Frequently Asked Questions

Who Are we?

ChipsAway International is the dominant player in the rapidly growing SMART (Small to Medium Area Repair Technology) automotive repair market. Initially developed in the USA ChipsAway launched in the UK in 1994 and across Europe in 1996.

The revolutionary Chipsaway Water-based System allows same-day repairs to car bodywork scuffs, scratches, chips and minor dents. Repairs are effected to the highest standards, at a fraction of the cost of a traditional bodyshop.

Will you get the colour right? Do you use the manufacturer's paint?

ChipsAway use the world's most respected colour matching systems. We never use stock paint, which is almost never the same batch of paint that was used in painting the vehicle, and is therefore visibly a slightly different colour. We use computer-assisted mixing on-site to create a paint to match the panel we are painting, ensuring the best possible colour matching.

My car is a metallic or pearl finish, can you repair it?

Unlike many other mobile repairers, we can and do provide repairs to metallic, pearl, mica and combination effect finishes.

My bumper is damaged, but it is plastic, can you repair it?

We can repair both painted (colour-coded) plastic bumpers, and textured plastic bumpers and other panels. We can fix most splits and cracks by welding the plastic, avoiding the expense of a new panel, the high materials costs of painting the entire new panel, the labour costs of removal and refitting, and the environmental costs of disposal. Repair, not replacement, saves you money!

Will the repair be 'as good as new'?

No repair will be identical to an automotive factory finish, which is machine-sprayed to tolerances beyond human capability. Hence, no repair will ever be strictly 'as good as new'. We aim to provide a good quality, hand-completed aftermarket repair. In normal circumstances, such a repair is unlikely to be detected by a casual examination of the vehicle by an untrained observer unaware of the previous damage location. Full details are given in our Terms of Business.

How do you repair alloy wheels?

We are able to repair alloy wheels by masking around the tyre, we will then sand down any damage, recreate the profile (if required) and then apply the appropriate paints. This method brings high quality results in a short time and at affordable prices.

Do you repair stone chips?

We can provide a professional touch-in of stone chip damage. Particularly with metallic paints, this is a protective repair only, as a stone chip removes substantial material from the finish. If a perfect repair is necessary, the only way to achieve it is stripping the affected bonnet back to bare metal, followed by an edge-to-edge respray. This is usually not an economical repair option for the customer, and touch-ins are the preferred repair method.

Do you guarantee your repairs?

Yes. Full details are given in our Terms of Business. Our customers can benefit from a free guarantee on their repairs that lasts for as long as they own the repaired vehicle, and for an unlimited mileage.

How do you accept payment?

We can accept payment by cash, cheque (supported by an appropriate guarantee card and signature) or credit/debit cards. Credit or AMEX card payments are subject to a processing fee.

How much will my repair cost?

It is impossible for us to price a repair precisely without seeing the damage, as the work and materials involved in a repair can vary greatly from one piece of damage to the next. If you wish to send us digital photos of your damage via email, try to include one that shows the damage as close-up (while still in focus) as possible, and another that is zoomed far enough out to give us an idea of the scale of the repair. We will be able to provide ballpark figures in these circumstances. We are pleased to offer free, we-come-to-you estimates where we give firm price quotes.

Do you do insurance work?

Yes. We will need a faxed or emailed works authorisation from your insurer to proceed with work. If you have been asked to collect quotes for repair work by your insurer, we will be pleased to assist.

Do you do complete resprays?

The ChipsAway paint system is designed for localised damage repairs. Hence we do not offer complete resprays.

Are there any repairs you do not do?

We are able to provide significant cost savings over full-service bodyshops by not having the overheads required by the expensive equipment and facilities needed to repair the very small number of vehicles that have been involved in serious accidents. As a result, we do not carry out repairs where the vehicle has structural or chassis damage, or where welding in of replacement metal or full panels is required. We do not supply and fit replacement glass. We recommend a specialist be consulted in case of damaged substrate carbon-fibre or GRP (fibreglass) panels. We can assist with all other repairs, including where this is significant denting or panel damage without damage to the structure of the vehicle.

When is the car ready to drive?

The car is ready for ordinary road use and weather exposure immediately after we have completed the repair.

How should I look after my repair?

Follow normal manufactures care instructions.

Is my vehicle insured while in your care? Are you properly insured to work on my home/business premises?

We have a full Motor Trader's insurance policy. All vehicles in our custody or control for the purposes of our business are fully insured (except steam-powered vehicles. We're not sure why they are excepted, but there it is). ChipsAway operators have extensive public liability insurance in addition to their motor vehicle cover.

How much do you charge for a full respray?

A full respray requires the facilities (and overheads) of a full-service bodyshop. We could not offer this service and still provide the savings over traditional bodyshop repairs that the ChipsAway system enables us to offer customers. As a result we do not offer full resprays.