Even the safest of drivers has had to deal with auto body repairs at one point or another. Unfortunately, fender benders and parking lot dings happen far too frequently. If a recent collision has left you dealing with auto body damage, then it's time to contact your insurer and get those repairs taken care of. To minimize your risk for inferior repairs or an inflated price, keep these following things in mind:
Insurance-Approved Repair Shops
When filing your insurance claim, your provider will probably suggest that you have the auto body repairs completed at one of their pre-approved collision centers. The service and pricing at these body shops has met a certain standard, which will likely result in a quick and reliable repair. Additionally, thanks to partnership contracts with the insurance company, these shops often turn out to be the most affordable option. However, due to these discounts, it should be noted that insurance-approved repair shops may be tempted to do nothing more than the bare minimum necessary to complete your repair.
Receive Several Estimates
It is a common fear that auto mechanics take advantage of naive drivers by jacking up the price of car repairs. To eliminate this possibility, it is recommended you receive estimates from several different body shops. A thorough estimate will come in written form and outline the specific cost totals for both parts and labor. If your car is inoperable, and requires towing to the body shop, then you might consider contacting a couple collision centers after receiving an initial estimate. By reviewing the estimated fees listed by a particular shop, a competing shop may be willing to verify whether or not the total estimate sounds fair.
Keep Customer Service in Mind
A body shop should not be picked on price alone. Just as important, is the level of customer service and goodwill offered by a particular shop. Before completing auto body repairs, you might consider using the Better Business Bureau to review a body shop's credibility. The Better Business Bureau is a trustworthy organization that documents customer complaints and shares a company's history of complaints with the public. If excessive complaints have been reported for a particular collision center, then it may be best to choose a different location to have your repairs completed.
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