Where we meet by accident!

Determining which body shop to choose for your collision repair.

Unfortunately, many of us wait until we’ve actually had an accident to research auto body repair shops in our area and probably are not going to have time to do a thorough comparison. Hopefully your car is drivable so you can take a couple of days to actually make the choice.

You can usually narrow down your search by asking family and friends, check out internet reviews and drive past the shops to get a general feel of whether the building and grounds are cared for. If they take good care of their facility they probably also care about their workmanship and reputation.

Some other things to look for:

• Training Certificates – Quality body shops will regularly send technicians for training for both collision repair as new construction techniques are used for new autos and painting techniques with newer paints and spraying equipment.
• Computerized Estimating – Many shops are now connected electronically to the major insurance carriers and have software that accurately prices parts, supplies and labor hours. If your shop has this ability you can simply get a single repair estimate and the insurance companies know that it is accurate.
• Paint Mixing Station – Although expensive, a shop that has their own mixing station is able to match any color combination and make adjustments as necessary to create a perfect match on your vehicle.

Your collision shop should provide a written warranty on all work and be knowledgeable about insurance companies and coverage.