Tesla collision repair intake checklist for Langhorne and Bucks County
When a Tesla arrives at a collision center in Langhorne or anywhere in Bucks County, the intake process sets the tone for safety, accuracy, and turnaround time. Electric vehicles are not just conventional cars with batteries; they bring unique safety needs, specialized tooling, software steps, and insurer expectations. A thoughtful intake checklist tailored to Tesla models and local conditions helps protect people, preserve data, streamline claims, and produce a factory-grade result.
Begin with safety and vehicle handling. Confirm the vehicle is stable, in Park, and secure the wheels before anyone approaches potential damage zones. Look for obvious hazards such as smoke, unusual odors, fluid leaks, or damaged high-voltage orange components, and isolate the vehicle in a safe area if anything concerns you. Tesla Body Shop Langhorne . Only trained staff with proper PPE should interact with high-voltage systems. If the car was towed in, note whether a flatbed was used, whether Tow or Transport Mode was engaged, and whether lift pucks were used at the prescribed points. Record the state of charge; for storage and planning, a mid-range battery level is best so you avoid deep discharge or excessive idling to recharge.
Document the customer, vehicle, and incident details thoroughly. Capture the owner's contact information, preferred communication method, and Tesla account email if the shop will need to coordinate certain software actions. Note the VIN, mileage, key cards or fobs received, and any Tesla app features the customer has enabled, such as Sentry Mode. Ask the customer to preserve any dashcam or Sentry video relevant to the crash and to consent before the shop accesses or disables those features to prevent 12-volt drain. Record the crash date, time, location, weather, whether airbags deployed, and whether the vehicle was drivable. If a police report exists from Langhorne Borough, Middletown Township, Bensalem, or Pennsylvania State Police, collect the report number.
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Perform a visual triage and comprehensive photo set before moving or powering the car. Take a full 360-degree exterior set, close-ups of each damaged panel, wheels, glass, cameras, lights, radar if applicable on older models, underhood and trunk areas, and any underbody scrapes from curbs or transport. Photograph gaps, buckles, and deformation at roof rails, quarter panels, rocker panels, and front and rear aprons. Document the interior and airbags, restraint components, steering wheel, dash, seatbelts, and seat frames. Note any pre-existing damage and accessories to avoid disputes later.
Complete an initial electronic health check. A Tesla-capable scan using the proper OEM-aligned tools should capture and save pre-repair diagnostic trouble codes, system health, SRS events, high-voltage isolation status, and alerts the customer reported seeing. Do not clear codes before insurance inspection and documentation. This pre-scan becomes part of the estimate and supports OEM-required operations such as calibration, post-repair scans, and road testing.
Stabilize the vehicle for storage and planning. Verify the 12-volt system is healthy enough for software processes, and disable Sentry Mode with customer consent to minimize parasitic draw. If the car is below a safe state of charge for storage, arrange a controlled Level 2 charge and document energy usage. Flag any signs of water intrusion, thermal risk, or battery coolant leaks and park the vehicle in a designated area while you coordinate next steps according to OEM safety guidance.
Prepare the repair blueprint with Tesla-specific materials and joining methods in mind. Tesla bodies blend aluminum, ultra-high-strength steels, and bonded structures. Identify whether the damage reaches structural zones that require replacement components and special rivet-bonding or welding methods. Note that certain structural parts are restricted to Tesla Approved Body Shops. Use current OEM repair procedures to determine repairability versus replacement; insurers increasingly expect to see these procedures attached to the estimate to justify operations, adhesives, seam sealers, corrosion protection, and one-time-use fasteners. Include calibration, alignment, and software set-up that follow from windshield, camera, suspension, or steering repairs. For windshield or camera-related work, plan the camera recalibration drive that occurs after completion; Tesla systems typically recalibrate via driving on well-marked roads rather than via static targets, but it still requires time, safe road conditions, and a technician who knows the routine.
Build the parts plan early. Tesla parts availability can fluctuate, so confirm part numbers, supersessions, finishes, and whether trim-level or sensor variants apply. Photograph the label areas and options to avoid ordering errors. Share realistic ETAs with the customer and insurer; in Bucks County, parts transit can be affected by weather or carrier schedules, and transparent communication avoids frustration. Where glass, wheels, or tires are involved, include OEM specifications such as acoustic glass and the correct tire load and speed ratings. Plan for four-wheel alignment and road force balancing if the suspension or wheels were involved.
Construct the estimate and claims package to Pennsylvania standards. Use the pre-scan, photo documentation, OEM procedures, and a line-by-line explanation to justify operations and refinish times.
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Secure the customer's approvals and expectations. Have the customer sign a repair authorization, privacy and data handling consent, storage policy acknowledgment, and a communication cadence agreement. Confirm rental coverage, deductible, and whether the customer prefers text, email, or phone updates. Set the expectation that Tesla software may require updates and recalibration drives, and that delivery will include a post-repair health report.
Address mobility and towing logistics specific to the area. Many Bucks County collisions involve deer strikes and secondary suspension damage from evasive maneuvers; plan for alignment checks even in seemingly light hits. If additional towing becomes necessary, specify a flatbed with low-angle ramps and the correct lift points. Winter road salt and potholes along US 1 and I 295 can complicate corrosion and wheel diagnostics; include underbody and wheel well inspections accordingly.
Protect data and privacy. Make a record of any USB drives in the glovebox used for Sentry and dashcam, and return them sealed at delivery if the customer requests. Explain how the shop protects customer data from the vehicle's infotainment system and that only necessary service data will be accessed.
Lay out the post-repair quality process before work begins. Plan a post-scan with documentation, four-wheel alignment, tire calibrations and TPMS set-up, steering angle learning if applicable, camera recalibration drive, and a structured road test that covers ADAS checks within safe and legal limits. Aim to deliver the vehicle with a comfortable state of charge for the customer, software up to date if agreed, and all personal items accounted for. No EV should roll around town with a bruise we’ve got the color match magic. Provide the pre- and post-scan reports, paint warranty terms, and a summary of OEM procedures followed.
Finally, keep the local specifics in mind. Refer customers to Tesla's website to verify that your facility is a Tesla Approved Body Shop. Encourage them to request their police report number if one exists, and remind them that under Pennsylvania law they choose their repair facility. If the vehicle carries a salvage or branded title, inform the owner early that certain Tesla fast-charging functions may remain disabled until OEM inspection requirements are met, which is a separate pathway from collision repair.
A disciplined intake process like this protects technicians from high-voltage hazards, protects customers' data and wallets, and protects the quality of the end result. In Langhorne and across Bucks County, where commutes and weather can be tough on vehicles, a Tesla-aware checklist ensures the first day the car arrives is as carefully managed as the last day it leaves.
