Consumer Information > Choosing the Right Facility
Choosing the Right Facility
Your car is the second-largest investment you are likely to make. Preserve its value and your safety by having it repaired professionally. If you’ve had the misfortune of having an accident, you don’t want to leave your vehicle in the hands of just any “body man”. If you're shopping for a quality collision repair center, you don’t need to be a collision repair expert to know what to look for. You may want to watch for certain features which indicate that business takes pride in the service it preforms.
The parking area should be neat and clearly marked, with ample parking space for customers and insurance representatives.
The office should be clean and well organized with a restroom and a comfortable seating area for customers. Employees in the office should be clean, neatly dressed and unconditionally courteous.
The shop should be well organized and well equipped with state of the art frame repair equipment. The most modern collision centers are now equipped with digital measuring systems which combine computer and laser technology to measure and pinpoint damage in your vehicle's frame and structure. The shop owner/manager should be willing to take you around the shop to give you a first hand view of the equipment and procedures being used.
The technicians work on the dirtiest parts of your car so they’ll probably be dirty every time you see them, however they should have a reasonably neat and professional appearance about them. Body technicians as well as painters should be I-CAR trained and/or ASE certified and the manager should be able to so how you a copy of their current certification.
Once inside the shop, your vehicle’s damaged area should be disassembled for a careful re-inspection. Any additional damages should be reported to the insurance company immediately. if the insurance company representative insists on re-inspecting the damage, the repair process could be delayed for up to 2-3 days. In turn, any additional damaged parts must be ordered which may lead to another delay, depending on availability. Additional delays can also result from disputes between the repair facility and the insurance company. Insurance companies often try to refuse coverage of certain operations that are required in order to properly repair the vehicle. Also, the insurance company may insist that “aftermarket” or “QRP” parts be used for the repair.
Better quality shops are now refusing to install or warranting aftermarket parts because of the poor quality and design of these parts. It is highly recommended you check the damage report to see the only factory (OEM) equipment is used to repair your car.
The parking area should be neat and clearly marked, with ample parking space for customers and insurance representatives.
The office should be clean and well organized with a restroom and a comfortable seating area for customers. Employees in the office should be clean, neatly dressed and unconditionally courteous.
The shop should be well organized and well equipped with state of the art frame repair equipment. The most modern collision centers are now equipped with digital measuring systems which combine computer and laser technology to measure and pinpoint damage in your vehicle's frame and structure. The shop owner/manager should be willing to take you around the shop to give you a first hand view of the equipment and procedures being used.
The technicians work on the dirtiest parts of your car so they’ll probably be dirty every time you see them, however they should have a reasonably neat and professional appearance about them. Body technicians as well as painters should be I-CAR trained and/or ASE certified and the manager should be able to so how you a copy of their current certification.
Once inside the shop, your vehicle’s damaged area should be disassembled for a careful re-inspection. Any additional damages should be reported to the insurance company immediately. if the insurance company representative insists on re-inspecting the damage, the repair process could be delayed for up to 2-3 days. In turn, any additional damaged parts must be ordered which may lead to another delay, depending on availability. Additional delays can also result from disputes between the repair facility and the insurance company. Insurance companies often try to refuse coverage of certain operations that are required in order to properly repair the vehicle. Also, the insurance company may insist that “aftermarket” or “QRP” parts be used for the repair.
Better quality shops are now refusing to install or warranting aftermarket parts because of the poor quality and design of these parts. It is highly recommended you check the damage report to see the only factory (OEM) equipment is used to repair your car.