How to find the best auto body collision repair center for you and what constitutes a good shop
The event of an accident can be very stressful. Finding the right auto body shop can be just as excruciating; I hope to alleviate most of your worries in this article that explains what makes a good (if not great) auto body shop and how you can find the one that is right for you.
The best auto collision shops are determined by the quality of the work / materials that are applied and the overall timeliness of the work. Quality can be separated by two different attributes (1) parts / materials and (2) workmanship. The quality of factory OEM parts far exceeds that of the aftermarket. Sure, aftermarket products are cheaper, but that’s what’s happening to your vehicle too – it’s getting “cheaper.” In short, the materials used are of poor quality, this problem is compounded by deformed parts due to terrible molds. A good store will avoid this route by any means necessary. With a factory OEM part, the vehicle owner maintains the value of their car, along with its structural durability. The bond, primer and paint required to repair your vehicle must be of the highest quality to produce the best finished product. Most auto body shops have converted to eco-friendly water-based paint, and only a good auto body shop will offer a lifetime warranty on these paint jobs.
The quality of work is an important factor in the final result of a vehicle. Starting with properly trained technicians who must be certified in their automotive field of work (iCar, PPG, etc.). Your experience also plays a bigger role, for example we have employees with diverse backgrounds related to mechanical, engineering and custom manufacturing. This helps when a quick knowledge of a vehicle with custom modifications is needed. A good collision repair shop will also have knowledge on all major car models, including old and new.
A shop’s slow repair process can sometimes be unintentional. Insurance companies must pay within 10 days of receiving the claim, but this is not always the case; Insurance companies avoid payment by avoiding phone calls to “exhaust” it. A good store will defend its customers and take care of insurance directly. This should not be confused with a “direct repair shop” or a “preferred supplier” shop that works with insurance to save them money and devalue their vehicle with aftermarket parts to secure the job for them. A good repair shop will defend their client against the insurance company to receive optimal repair coverage for their vehicle. Once the correct claim estimate has been drawn up, a well-established auto body shop will order the necessary parts to repair the vehicle as soon as possible. It is important to do this immediately to avoid backorders, shipping delays, or any other issues that may occur (such as the wrong part showing up). Overall response time is determined by the amount of work required for the vehicle, delays caused by insurance and parts companies, and the effectiveness of the auto collision repair shop.
A great way to determine how effective a body shop is working is to use review sites. Yelp is a great way to see how well a collision repair shop is doing. You will most likely be able to check the timing or quality of a business based on the reviews created for that specific store. Another way to find reviews about a store is to use Facebook or Google Reviews. Although these sites are not as reliable as yelp (due to superior algorithm functions), they can give you more insight into how well that specific collision repair shop is doing. Try to use your best judgment and don’t always trust every review. Remember you have the option to choose the body shop you want! Don’t be led by your insurance company or anyone else. Do your research and educate yourself, and I promise you will be satisfied with your newly repaired vehicle.