While driving home from work one day another vehicle hits your car, causing noticeable damage to the bumper and quarter panel that will have to be repaired. But being new to the area, you’re unfamiliar with the local collision repair shops and their reputations. What should you do? Finding an auto body shop that will get the job done right the first time shouldn’t have to be a guessing game. Before handing over your car keys, here are some proven ways to ensure that your decision is the best one.
Shops that perform top-quality work employ professionals that have been certified by widely respected industry associations, and they usually display those certifications on their website and in their waiting area. These are the two main certifications to look for:
This designation means that a shop has employees that have successfully completed auto body or glass repair courses taught by experts at the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, or “ASE” for short.
Any shop that carries the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR) label has met the necessary requirements for ongoing training and compliance to repair specific vehicles based on the manufacturer’s safety and quality standards.
Most reputable shops now provide customers with detailed written estimates beforehand, so try to find a shop that does so. Keep in mind that once your vehicle is torn down, the technicians could find additional repairs that need to be done to ensure occupant safety and vehicle performance. It’s also a good idea to compare estimates from several different shops before making your decision, especially if you’re paying the entire repair bill out of pocket.
Go to some trustworthy online sources and read customer satisfaction reviews about the shop, and then check out before-and-after photos of vehicles they’ve restored. Most good repair shops proudly post customer testimonials and pictures of their outcomes on their websites and social media pages. Ask for referrals from others at work, the gym or elsewhere, as word-of-mouth advertising is another reliable indicator for a shop’s quality and service.
Like any other business, a collision repair shop that backs their services in writing usually provides higher-quality outcomes to their customers. When it comes to backing those repairs, warranties can vary from a specified number of miles or months, to lifetime warranties that transfer with the vehicle as owners change. And, when looking over a shop’s warranty, check for what it specifically covers, like workmanship or part failure due to a manufacturing defect.
In addition, other characteristics to look for include:
Ask the shop manager to give you a quick tour of the service area. Is it clean and orderly? And, is there a separate area for painting?
Many shops will speak directly with insurance adjusters throughout the process, so you don’t have to. Do they?
Does the shop specialize in working on certain vehicle types, for example, hybrid or high-performance cars?
Your damaged car may need to sit outside for a few days until the shop can get started. If that’s likely, is their lot secured to protect your vehicle?
Based on their workload, how quickly will the shop have your vehicle’s repairs completed? Keep in mind that good shops are busy and traffic accidents are more common during certain times of the year.
Finding a collision repair shop that you can trust with your vehicle can be challenging, especially when you’re new to an area. Thankfully, Carwise has eliminated most of the guesswork by placing detailed information for 19,000+ auto body and glass repair shops nationwide right at your fingertips. With the click of a button, you can promptly locate customer-reviewed shops nearby that are I-CAR and ASE-certified, which means they have the skilled technicians, equipment and services to restore your ride like new again promptly and reliably.
Search your zip code now for a customer-reviewed auto body or glass repair shop nearby: www.carwise.com.
