Crash Champions: Its Lifetime Guarantee, Insurers and Owners

If you searched for Crash Champions, you probably have a damaged car and an insurance claim to match. Crash Champions is a collision repair chain that says it runs more than 650 shops in 38 states under one name, including the former Service King shops, and its main written promise is a lifetime guarantee that lasts while you own the car. On 9 October 2026 we read Crash Champions’ warranty, repair process, insurance, rental, towing, history and leadership pages, its July 14, 2022 release on the Service King deal, A&M Capital’s August 1, 2022 release on the sale, Clearlake’s portfolio page, Illinois’ auto claims rule, and a Washington settlement notice. Its website terms bar automated access, so we read its pages by hand, without scripts, and quote them briefly. This site has no commercial relationship with Crash Champions or any repair shop.

Who owns Crash Champions

The company started as one body shop. Its history page says the story “dates back to 1999 as a single body shop in New Lenox, IL,” founded by Matt Ebert, whom the page calls the “present-day founder and CEO.” The leadership page lists him as “Founder & Chief Executive Officer.” The shop traded as New Lenox Auto Body until 2014, when it “officially rebranded” as The Crash Champions Collision Repair Team. That makes the business 27 years old in 2026, by our arithmetic.

In 2019 a fund of Alvarez & Marsal Capital, which calls itself “a multi-strategy private equity investment firm,” took control. A&M Capital’s release says its A&M Capital Opportunities fund “acquired a majority interest in Crash Champions on July 31, 2019,” and that during its “three-year ownership” the chain grew “from 8 original shops to over 200 shops across 20 states.”

The current owner arrived in 2022. On July 14, 2022, Crash Champions announced it would receive “a growth investment from Clearlake Capital Group, L.P.” and at the same time carry out “a strategic transaction with Service King Collision.” A&M Capital’s release fills in what that meant: on August 1, 2022, Crash Champions “successfully completed a sale of the business to Clearlake,” and the company would be led by its management and operating partners “alongside Clearlake, with a minority investment from A&M Capital Strategic Investments Fund.” Clearlake’s portfolio page, read on 9 October 2026, lists Crash Champions as “Current,” investment year 2022. No price was published: the terms “were not disclosed.”

Are the shops franchised? Nothing we read describes a franchise. Crash Champions grows by buying shops: its “Sell Your Shop” page says it has “integrated hundreds of independent collision repair teams” into the company, and the 2022 release says every location operates “under the Crash Champions name and banner.” Compare CARSTAR, where each shop is a local franchise. Here the guarantee is presented as one company’s promise, valid at any of its locations.

What happened to Service King

Service King was the bigger of the two chains when they combined. The July 14, 2022 release says Service King “traces its roots to Dallas, Texas and founder Eddie Lennox, who opened the first Service King in 1976,” and that it then operated 334 locations in 24 states and the District of Columbia. Crash Champions, by the same release, was operating 218 centers across 20 states. Added together that is 552 locations, by our arithmetic; the release rounds it to “over 550 total locations across 35 states and the District of Columbia,” with a workforce that would “exceed 9,200 team members.”

Clearlake was already involved with Service King: the release mentions its “capital infusion and debt recapitalization of Service King.” Both chains were to keep “operating at all service centers nationwide without interruption” during the integration. Today serviceking.com answers with a permanent redirect to crashchampions.com (our check, 9 October 2026).

No document we read says what happened to warranties Service King wrote before 2022. If you have a Service King invoice and warranty, take both to a Crash Champions shop and ask, in writing, whether the work is still covered.

The sitemap reported “Number of URLs in this sitemap: 661,” each a store page; a sitemap can list shops just opened or closed, so treat it as a snapshot. The market pages count 31 locations in Washington and 59 in Illinois.

The lifetime guarantee, in Crash Champions’ words

Crash Champions uses “lifetime warranty” and “lifetime guarantee” interchangeably, and its pages agree on the main terms. Its lifetime warranty page says it backs “all repair work performed by our technicians at any Crash Champions repair center nationwide with a written lifetime guarantee for as long as you own the vehicle.” The repair process FAQ narrows the subject to the labor: “our workmanship is backed by a written lifetime warranty,” honored “at all 650+ Crash Champions locations nationwide for as long as you own the vehicle.”

So the guarantee is written, which means there is a document; it runs for your ownership, not a set number of years; and any Crash Champions shop honors it. A store FAQ in New Lenox, Illinois, puts it this way: “The coverage lasts as long as you own the vehicle and travels with you to any Crash Champions location in our 38-state network.”

