Look Before You Need One
We know this seems a little odd, but you really do want to have an idea of what body shop you would use before you have an accident. This will help take some of the pressure off during this stressful time. After all, just having one less thing to worry about is a good thing.
Check Better Business Bureau
If you are just starting your research, one of the best resources everyone has access to is the Better Business Bureau. Here you can see what their overall rating is, as well as how long the business has been accredited. You can see if they have responded to complaints as well as read any posted reviews from customers.
Read Reviews
Take some time to read Google reviews, the good ones and the bad ones. No shop will be immune to bad reviews, but it is easy to see people who may just have an axe to grind. Even with the bad review, it is important to see if the business responded and how it was handled, as that can speak volumes to their professional standards. In the good ones, look at common themes – how the repairs were completed, customer service, communication, and follow up.
Look for Certifications
Ensure that your auto body shop has factory certifications. Usually, this means their team is continually keeping up with manufacture repair stands and keeping them current. So, you will want to look for things like ProFirst, I-CAR Classification, and other factory trained programs.
Insurance
Insurance can have some influence on your choice of shop. You may just want to call a few shops and simply inquire about how they would (or if) they work with your insurance company. You may also want to shop for an auto body shop that has policies in place if you are thinking about repairs without insurance.
Get Estimates
Any body shop worth its salt will provide no-obligation estimates, and even help arrange for towing to their facility if needed. When getting an estimate, however, be wary of just going with the lowest estimate. Oftentimes, assessing the damage is difficult with a simple walk around of the vehicle. Make sure they really take time to uncover other areas of potential damage and explain it to you. Sometimes the cheap estimates end up with the costliest “gotcha” repairs.
Friends and Family
Without a doubt, the best thing to do when choosing an auto body shop is to just ask friends or family. They will give it to you straight. After all, the best option is going to be the one that puts you most at ease, and if trusted friends have a good experience, you will likely have one too.
Again, please take some time before you need auto body repair to do a little research. Know where you would want your vehicle to go, should you need it. If you have any questions about auto body repair, please give us a call at 303-344-2212.
My father-in-law was in an accident a couple of nights ago, and his car is badly dented because of it. Thanks for explaining how asking friends and family for suggestions is the best thing to do when looking for an auto body shop. My father-in-law would like to find a shop by this weekend, so I’ll recommend that he ask people that he trusts for advice.