When you are involved in an auto accident, this is an extremely stressful time already and having to find a trustworthy auto repair shop shouldn’t add to the stress. You will want to find a place that’s affordable, trustworthy, and will complete your car in a reasonable amount of time. If you have an automotive shop you go to on a regular basis and they have excellent service and mechanics and they have a body shop, then you are all set. But not all shops have the capability to do both automotive service and collision repair. So we hope these tips will help in finding the right shop for you no matter your situation.
If possible, find an auto body shop before you actually need one. This allows you to think with a clear head and not act on the spur of the moment and desperation. Speak to friends and family and see who they recommend and call or even visit these places for prices, atmosphere, customer service. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and be sure you are comfortable with the answers. A business that has been around for a long time, means they care about their customers and their customers want to return.
Word of mouth goes a long way. Sometimes family owned businesses are the ones where you can get a fair price and excellent customer service. Long-term customers tell their family and friends because they believe in being treated fairly and have grown to know and trust the business, so you may want to start with your family and friends first. Some smaller family run businesses don’t advertise to help keep the costs down, so pay attention.
Take your vehicle to several repair shops and get estimates for the repairs you need done. This will outline the work for you, as well as the pricing, but don’t jump on the cheapest price. This could also mean they are cutting corners and not going to be the best quality. You could end up having major problems down the road. Make sure you feel comfortable with the people and all of the estimates. Always ask questions if you feel anything is unclear.
When you are choosing a body shop, don’t go in with your pocketbook, go in smart. There are some key questions you should ask. Does the shop provide a written warranty? If so, for how long? What does it cover? One year warranty is a minimum, but some shops can offer lifetime warranties that aren’t realistic, so be cautious of the fine print.
Does your shop carry fire and theft insurance? You want to be sure your covered if your car is destroyed, stolen, or burglarized. Don’t forget to ask how long they have been in business and make sure they have a business license.
Depending on the damage to your vehicle, you will want to ask if new, used, or aftermarket parts will be used. If paint work is involved, you should ask how many coats of paint and clear coat the shop intends to use.
Finally, it’s important to trust your instinct. If you walk into a body shop and it’s not busy, maybe that’s because customers are avoiding it because of careless repairs. If the place is disorganized or dirty, this might reflect on the type of work you can expect if they work on your vehicle. And how are the employees handling your situation? Make sure they understand your problem along with any special requests and you feel comfortable with their responses.
These main tips should help guide you to a place that you want to do business with when you need an auto body repair shop. If you have any questions, or would like to visit our shop in the Vernon CT area, please give us a call or stop by.
Moores Automotive
1246 Hartford Turnpike
Vernon, CT 06066
Phone: (860) 872-2024
www.mooresautomotive.com
mooresautomotive 