The word “lifetime” carries a federal expectation. The FTC’s advertising guide for warranties, 16 CFR 239.4, says an ad that calls a guarantee “lifetime” should disclose “the life to which the representation refers,” and its own example of a clear disclosure is “Good for as long as you own the car!” Crash Champions’ wording does name the life: yours, as owner. That is plainer than at CARSTAR, whose web pages promise five years while its franchise papers call the same program lifetime.

The guarantee also comes with a service promise: if you are “not completely satisfied with your repair, reach out and we’ll set up a time to make it right,” or “simply return to any Crash Champions location.”

What the guarantee leaves unsaid: exclusions, paint and the next owner

Crash Champions does not publish the guarantee itself. No page we read lists an exclusion, a claim procedure or a deadline for reporting a problem. So it is open whether parts are covered or only labor (several pages say “workmanship”), whether paint that fades years later counts, and whether you must bring the car in for inspection first.

Federal law defines a written warranty as a promise about “the nature of the material or workmanship” (15 U.S.C. 2301(6)); whether a collision repair falls under that Act is a question for a lawyer. Crash Champions words its promise around workmanship, and only the written guarantee says whether materials are covered too.

The website itself does not stand in for that document. Crash Champions’ Terms of Use say that no information “obtained by you from Crash Champions Collision Repair Centers or through any Resources we provide shall create any warranty, guarantee, or conditions of any kind, except for those expressly outlined in this User Agreement.” Read literally, the web pages describe the guarantee, and the paper you are handed is the guarantee.

Paint. The auto painting page says Crash Champions will “back our work with a written lifetime guarantee.” Its after-care page asks you to protect new paint: for the first 30 days, “Don’t use commercial car washes,” and “Don’t scrape ice or snow off of freshly painted surfaces”; for the first 90 days, “Don’t polish or wax your car.” It does not say whether ignoring that advice affects the guarantee; ask.

The “Paint Warranty” link is something else. A link with that name in the site’s footer opens a login page titled “Crash Champions - Hyundai Warranty,” not a warranty document. A May 29, 2025 release explains it: Hyundai Motor America selected Crash Champions as its “authorized repair partner” to help provide “Hyundai customers with comprehensive paint repair service,” and “Crash Champions will honor its lifetime warranty on all vehicles serviced.” Whether a Hyundai qualifies is Hyundai’s decision; start with a dealer.

The next owner. No page says whether the guarantee can be transferred. Every version of the wording ties it to your ownership (“for as long as you own the vehicle”), so a buyer should not count on it. Safelite says outright that its glass warranty “is not transferrable to another owner/lessor”; Crash Champions is silent.

The table compares printed terms only. It says nothing about repair quality or price.

How Crash Champions works with your insurer

Crash Champions’ pages describe a chain built around insurance claims. The insurance page says: “In most cases, our repair centers are pre-approved by insurance carriers,” which means Crash Champions “will work directly with your insurance carrier to complete all repair paperwork, write an approved estimate, and complete the repair work assigned by the claim.” The repair process FAQ adds: “We can file supplements and work directly with your adjuster.” Clearlake’s portfolio page puts it in industry terms: Crash Champions “maintains direct repair program relationships with the nation’s leading insurance carriers.” The repair process page shows four names under “Insurance Partners”: Allstate, GEICO, Progressive and Liberty Mutual.

A direct repair program is an insurer’s list of approved shops. For you, it means the shop writes the estimate the insurer pays on, then asks the insurer for more (a supplement) if it finds hidden damage once the car is apart. Crash Champions’ own process is described that way: the parts are ordered after “A complete repair plan is finalized alongside your insurance carrier,” and its checklist includes “Supplement filed with insurance.”

Which insurers that covers varies by page, from “all insurance companies” to “most major insurance carriers.” Working with an insurer is not the same as being in its program, so ask whether the shop is in yours.

The estimate is where disagreements start, and state rules help there. Illinois, where Crash Champions has its head office and 59 shops, requires insurers that settle a partial loss on their own written estimate to give you “a copy of the estimate upon which the settlement is based” if you ask (50 Ill. Adm. Code 919.80). If your own shop’s estimate is higher, the insurer must “review and respond promptly” and give you “the name of a repair shop that will make the repairs in a workmanlike manner” for its figure; if it does not, it must tell you in writing that it will reimburse reasonable costs above its estimate. If the other driver was at fault, you may also have a claim for the value your car loses because it now has a crash history; our diminished value guide explains whose insurer owes it.

Your right to choose the shop

We found no national page on this question, but two of Crash Champions’ state pages answer it directly. The Washington page: “You choose the shop, not the insurer, whichever facility gets suggested first.” The Illinois page: “The choice of repair shop is yours to make, whichever shop your insurer mentions first.” Both tell you to bring your claim number to the free estimate if you have already filed.

