Atomic Collision Centre

19/03/2026

Not the best before photos I've ever taken lol, but a quick look at this Toyota Hilux. From this to this pics.

16/03/2026

We don't just fix cars, we take tired worn out looking things and make them look like new again. Customer wanted their horse float to look the part again, so we did it, inside and outside freshen up.

12/03/2026

Out with the old and in with the new. Poor old compressor gave up the go. Thanks heaps to the guys @ General Compression for the fastest turn around possible with the install of this new compressor. @atomiccollisioncentre

04/02/2026

Another yearly survey done of the insurance companies that us panelshop owners deal with. Before renewing your motor vehicle insurance maybe talk with us in the trade, actually repairing you cars, and see what is the reasoning behind these ratings. You may be shocked at some of what you hear. Like so many other things also, can often be a case of get what you pay for, cheap doesn't mean the best.

🚗2025 CRA INSURANCE SURVEY🚗

For 2025, the weightings applied to access the individual companies were changed from the previous 50% financial, 30% relationships, 20% claims, to 40% financial, 30% relationships, 30% claims. The change reflects feedback we received from all sectors of the industry. One motivation for change with the previous weightings was the case of where an insurer who had a high hourly rate would get a high rating under financial, often irrespective of what their performance was for claims process or relationships.

The January/February issue of PanelTalk has a feature story on the survey and its results. This issue will be in the mail this week.
Included with the survey is an insurance company performance rating chart, designed to be able to sit on the counter in reception, giving the public ratings of the different vehicle insurance companies.

CRA is always very happy to get feedback on the survey and any suggestions for improvement.


Kind regards,

Stewart Gibb
General Manager
NZ Collision Repair Association

2025 CRA Insurance Company Survey:
🔗https://mcusercontent.com/00c505667b41061441f205479/files/0178c9b2-00cc-6cb4-3465-ba5b5216eeed/CRA_Insurance_Company_Survey_2025.pdf

01/02/2026

So this is why you need to read your Insurance policy before agreeing to it. One of the major Insurers of motor vehicles have put this clause into your insurance policy. Basically its saying if you take your car to a repairer outside of thier own Panelshop this is what they can now do.
We work with all Insurance companies for motor vehicle insurance, so if you want to hear more about this to explore your options just call in to see us anytime you like. Below is the actual clause written into this insurance companies policy.

"Section one – cover for your vehicle
What we pay for repairable damage
We now use a repairer of our choice if we arrange repairs to your vehicle, previously we could use your choice of
repairer. If you want to choose your own repairer, we pay you our estimate of the reasonable cost to fix the repairs."

07/01/2026

So the final look. From first images to final images, with about another 400 odd images in between lol, we image everything we touch throughout our entire repair process, from a minor scratch touch up, to a major smash repair, whatever it is we document the entire process. We now just have to refit the bumpers and handles for the customer and then I'll load a couple more completion images. But looking good.

07/01/2026

So is it going black, or is it going blue, or is it black and blue....well tomorrow I will post the near completed pics of this job. The images don't give the true reflection of the hours involved, or how could we feel it looks. But it gives a small taste for what we did.

05/01/2026

Trial fitting of the flare kit, then just a little teaser of the colour it is going to be painted.

04/01/2026

Back to bare metal it all went, then into the bake oven for a full two pack epoxy etch before heading to the panelshop for repair process to be done as it should.

28/12/2025

Just a few of the photos of the Holden that was in for just the paint job. As you can see, back to metal it went...keep watching for more updates.

22/12/2025

When you take on one of those jobs you don't normally do in your shop. It was just meant to be prep and paint sort of thing. Follow us over the next few days as I load pics throughout the process and what was actually required before paint. Its never easy telling a customer their budget is going to explode, but better than telling them the paint job exploded because of the por bodywork we would've just painted over.
Luckily this customer understood the process and trusted us with the complete job and what I advised. Im sure when you see the final package you will agree we got it right.