Damage to your car following a motor vehicle accident is entirely unforeseen and can be the cause of a lot of physical, mental, and financial stress. Finding a collision repair shop following damage to your vehicle, whether it be serious damage or just a broken window, can be a daunting task.
It’s pretty common that different auto repair shops will give customers vastly different quotes for the same work. When you’re the one seeking repair following an unpredictable collision – and you’re the one paying the tab – you can wonder what the difference is between the cheapest and the most expensive options.
In the same vein, the last thing you want to do is get your car repaired by a technician who delivers lackluster results. These are entirely valid concerns, and you want to make sure you go with the collision repair shop who will best suit your needs. Luckily, this article covers all the ways you can ensure you are choosing the best option with East End Auto Body.
Do Your Research
In the age of technology, online reviews are a great way to gauge the quality of service any business offers. When it comes to finding the best collision repair shop for your vehicle, repair shops are no exception.
Simply searching “collision repair in my area” is a great place to start, dozens of options and hundreds of reviews will populate.
From there, you can browse the experiences that previous customers have had with the company and determine which shops you’d consider giving your business to.
That being said, you always want to take online reviews with a grain of salt. A misunderstanding can lead to an undue negative review. You should focus on the well-written and thought out reviews, not the spiteful, short ones.
By the same token, you can always ask around in your family and friends and ask them what collision repair shops they’ve used in the past, and who has serviced them best. You should always support local businesses when possible.
You may even find shops that didn’t populate in an online search, but if they’ve provided great service to your family and friends in the past, they are just as deserving of your business as someone with hundreds of reviews online.
The Better Business Bureau can also be a great resource to find out if a particular shop has a lot of complaints filed against them.
Make Sure They’re Experienced
Additionally, you can browse online forums about your car’s specific make and model. People in the forum may be able to help you locate the best collision repair shop in your area that have expertise in your vehicle.
Different car brands have different quirks, so it’s important to find a knowledgeable shop.
Many high-rated body shops have detailed shop websites. This will include basic information like services offered, areas of expertise, and shop location.
Some websites may also include information about the team that works on your car and testimonials from previous customers. When deciding on a shop to repair your car, you can browse their websites to get a good gauge of their professionalism and dedication to providing the best service possible.
Ask Questions
When picking the right shop for the collision repair on your vehicle, you can go to multiple different collision repair shops to get estimates, ask plenty of questions, and get a feel for the quality of service.
For example, if you walk into a shop and feel as though the employees are inconvenienced by you and the questions that you may have, that may be symptomatic of the care they give in their service. Or, if you walk into a shop and find it to be disorganized or messy, that may be indicative of how they will treat your car as well.
When visiting different shops, ask questions and document everything.
Some of the questions you may want to ask are as follows:
- Does the shop provide a warranty? If so, how long is your car covered under the warranty? If the shop does not have a warranty, why?
- What kind of parts are going to be used for the repair? Are the parts new or used?
- How long will the repair take?
- And lastly, how much will it cost?
You may want to ask more questions depending on the situation, but use your best judgment here, and don’t be afraid to ask as many questions as you need.
Friendly Service is Important
The right shop for you will be one that’s friendly, thorough, and unafraid to answer all of your questions and concerns.
A great collision repair shop is one that has your best interest in mind.
When a potential shop starts making you promises such as, “We will repair your car back to its original condition,” or, “We will pay for all the parts needed,” you should request that they send you an email with these claims in writing.
This is for clarification purposes, and you’ll be doing yourself a favor in the event of the shop backtracking on undocumented agreements. If a shop is hesitant to do so, this is a big red flag.
The same applies if the shop you are considering is not willing to talk openly about certifications. Check if your shop is certified by the dealer of your car – this certification basically verifies that the shop has what they need to repair your car specifically, and that the technicians who will be working on your car are properly trained to do so.
Get a Quote
Cost is a huge factor in choosing the best collision repair shop for most people’s vehicle. If you go to five different shops, they will likely give you five different estimates on how much the service will cost.
For the most part, this is based on location. You may be tempted to go to a shop closer to you for convenience, but if you live in a major city where property is more expensive, they will likely charge more.
This doesn’t mean that the shops that charge more are charging unfairly, but if you are looking for something less costly, it is recommended to search for shops that are further out, as they may charge less for the same quality of service.
It’s important to protect yourself from being overcharged. But, at the same time, shops that are charging suspiciously low prices are probably not a great option either.
Think about it, what crucial steps are they skipping out on in repairing your car to make up for the money that they are not making? Seemingly small things that are overlooked in order to charge you a low price could end up causing further damage to your car in the future.
You should always get quotes from several different shops to find a middle ground.
Find the Best Shop for Your Collision
In the event that an auto collision is on the more serious side and attorneys are involved, the attorney may want to send you to a preferred mechanic of their choice.
This is because personal injury and auto accident attorneys are typically working in conjunction with auto repair shops, chiropractors, primary care doctors, and a plethora of other people you will have to deal with in the aftermath of a car accident.
However, you are still at liberty to search reviews for the auto repair shop and ask any questions you feel are necessary. Do not settle for less than what you feel your business (and car) is worth for convenience purposes.
Remember, regardless of whether or not an attorney is involved, the collision repair shop is there to cater to you and your needs. You can have a conversation with your attorney and decide on a shop that is a perfect fit for you.
That being said, if the shop your attorney suggests is highly rated, they may work great for you, but it’s always important to know your options.
In Conclusion
At the end of the day, when choosing a collision repair shop for your vehicle, you should always go with your gut. If you read overwhelmingly negative reviews for a shop, it may be in your best interest to keep browsing for a different choice.
If you go into a shop for more information regarding services and feel the employees act inconvenienced by you, that is likely not the best place to bring your service. If pricing seems off, the business does not seem as organized as it could be, or you just get a bad feeling upon learning more about a shop, don’t be afraid to keep looking.
Your intuition is probably right, and you know what’s best for you and your situation.
Contact Us Today
Remember, a great shop will be more than happy to answer your questions and will have your best interest in mind when looking for collision repair.
It’s always better to be safe than sorry, and the last thing you want to do is get lackluster repair work done whilst still dealing with the other personal aspects impacted in a car accident.
Browsing for a shop can seem tiring and stressful, but don’t settle on a collision repair shop you’re not too sure about for time or convenience purposes… the shop for you in West Virginia for collision repair, is out there! East End Auto Body is here to help.
East End Body Shop – serving the collision repair needs of WV, Ohio and Kentucky. Ona, Milton, Huntington, Barboursville, Culloden, Catlettsburg, Hurricane / Teays Valley Ceredo, South Point, Kenova, Lavalette, Wayne, Proctorville, Chesapeake, Ironton and Ashland.
- Mobile claims management, Interest free financing
- Auto body repair, Frame repair
- Collision repair, Auto painting
- Glass repair, Automotive detailing
- Auto mechanical repair, Automotive claims
- Insurance repair work, Auto body paint
Call 304-525-5361, or visit our website!
