ProFirst Certified

BODY SHOP

“I think best when I have a wrench in my hands.”

Soichiro Honda

Ever since its first production automobile rolled off the assembly line in 1963, Honda Motor Company has always strived to do things a little differently than its other Japanese competitors. One of the areas today in which they do things differently—and admirably excel—can be seen in the matter of vehicle safety.

For decades, Honda automobiles (along with their Acura line of luxury, high-performance car models) have consistently rated among the safest on the road, thanks to a combination of active and passive safety features. These include:

  • multi-angle rearview camera
  • automatic traction control
  • collision mitigation braking system
  • “smart” seatbelts
  • lane departure warning and other safety sensing systems
  • advanced compatibility engineering (“ACE”) body structure that distributes collision energy evenly and directs it away from passengers

But even the most advanced and “smartest” technologies can never fully eradicate the possibility of accidents. For that reason, Honda is committed to providing safety for drivers and passengers not just in the way their cars are engineered and built, but in the way they are repaired after a collision.

A: Though Honda Motor Company may not hold a total monopoly on car safety, the company’s cutting-edge engineering and state-of-the-art driver assistance technology have year after year created vehicles that are among the safest around, earning high IIHS safety ratings for a number of models, including the Honda Fit, Insight, Accord, Clarity Plug-in Hybrid, and Civic Sedan, Hatchback, and Coupe, among others.

A: Available for all models, the Honda Sensing suite brings together a range of advanced features that use sensors and radar technology to enhance driver awareness, warn of danger, and even act independently to prevent accidents. Features include Collision and Road Departure Mitigation Systems, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Assist.

A: The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is the authority in vehicle safety in the United States. Some of the factors they consider in rating the safety of automobiles include frontal and side crashworthiness, roof strength, seat/head restraints, the presence of electronic stability control, car weight, and history of recalls.

A: Acura is the luxury vehicle division of Japanese automaker Honda Motor Company. Launched in the United States in 1986, Acura holds the distinction of being the first Japanese automotive luxury brand. On the surface, the Honda and Acura lineups bear some striking similarities (to the point that some people say they are indistinguishable). Though Acura cars incorporate some of the same parts used in equivalent Honda models, and are manufactured with Honda levels of quality, the main difference is that Acuras are built for comfort, while Hondas are built with function in mind. Thus, Acura offers features not automatically available in Honda counterparts, such as more built-in entertainment options and power seats that can be heated or cooled.

A: Because Honda and Acura vehicles share many of the same manufacturing technologies, a ProFirst-certified body shop like Keri Coach Works is qualified to service all models of both types of vehicles.

A: Due to the increasing complexity of on-board safety, collision avoidance, and advanced materials technology used in the manufacture of Honda and Acura vehicles, the collision repair industry continues to evolve with increasing speed and intensity. To help independent body shops like Keri Coach Works meet this challenge, Honda’s ProFirst Certified program is designed to validate the training, methodology, tools and equipment, and customer satisfaction. The knowledge and skills needed to repair Honda and Acura automobiles and restore them to their original safety standards are what set Keri Coach Works apart from other non-certified auto body shops in Long Island.

Due to the ever-increasing complexity of Honda vehicles, the introduction of on-board safety and collision avoidance systems, and the use of advanced materials in manufacturing, the collision repair industry has been forced to evolve beyond offering simple “mechanic” services. That is to say, it’s not enough merely to restore the surface cosmetic appearance of a damaged automobile to “like new” condition; nowadays, a professional body shop needs to maintain the underlying safety integrity of the vehicle as well.

To meet this need, Honda introduced their ProFirst Certified program, by which qualified body shops are independently validated for their training, methodology, tools and equipment, customer satisfaction, and of course knowledge and skills in repairing Honda and Acura automobiles.

To qualify for this certification, the body shop must not just be dedicated to their craft, but also exceed a high bar of stringent requirements. Besides being I-CAR Gold Class Certified, it must also:

  • employ at least one structural technician, one nonstructural technician, and one estimator;
  • commit to providing ongoing industry education, certification, and Honda-specific training for its technicians;
  • have on hand a wide array of specifically authorized tools and equipment for collision repair, mechanical repair, welding and MIG brazing, and painting and refinishing of damaged vehicles;
  • maintain a dependable Customer Care system;
  • keep a clean, safe, and secure facility dedicated to total customer satisfaction; and
  • submit to annual third-party verification and certification to ensure the body shop stays current with the latest in Honda automotive technology.

In the unfortunate event of collision or other damage to your Honda or Acura car, the company makes it easy for its customers to locate a qualified ProFirst repair facility near you. With its state-of-the-art service facility and access to authorized replacement parts, Keri Coach Works is proud to count itself among that elite network of Honda-qualified body shops that have met the company’s rigorous standards and strict criteria. Our experienced team of trained technicians stands ready to get you back on the road—quickly and safely.

For excellence in Honda repair on Long Island, choose Keri Coach Works!

Given the commitment to safety for which Honda-made cars are known, it only makes sense that this company demands an equal level of reliability from the body shops certified to repair their vehicles.