Toronto, Ontario — The collision repair industry is at a pivotal crossroads. While many ideas and initiatives have been proposed, tangible progress remains elusive. Now is the time to move beyond discussion and take meaningful action to secure the industry’s future. I was asked to share my most honest opinion on where the focus should be.
I humbly accepted the challenge.
The Core Mission: Ensuring Quality and Safety
Collision repair is an essential service. Bodyshops play a critical role in public safety and mobility by restoring vehicles to pre-accident condition—efficiently and properly. Our top priority must always be the quality and safety of repairs, ensuring every vehicle meets the highest standards before returning to the road.
The work performed by this industry directly impacts the safety and well-being of individuals, families and entire communities. Simply put, the customer must always come first.
Addressing the Challenge: Building a Sustainable and Profitable Industry
Many repair facilities struggle to remain profitable while making necessary investments in technology, training and workforce development. The absence of standardized regulations governing shop operations, equipment and repair practices creates an uneven playing field.
Facilities that invest heavily in advanced equipment and training often compete with those operating on limited resources—ultimately affecting repair quality and safety.
This is not a new problem—but the urgency to act has never been greater.
Industry-Wide Standards Are the Path Forward
Standardized regulations are the foundation for creating consistent quality and safety guidelines across all facilities. These standards also provide clarity for insurers and consumers, reinforcing confidence in repair outcomes across the industry.
It’s important to recognize that the groundwork already exists. Programs such as I-CAR Gold Class and the Certified Collision Industry Accreditation Program (CCIAP) have set clear expectations for technician training, equipment standards and adherence to safety protocols.
Expanding and formalizing these frameworks is the logical next step. Doing so will unify the industry and benefit everyone—repairers, insurers and consumers alike.
These benchmarks also serve as a valuable reference for developing future regulations, making it easier to update standards as vehicle technology evolves. With continued collaboration between industry leaders, regulators and stakeholders, the collision repair sector can reach new levels of consistency and transparency.
Leveraging Provincial and National Organizations
Provincial groups such as the Automotive Retailers Association (ARA), the Saskatchewan Association of Automotive Repairers (SAAR) and the Corporation des carrossiers professionnels du Québec (CCPQ), working in alignment with AIA Canada, must play a leadership role.
Together, these organizations can establish minimum requirements for equipment, training and operational procedures—creating a level playing field while improving repair outcomes and industry sustainability. This will also provide further clarity and confidence for insurers and consumers.
Conclusion: Standardization Must Come First
The collision repair industry faces many challenges, but without a defined path to standardization, all other efforts risk falling short.
Standardization is the cornerstone of real progress. Until it is prioritized and implemented, our industry will continue to lack the cohesion and structure needed for lasting change.
It is time to confront this issue head-on. For too long, standardization has remained in the shadows. It’s time to bring it into the spotlight.
Sylvain Seguin is president of Fix Network Canada and a respected leader in the collision repair industry. Recently appointed chair of the Canadian Collision Industry Forum (CCIF) for AIA Canada, Seguin brings extensive experience and a commitment to fostering collaboration, innovation and sustainability across Canada’s collision repair sector.
