Over time, harsh sunlight, storms, acid rain, hail, and other elements will damage your car’s body. Aside from ruining your vehicle’s beauty, this damage will also lower your car’s resale value.
To restore your vehicle, you’ll have to visit a body shop. But finding a shop that can deliver the results you want at a price you are willing to pay is rarely straightforward. To help find the best auto body shop for your vehicle’s restoration, follow these tips.
Shop Around
Know the best auto body shops in your area long before you need one. Why? If there’s an emergency, you might not have enough time to research all your options.
Start by identifying licensed body shops in your area. Get estimates from each one and research their reputation and services.
Customer Reviews
The best body shop will have rave reviews from satisfied customers. While online customer reviews are good, nothing beats a word-of-mouth recommendation. That’s because a word-of-mouth recommendation from someone familiar lends credibility to the customer feedback.
So, aside from checking online reviews, ask acquaintances, friends, and family about their experiences using body shops in your area.
Proof of Professionalism
A quality body shop will have attractive premises with courteous and responsive staff. Also, you can tell a lot about a shop’s professionalism by how well they handle vehicles in their custody. If the shop is being careless with the vehicles of other customers, you’ll likely get the same treatment.
Other signs of professionalism will be customer service awards and a good Better Business Bureau membership rating. Lastly, ask if the shop’s technicians have I-CAR (Inter-Industry ASE Conference on Auto Collision Repair) certifications or other recognized certifications.
Experience
A body shop with years of experience restoring modern sedans may not have the expertise needed to restore your vintage vehicle or pickup truck. To avoid complications, verify the shop has experience working on your specific type of vehicle with impressive results.
Ask About the Shop’s Services
Before making a final decision, ask the following questions to verify that a shop is right for you:
- Does the shop offer a written warranty and how long is the warranty? Body shops that are confident about their work’s quality offer at least a one-year warranty.
- Does the shop carry fire and theft insurance? If the shop has insurance, it’ll cover your vehicle against theft or damages while at the body shop.
- What type of materials do they use? The right shop will use top-quality materials that deliver lasting results. Some shops can also tailor services to fit your budget, such as offering the option of using new, used, or aftermarket parts.
- How long will the job take? You want a shop that can restore your vehicle within the shortest time. But avoid shops with a reputation for making deadline promises they can’t keep.
Conclusion
The best auto body shop for your vehicle’s restoration isn’t always the cheapest or most expensive. Instead, look for a shop with a reputation for delivering quality results at competitive prices.
At Desoto Collision Center, we specialize in various auto body repairs, from paint jobs to frame repair. Contact us today to discuss your vehicle body job and discover our fantastic body repair services.
