|
|
|
|
What to Look For in a Collision Repair Shop?
It isn't hard to find a collision repair shop, but finding one that's reputable and you're comfortable working with can be a challenge. Recommendations from friends and families are always useful, but if it's "my brother's best friend's cousin has a shop on the west side" isn't necessarily the same thing as an Angie's List review. Here are a few ideas about where to get objective reviews and specific items to look for.
You Don't Have to Use the Body Shop Your Insurer Recommends
Speaking of Angie, her site emphatically says you don't have to use the body shops your insurer recommends. State laws allow consumers to use whatever repair show they choose. But many insurers require their claims reps to direct consumers to a body shop they like because these shops may discount services and, they will tell you, guarantee their work.
Don't be fooled, says Angie's people. Good shops will warranty their work to all customers regardless of who foots the bill. So go ahead and look around, or use a shop you might already know and trust.
Look at Online Reviews of Local Auto Body Shops
Angie's List is a leading review site. If you have a site membership, use it to research local collision repair shops. Sort reviews by date to see what people have recently said. Don't let yourself be too influenced by a handful of nasty or over-the-top praise; look for general patterns, and put more confidence in well-written, thoughtful reviews.
Yelp.com and Google also feature customer reviews, probably from a broader cross-section of people since they don't require paid memberships. You may also want to ask your Facebook friends for recommendations and check out those shops' online reviews, too.
It's also a good idea to narrow your search down to collision repair shops that specialize in your car manufacturer or who have many years of experience and the latest technology.
What to Ask a Potential Match
In a way, looking for a good collision repair shop is a little like speed dating. Have a few questions ready to go:
- Ask if it's a direct repair shop. These are shops with insurance contracts. If they are, be aware that some contracted shops cut corners with non-OEM replacement parts and even quality of services.
- Ask if they work with insurance estimates. Independent shops will fix a vehicle based on their estimates. A really good shop will be able to get the insurance company to allocate more funds to cover necessary repairs that were not originally noted in a visual inspection.
- Ask about their warranty on parts and labor. If they don't warranty their work, look elsewhere.
|
|
