Exeter, NH, September 21, 2026 - Auto Collision Center of Exeter is a family-owned, I-CAR Gold Class certified auto body shop in Exeter, NH. The shop is helping drivers understand a repair process detail that catches many by surprise. A collision repair estimate can grow once a vehicle is disassembled for inspection. The increase usually reflects damage that was not visible during the initial walkaround. It is not typically an error in the original number.
Why Repair Estimates Change After Teardown
Technicians can only confirm the full scope of damage once panels and trim are removed. Vehicles are photographed at intake using around 100 reference images. A pre-scan then checks for diagnostic fault codes tied to airbags, braking, or sensor systems. If disassembly reveals additional damage, it gets documented. The finding is submitted to the customer's insurer as a supplement rather than folded quietly into the original total. Any auto body repair shop should follow the same standard before adding cost to a customer's bill.
Bryan Dinger, General Manager of Auto Collision Center of Exeter, described the reasoning behind the process. "When we open a vehicle during repair, we sometimes find damage that was not visible during the walkaround," Dinger said. "Documenting that damage and getting it approved before continuing protects the customer and keeps the repair accurate."
New Hampshire Law Limits Unapproved Charges
Under New Hampshire's Motor Vehicle Repair Law, RSA 358-D:11, a repair facility faces a clear limit. It cannot charge more than 10 percent above a written estimate. Written consent from the customer is required first. For repairs unrelated to the original damage, the shop must state the added cost first. It must then obtain permission before proceeding. Customers are also entitled to a detailed invoice listing parts and labor once repairs are complete. That invoice must state whether any used or reconditioned parts were involved.
This NH body shop builds that consent step into every supplemental estimate for car body repair in Exeter, NH. It holds I-CAR Gold Class certification. 10,722 collision repair shops nationally hold this distinction, according to I-CAR’s 2025 Impact Report. The certification requires ongoing technician training on current repair procedures and equipment.
A Certified Auto Body Shop Providing Transparent Estimates
Beyond the legal minimum, the shop's process includes structural measurement with laser frame equipment. Its parts policy prioritizes OEM components first, with trusted aftermarket options when needed. "Customers deserve to know exactly why a number changed and what it covers," Dinger said. "We walk through every supplemental estimate line by line before any additional work begins."
Drivers looking for an auto body shop near Durham, NH for an estimate are encouraged to ask shops one question. How does it document and report supplements, not just state the final total? This kind of transparency is what affordable auto body repair should mean. It is a figure customers understand rather than one they are asked to accept without explanation.
Drivers in need of auto body damage repair in Exeter, NH, can reach out directly. Those elsewhere on the Seacoast can schedule a free estimate as well. Auto Collision Center of Exeter can be reached at (603) 772-0214 or accofexeter@gmail.com. The shop provides a clear explanation of the repair process from the start.
About Auto Collision Center of Exeter
Auto Collision Center of Exeter is a family-owned, I-CAR Gold Class certified auto body and collision repair shop. The shop serves drivers throughout the Seacoast region. Services include collision repair and auto body repair. A limited lifetime warranty covers all repairs and paint for as long as the customer owns the vehicle. The shop also supports local organizations including the New Hampshire State Police and the NH SPCA. General Manager Bryan Dinger brings more than twenty years of collision repair experience and training from Universal Technical Institute.
Media Contact
Bryan Dinger,
General Manager, Auto Collision Center of Exeter
58 Winter St
Exeter, NH 03833
Phone: (603) 772-0214
Email: accofexeter@gmail.com
Website: https://accofexeter.com
