive it — arrange a tow. For a bumper or panel with no warnings it is usually fine to drive it in, but call us and describe it first.
Do you need to disconnect the battery for a small dent?
For paintless dent repair or a bolt-on bumper cover, usually not. For anything involving welding, heat, cutting, or work near the pack or orange cabling, yes — every time, to the written procedure.
Can you get Tesla parts?
Yes. Body parts are ordered through the normal channels and lead times vary by model; the estimate we send you includes the realistic timeline once parts are confirmed.