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In the year 2013, there were five and a half million non-fatal car accidents. Though no lives were lost in these accidents, many cars were damaged, requiring owners to take them in for repairs.

If you have never been to an auto body shop for collision repair (or if you’re one of the countless Americans who have been to a bad auto shop), it may seem a little bit intimidating. Here are some tips for selecting and working with the right shop to have your car repaired.

Choosing an Auto Body Shop

Many auto body repair shops claim to have the “best dent removal service” or say that they are guaranteed to remove car dents quickly and cheaply; however, they’re not always telling the whole truth. It is always important to do your own research before trusting a shop with your car.

Make sure you go online and read ratings and reviews to get a sense of the shop’s quality of work and customer service. Pay close attention to the reviews that are thorough and well-written. You may not want to put too much stock in ratings that are short or petty. Most importantly, remember that you can’t always trust what you read online. According to a study from Harvard, 16% of Yelp reviews are fake. Read reviews posted on a reputable website and get referrals from friends and family.

Before Dropping Your Car Off at the Auto Body Shop

Here are some tips to keep in mind before having your car repaired:

Read the estimate. Before signing anything, make sure you read the estimate carefully and thoroughly. It should describe the condition of your car as well as what needs to be repaired. It will list the affected parts and note the estimated charges. If something doesn’t look right to you, talk to the auto body professionals and clear things up right away.

Ask questions. Do not be afraid to ask questions about the cost, repairs, or overall process. A good auto body repair shop will be willing to take the time to explain everything to you so that you feel totally comfortable leaving your car in their hands.

After Getting Your Car Back from the Shop

Take a look at the bill. It should describe all the work that was done, including the repairs, the parts used, labor charges, and the initial odometer reading. If you notice a discrepancy between the written estimate and the bill, ask the repair shop to clarify. Finally, always keep your receipt and all paperwork so that if you discover an issue later on, you can bring the car back to the repair shop to figure out the problem.

Do you have any additional tips regarding auto body repair? Do you have any questions? Feel free to Contact Us today!