How To Find an Auto Body Dealer for Your Damaged Vehicle

By Demetris Wong

A lot of us depend on our cars for transportation. In fact, many of us have a hard time picturing how we would cope with life without having a car or truck - it is practically a requirement for many people. However, accidents can and do happen and when your vehicle has been damaged in an accident, you need to have it repaired at an auto body shop as soon as possible. If you do not already have a local body shop you go to for repairs, keep reading for some tips on how to choose the right garage.

There are some important things you should consider when you are choosing which auto body shop to trust your vehicle to. The first thing to remember is that the choice should be yours. Many body shops will sign a contract with the insurance companies stating that they will provide certain services for a certain price if the agents will refer people to them for the repairs.

Should the auto body repair shop you bring your car to be one of these, remember that shops which have these kinds of partnerships with insurance companies will often use aftermarket parts or generic parts when doing repairs. Suppose a shop provides a certain repair for $450; they will often cut some corners in order to keep their costs low.

When you bring your car to an auto body shop for repair and start experiencing new problems almost immediately after, it is an incredibly frustrating situation. You should keep in mind that not every auto part is equally good and it is best to deal with a body shop which uses only high quality parts in their repairs.

Insurers do not mind if auto body shops use salvaged or off-brand parts to save money. This saves the garage, but you should find repair shops which use OEM parts in order to ensure that your repairs are done properly. These parts are made for a specific make and model and are the best choice for replacing parts damaged in an accident.

A body shop that has a poor history of providing accurate deadlines to their customers can also be a problem. While they may be able to convince most customers that the delay is due to a back up in parts delivery or something along those lines, the truth may be that they have taken on more work than they could possibly get done in a timely manner. Check the Better Business Bureau to find out the repair shops standing.

Before deciding on an auto repair shop, you should make sure to check with the Better Business Bureau to see if any customers have filed complaints. If you drive a car which is imported, then when it needs repair you'll want to bring it to an auto body shop which specializes in working on your make and model of car. Not every garage will have the necessary parts for these vehicles and using parts made for US made cars is definitely not recommended - these are often the wrong size and can cause more damage to your car.

It is important that you do your homework before you decide on a body shop for your vehicle. Be sure that you will be getting the best quality repairs that are possible and that they are familiar with your type of vehicle. You want your vehicle to look as good as new when you drive it home and back into your busy life. - 21392

About the Author:

My bro is a 4x4 vehicle enthusiast who is living in the Minneapolis area. He now works in Minneapolis at a local auto body shop and is my premier source of information. To find the most reliable service and repair shop in Minnesota, visit body shops minneapolis and find the closest business to you.