Iași gets a Tesla-approved body shop: Ottimo becomes a Tesla Approved Body Shop
The Ottimo garage on Calea Chișinăului in Iași is now officially a Tesla Approved Body Shop. What Tesla requires from an approved shop, which other approved shops exist in Romania, and what to do after an accident in a Tesla.
Tesla owners in Iași and the wider Moldova region of north-eastern Romania now have a manufacturer-approved body shop close to home. Ottimo – auto service & detailing, at Calea Chișinăului 132 in Iași, announced on October 1 that it is now officially a Tesla Approved Body Shop.
According to Ottimo, the certification followed months of preparation, international training and investment in dedicated equipment. The garage says it can repair Tesla bodywork with specialised technicians, technology and equipment that meet Tesla's requirements, following repair procedures set by the manufacturer.
What Ottimo offers Tesla owners
After damage or an accident, Ottimo says it handles the whole process:
- towing the car;
- the insurance claim file;
- a replacement car while the repair is under way;
- the body repair itself.
Besides Tesla repairs, Ottimo's website lists body work, paintless dent repair (PDR), painting in an electric paint booth, detailing (polishing, PPF film, ceramic coatings), mechanical and electrical repairs, and tyre services, for all makes.
Contact: +40 738 855 891, Calea Chișinăului 132, Iași, ottimo-garage.ro.
What "Tesla Approved Body Shop" means
According to its support page, Tesla has three kinds of collision repair locations. Tesla Service Centers handle light repairs: bumpers, boot lids, mirrors, wheels and glass. Tesla Body Repair Centers, owned by Tesla, also do structural repairs. Tesla Approved Body Shops are independent businesses trained and equipped to rebuild cars to factory specifications, both for structural integrity and for finish. To book an approved shop, Tesla says to contact the shop directly.
The programme's public documents show how strict it is. Some of the requirements:
- A Tesla-approved frame bench with the dedicated fixtures. The official tooling list, updated in February 2026, names the accepted systems (from makers such as Car-O-Liner, Spanesi and Globaljig). Depending on the bench brand, an electronic measuring system may also be needed.
- No structural pulling. Tesla prohibits pulling or pushing structural components with frame-straightening equipment. Tesla defines a structural component as any bonded, welded, weld-bonded, rivet-bonded or riveted part. Exterior panels may be pulled only for cosmetic repairs. Structural repairs are done on the bench, with at least 8 control points.
- Separate tools for aluminium, used only on aluminium and never on steel, plus a dedicated dent repair station for aluminium.
- Certified staff. At least two structural technicians must hold I-CAR aluminium and steel welding certifications. The shop also needs at least one mechanical technician, one manager and one estimator, all with Tesla's courses completed. The course list includes high-voltage disablement, pyrotechnic battery disconnect, model-specific structural repair, and driver-assistance system procedures. An electrical fundamentals course is mandatory for all staff, including detailers.
- Up-to-date procedures. The shop must use the current version of the repair procedures from Tesla's service website, not saved copies.
- Approved parts and materials. Brake fluid, coolant and workshop equipment must be Tesla-approved. A shop that breaks the rules can lose its "approved" status.
Why it matters on a Tesla
On a Tesla, the body structure includes many bonded, riveted or aluminium parts, hence the requirements above. Tesla warns that pulling on the structure can damage a component or its joints, including in areas that seem unrelated to the impact. Parts matter too: Tesla says third-party, used or recycled replacement parts aren't covered by its warranty and may affect warranty coverage of related components.
One important nuance on warranty. In its US Parts, Body & Paint Repair Limited Warranty, Tesla says it doesn't require non-warranty repairs to be done by Tesla or an approved shop. However, the warranty won't cover issues caused by improper repairs. The same document notes that approved shops are independent, so the warranty on their labour comes from the shop, not from Tesla. Our inference: European terms may differ in detail, but the logic is the same. An approved shop lowers the risk of a repair being disputed later.
Other Tesla-approved body shops in Romania
We looked for shops that publicly describe themselves, on their own websites, as a Tesla Approved Body Shop:
| Shop | Location |
|---|---|
| DAB Auto Serv | Bucharest, sector 3 |
| Top Lac Service | Bucharest, sector 6 |
| Boom Car Service | Popești-Leordeni, Ilfov |
| Happy Car | Tunari, Ilfov |
| Elite Colour | Suceagu, Cluj |
| Ottimo | Iași |
DAB Auto Serv describes itself as the first Tesla-approved body repairer in Romania and Eastern Europe. There's also RAP Motors in Ghimbav (Brașov), which presents itself as an "authorised Tesla service".
Note: we compiled this list from what the shops themselves publish. We couldn't access the official map of approved shops on Tesla's website, so the list may be incomplete. Of the shops we found, Ottimo is the only one in the Moldova region. Until now, the nearest approved shop for an owner in Iași was in Ilfov, Bucharest or Cluj.
What about Tesla's own service centres?
An approved shop handles body repairs; it doesn't replace Tesla service for technical or warranty issues. In Romania, Tesla runs its own service centres in Voluntari (near Bucharest), Ghiroda (Timișoara) and Apahida (Cluj), according to public information from 2025. In Iași, Tesla posted job ads in mid-September for sales staff and for a service centre with parts in the Brătuleni area (Miroslava). Local media describe it as Tesla's first location in Moldova. Tesla hasn't announced an opening date yet.
What to do after an accident in a Tesla
Practical steps. This isn't legal advice, and the exact terms depend on your policy:
- Safety first. If anyone is injured, call 112. If the high-voltage battery appears damaged (smoke, noises, leaks), keep away from the car and tell the emergency services.
- Document the damage: photos from several angles, plus a joint accident report or a police report, as applicable.
- Tesla assistance: Tesla Romania's roadside assistance number is 0316 301 257, and service appointments are booked in the Tesla app.
- Notify the insurer: the at-fault driver's motor third-party liability insurer (RCA) or your own comprehensive cover (CASCO).
- Choose the shop. For a claim paid under RCA, Romania's Law 132/2017 gives you the right to go to any legally authorised repairer, without the insurer being able to pressure you. For CASCO, check whether your policy lets you choose freely or lists approved garages (our inference: terms vary from policy to policy).
- For structural damage, ask for a Tesla-approved shop and genuine parts. Ask whether the repair involves the body structure, and have the estimate specify Tesla parts.
What it means for drivers in Moldova
- No more taking the car to Bucharest or Cluj for a body repair done to Tesla standards, at least when the damage is within an approved shop's scope.
- It matters most for major damage involving the structure. For a scratch or a bumper the difference is smaller, but for the right parts and procedures an approved shop is still the safe choice.
- Together with Tesla's planned centre in Brătuleni, Iași is starting to get the service infrastructure that owners in the region have long been waiting for.
