ABOUT OUR STORY
About Our Reputation for Excellence 30 Years in the Making!
The Bates Collision story begins more than 30 years ago in Baytown, Texas through the vision of Lee Bates, a young repair technician who got his start sweeping floors in a body shop, but had a love for vehicles, developed a real talent for repairing them and knew he could provide a remarkably better repair experience in his hometown.
Since our beginnings in 1990, we have been committed to treating our customers like family; with the highest levels of Quality, Service, Convenience, and Respect available in the collision repair industry. We work hard every day to earn that trust by treating every customer like family (and we’re local, so some of them actually are)!
Below you can learn more about us and see how we got from where we started to where we are today.
1990
Owners, Lee and Leila Bates married in 1989 and together they open the first Bates Collision Center in 1990, in their home town at 4911 North Main Street in Baytown, TX.
1992
Bates Collision quickly out grew its first facility and moves to a much bigger new home just a mile down the road at 3219 North Main Street.
1993
Bates Collision Centers was the first in the area to achieve I-Car Gold Class Certified Repair Center status; joining a very elite group of collision repair centers in the nation. Today, only around 10% of collision repair centers in the U.S. accomplish this certification and Bates Collision has attained it every single year since 1993.
1995
Bates Collision keeps on growing and Lee & Leila Bates purchase more land & embark on a major expansion to the facility.
1996
Expansion is complete and the Bates Collision Center team moves into their state of the art new facilities.
1999
The Bates Collision team starts it’s annual tradition of presenting “new” used vehicles to deserving families through volunteer staff hours and donations each Christmas. The Bates staff has refurbished and presented nearly 40 vehicles since the 1st one in 1999.
2003
In early 2003, Lee & Leila Bates purchased land and an existing building to house their second repair center at 15532 I-10 East, Channelview, TX. They immediately began renovations & expansions to bring a State-Of-The-Art collision repair facility to service the Channelview community.
2008
Texas Governor Rick Perry recognizes the Bates Collision staff at the Governor’s 25th annual Volunteer Awards for their annual tradition that began in 1999 of presenting “new” used vehicles to deserving families through volunteer staff hours and donations each holiday season.
2018
Lee & Leila Bates were named 2018 Citizens of the Year.
TODAY
Today, Bates Collision Centers are the premier collision repair center in the communities we serve. Our reputation for excellence has been 30 years in the making!
Baytown Sun Reader’s Choice Award Winners
Bates Collision Center has been chosen for the Baytown Sun Reader’s Choice Award in 2007, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022 and 2023.
It means so much to us to be recognized by our customers. Our connection to the Bay Area community has always been so important to us. Click here to read more about our story…
Green Technology
Recycling for the Environment
To Protect the Environment and Employees
Energy Efficiency
“Despite collision shops not being perceived as front runners of the green movement, our dedication to reducing hazardous waste and protecting our environment and our community has always been a priority” says Lee Bates, President-Bates Collision Centers. “We will continue our dedication to be on the cutting edge of eco-friendly technology for collision repair shops.”