Several Midwest collision repairers told the Chicago Tribune that for a safe auto body repair, consumers should avoid shops that want to perform full-body sectioning, also known as clipping, on their cars.

Mark and Pam Pierson, owners of Princeton Auto Body in Princeton, Ill., said in the article aimed at educating consumers that some insurance companies order full-body sectioning to save money on repair costs, but ultimately, the responsibility for the repair rests on the shoulders of the body shop owner.

“It’s not really [the insurer’s] problem and they are saving, most likely, thousands of dollars,” Mark Pierson said, noting that several insurers still request full-body sectioning.

Darrell Amberson, director of the Automotive Service Association (ASA) Collision Division and president of Lehman's Garage in Bloomington, Minn., said that clipping can leave a vehicle structurally weaker than when it was manufactured and could make the car react differently if it’s involved in another accident.

“The person that gets in the car may not know it…but maybe they get in a significant collision and the car comes apart,” he said.

Amberson added that an insurer hasn’t asked him to perform full-body sectioning in “many, many years.”

Although the American Insurance Association (AIA) doesn't have an official stance on clipping, State Farm and Allstate recently have said they will no longer authorize clipping unless the customer wants it done and the body shop is fully capable of doing so. George Avery, State Farm claims consultant, told the Tribune that the company decided to move away from full-body sectioning because of the high-strength steels used in newer vehicles, which can be compromised by heating.

“We’re not uncomfortable with our old position, but we felt going to the next step was prudent,” Avery said.

The Tribune stated that several major automakers don't recommend full-body sectioning. They include:

• Chrysler
• Ford
• Acura    
• Land Rover
• BMW    
• Lexus
• Buick    
• Mercedes-Benz
• Cadillac    
• Mercury
• Chevrolet    
• Pontiac
• GMC    
• Saab
• Honda
• Saturn
• Hummer    
• Subaru
• Jaguar    
• Volkswagen

Click HERE to read about Allstate’s position on full-body sectioning.