Tips on Finding a Good Automotive Body Shop

If you have ever gotten into a wreck you know how much of a hassle it can be to find a good body shop. It seems like anyone who can rent a building can also start up their own body shop, no matter if they have never done body work before. They will lure you in with low prices and guarantees of getting the job done faster than the next shop. You take your care to the shop with high hopes of getting it returned to you within the week and looking like it did before the accident. What you end up getting is bad customer service and poor quality work done on your vehicle. Don't take it personally; this happens in just about every town and city in every state. Don't get me wrong, there are some very nice, reputable shops out there who deliver high quality work and who have great customer service. These shops are just few and far between. To make sure you are getting quality work, a quick turnaround and good customer service, don't just open the phone book and pick a shop by their ad. You should ask around for a referral. Talk to your friends, family and co-workers about their experiences with body shops. There is always someone who has a story about a bad body shop. If you do find someone who had a pleasant experience, ask them about the customer service, how quick they were promised their vehicle would be returned to them and how fast they actually got it back. Ask what the car looked like when it was returned to them and how the repaired area looked. Could you see any blemishes, or what the work smooth and blend in with the entire vehicle? Once you pick out a shop to bring you vehicle to, don't plan on leaving your car with them the first visit you make. Show up at the shop and ask to speak to the manager. This way you can ask any questions and know you are getting the correct answer. This also ensures that a technician will be caught in the middle about what you were told and what the manager's policy is. Upon meeting with the manager there are some things you need to do and questions you should ask.

•Show them the damage to your vehicle

•Ask them if they can fix the problem

•Ask how long it would take

•Ask about the procedure they will take when repairing the vehicle

•Ask about the cost of the repair

After getting an answer to these questions, you should give them time to write up an estimate for your vehicle. After this they should give you an exact price on the total of repairs and parts needed. Let them know that you will bring your car back once all of the parts ordered are delivered to the shop. This way you are not out of your car until the last possible day. If a manager does not answer to your satisfaction, do not hesitate to leave. It is your money and your car on the line. Do not settle for poor quality in repairs or customer service.