The right itself comes from state law, and the wording differs from state to state. Illinois’ rule does not state a right to choose in so many words; it says an insurer “shall not require the insured or claimant to travel unreasonably either to obtain a repair estimate or to have the vehicle repaired at a specific repair shop that is recommended by the company,” and that the state insurance department will weigh “availability and cost” in deciding what is reasonable. The copy we read carries the history note “Amended at 26 Ill. Reg. 11915, effective July 22, 2002.”

Minnesota’s statute, which we read for our CARSTAR page on 9 October 2026, goes further: an insurer may not require “as a condition of payment of a claim that repairs to any damaged vehicle must be made by a particular contractor or repair shop,” and when you report a claim it must tell you, “You have the legal right to choose a repair shop to fix your vehicle” (Minn. Stat. 72A.201, subdivision 6). We did not read other states’ texts; your state insurance department can tell you yours.

The right runs both ways: you can pick Crash Champions over the insurer’s shop, or decline Crash Champions when the insurer names it. Our Safelite page covers glass-only claims.

The estimate, the repair and the safety-system calibration

Crash Champions says its estimates are free (“Estimates are always free”) and that a service advisor coordinates the estimate “while also working directly with your insurance carrier to update your claim.” Its repair process page lays out “four phases, ten disciplined steps,” from a diagnostic pre-scan at intake to a post-scan, a detail and pickup. It says every repair gets a pre-scan and a post-scan and that all driver assistance features “impacted by the damage are recalibrated to original condition by certified technicians.”

That calibration step matters on any car with a camera behind the windshield or radar in the bumper. Crash Champions’ ADAS page says a feature “must be calibrated if a sensor or camera is disrupted in any way,” including after “windshield or mirror repairs, suspension repairs, and even minor fender benders.” The page says Crash Champions teams up with Automotive Technology Experts (ATE), which specializes “in advanced diagnostics and scanning,” and the leadership page lists a “Chief Operations Officer (ATE).” Its Washington page says a windshield replacement “triggers a camera recalibration on most newer vehicles, which is handled as part of the job.” Our windshield replacement guide explains static and dynamic calibration and what a proper one needs.

On parts, Crash Champions says it uses “the parts your vehicle’s certification calls for, not generic substitutes.” Who pays for which parts is settled with your insurer. Illinois lets an insurer specify non-original crash parts only if they are “at least equal in like kind and quality to the original part in terms of fit, quality and performance.” Read the estimate’s parts lines, and ask which are original equipment.

Manufacturer certification is per shop, not per chain. The Difference page lists 20 brand entries, from Alfa Romeo to VW, under “Our Collision Centers are Certified Repair Facilities.” The Washington page is more precise: “A manufacturer program is earned by one Washington location at a time, so the honest answer is per shop rather than per state.” If your carmaker requires a certified shop for some repairs, check the specific shop’s page.

How long it takes depends on the page. The company FAQ says “Most repairs take between 5-15 business days”; the New Lenox store FAQ says to expect “three to ten business days for a typical repair” and adds that “The written estimate includes the timeline.” At pickup, the process page calls the walk-around “your opportunity to review the vehicle alongside our service advisor to ensure the authorized repairs were completed to your satisfaction.” Do that before you sign or pay.

Rental cars, towing and storage

Rental. Crash Champions’ rental page says it goes “a step further by ensuring that you have access to a rental service on-site,” with its staff working “directly with you, your insurance carrier, and our rental partners.” The partners are not named. Other pages hedge: the state pages say on-site rentals are “Available at most locations,” and the FAQ ends its rental answer with “Details vary by location.” Ask the specific shop at the estimate.

Who pays depends on your policy’s rental coverage and on fault. When another driver is at fault and liability is “reasonably clear,” Illinois’ rule says that driver’s insurer “shall pay for the reasonable and necessary costs, in direct proportion to the extent of its liability, incurred in the rental of another automobile.”

Towing. The towing page says Crash Champions offers “towing services to our local repair centers” and asks you to call its team to check availability in your area. The Washington page lists “24/7 towing coordination and secure storage.” Neither page prints a tow or storage price or says who pays.

Storage is the charge that can creep. Illinois requires an insurer to give “reasonable notice to an insured prior to termination of payment for automobile storage charges,” and, unless it named a towing company before you used another one, to pay “any and all reasonable towing charges irrespective of the towing company used by the insured.” Wherever you live, ask the shop and the adjuster who is paying for the tow and the storage, and from what date.

If the insurer declares the car a total loss, our total loss page explains the title record, and our gap insurance page covers what happens when the payout is less than the loan.

