Sometimes despite our best efforts, a car accident just happens. If you suddenly find yourself with a damaged vehicle that you need to get back on the road, choosing the right auto body repair shop for the job is key. While it's important to work with your insurance company following any accident, you should know that you have some options available to you. Here are 3 key tips to keep in mind when choosing an auto shop after an accident.
You Don't Have To Go To Your Insurer's Preferred Shop
Your insurance company will likely provide the name of a local auto shop or service center that it recommends for your service. While there's nothing wrong with taking your car there, understand that you have the right to choose your own auto body repair shop. Always do some research on any shop your insurer suggests before agreeing to go there and don't be afraid to branch out your search for other options as well.
Stick With A Shop That Will Use New Or Used Official Parts
When it comes to actually repairing the vehicle, make sure the auto shop you select will be using either new original parts from the manufacturer or lightly used parts from the same company. If your research indicates that the auto shop uses primarily aftermarket parts, you will want to steer clear as these parts are usually of a lesser quality than official parts from the manufacturer.
Inquire About Labor Costs
If you will go to more than one auto shop for an estimate following an accident, you will likely have a series of quotes to break down before you make your decision. Make sure that any paperwork you get breaks down not just the price of the car parts needed but also the price of the labor that will be performed on your vehicle. You can also likely get an estimate of how many hours it will take to repair the vehicle so that you can better understand what the final labor cost will be.
Finding yourself inside an auto body repair shop means that something obviously went wrong with your vehicle. But as eager as you might be to get back on the road, it's important to ask the right questions to ensure that you will get the best service possible. First, understand you are under no obligation to take your car to your insurer's preferred shop. Don't be afraid to shop around, getting multiple quotes and additional information, like what kind of parts will be used for the repair and what the labor cost and other charges might be for each shop. Contact a local shop in your area, like Aldrich Auto Body & Repair, Inc., to get started.
Share28 March 2016
When I graduated from college, I was able to purchase my first car. After much searching for the perfect vehicle, I selected a white sedan. This car has always been special to me because I earned the money to pay for it by myself. I even still own it. However, because it’s 13 years old now, it really needs to be painted. Instead of hiring someone to repaint it white, I’m considering trying something different. I would like to have a professional paint it either black or silver. On this blog, you will discover how to give an older vehicle a new look by hiring someone to paint it a different color.