Paying, picking up and getting help afterward

Crash Champions does not print prices, and none of the pages we read says when the deductible is collected. A store page we read (New Lenox) lists the payments it accepts: “All Major Credit Cards,” “Debit Cards,” “Insurance Direct Pay” and “Cashier Checks.” Ask your shop when your share is due and how it can be paid.

For bills you pay yourself, Crash Champions offers financing through Sunbit, which it calls “Fix Now Pay Later.” Its knowledge center article says the program “is now available across our network,” covers “out-of-pocket repairs not covered by insurance,” and that “there’s no hard credit check, no fees, and over 90% of customers get approved.” Those are Crash Champions’ claims, not Sunbit’s terms, which we did not read. The article is undated and describes an interest-free option, which we do not repeat because offers change; read Sunbit’s own terms before you sign.

If something is wrong after pickup, the contact page sends repair questions to “your local collision repair center,” and its contact form includes the option “Resolve an issue with my repair experience.” The customer experience team, its drop-off page says, is available “Monday-Friday 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. (CST).” Since the company says any location honors the guarantee, a shop near a new address should look at another shop’s work; bring the invoice and the written guarantee.

What courts and regulators have on record

We found no consumer-protection action by a state attorney general or the FTC naming Crash Champions or Service King. The Better Business Bureau’s site blocked our requests that day and we do not use review sites, so we give no rating. The court record we use concerns job applicants, not repairs.

Washington, job postings (settlement). A court-authorized notice in Douglas Hein v. Crash Champions, LLC, et al., Snohomish County Superior Court Case No. 24-2-05012-31, describes a class claim that Crash Champions’ job postings in Washington “did not disclose the wage scale or salary range being offered as required by Washington law.” The notice says Crash Champions “disputes Plaintiff’s claims and contends it has not violated any law,” and that “The Court has not made any determinations regarding the merit or lack of merit of the Plaintiff’s claims.” The proposed settlement runs from a minimum of $1,215,678.10 to a maximum of $2,065,300 depending on claims; the court preliminarily approved it on May 30, 2025 and set a final approval hearing for October 16, 2025. We did not read the final order.

Where Crash Champions’ own pages disagree, and what to ask

We recorded 10 places where Crash Champions’ documents, or its owners’, disagree with each other. The ones that matter to a customer:

• How many shops. Most pages and releases say “650+”; the state pages say “661+,” matching the 661 store pages in its sitemap. Clearlake’s portfolio page, marked “Current,” still says “over 550 facilities in 35 states.”
• Which insurers. “all insurance companies” on the home page; “nearly all major automotive insurance providers” on the history page.
• Whether a rental is on site. The rental page promises “access to a rental service on-site”; the state pages say “Available at most locations.”
• How long a repair takes. “5-15 business days” in the company FAQ; “three to ten business days” at New Lenox.
• What the guarantee covers. “each and every Crash Champions repair” on one page; “our workmanship” on others.
• Its age. Founded in 1999, 27 years ago by our arithmetic, but the promise page says “nearly a quarter century of experience.”
• Its review figures. “4.5 Rating 158,153+ Reviews” on one page; “4.8★ Average 1164 Reviews” on both state pages. These are its own tallies; we do not rate shops.
• Who runs the website. The Terms of Use say the site is controlled from offices “in the state of Texas” and give a Westmont, Illinois address; they took effect August 7, 2013, a year before the 2014 rebrand on the history page.

None of this changes the guarantee’s core terms, which every page states the same way. Your own paperwork still outranks the website.

Common questions

Who owns Crash Champions?

The investment firm Clearlake Capital Group, which completed its purchase on August 1, 2022, with a minority investment from an A&M Capital fund, according to A&M Capital’s release. Founder Matt Ebert is still chief executive, and Clearlake listed the investment as “Current” on 9 October 2026.

Does Crash Champions have a lifetime warranty?

Yes. Its pages promise “a written lifetime guarantee for as long as you own the vehicle” on its work, valid at any Crash Champions location nationwide. The full terms, including exclusions, are in the written guarantee the shop gives you, which is not published online.

Is the Crash Champions warranty transferable?

No page says it is. Every version of the wording ties the guarantee to your ownership, so a buyer should not count on it.

Is Crash Champions the same company as Service King?

They combined in 2022: the deal was announced July 14 and closed August 1, and all locations now operate under the Crash Champions name. Service King’s website redirects to Crash Champions.

Do I have to use the repair shop my insurance company recommends?

Crash Champions’ Washington page says “You choose the shop, not the insurer,” and its Illinois page says the choice “is yours to make.” The right comes from state law, which varies; Illinois bars insurers from requiring unreasonable travel to a shop they recommend.

Does Crash Champions provide a rental car or a tow?

It offers on-site rentals at most locations, arranged with your insurer, and towing to its shops on request. It prints no prices; your policy and fault decide what you pay.