Our readers asked, and we listened! We started out providing access to quality auto glass shops nationwide and have since expanded our network of locations to include access to local Paintless Dent Repair Shops and Collision Repair Centers nationwide.
Why Collision Repair?
Car accidents are common, and when they happen to your vehicle, you need an easy place to access the best local collision repair center. As a result, this is why collision repair seemed like the next best option.
Your collision repair experience shouldn’t be overwhelming, so we wrote this article. After reading it, you’ll have some top questions we feel you should ask a collision center before working with them. Plus, we’ll help you understand what to expect before and after the process. So let’s get started!
Collision Repair Questions to Ask
Car accidents can be scary, but they don’t have to leave you stranded. If your car is damaged in an accident, finding a collision repair facility that provides high-quality bodywork is essential, and we’re here to help.
Below are some helpful questions when speaking with auto body shops that can help you learn more about the facility and decide whether to use them.
Pre-Service Questions
- What’s the expected turnaround time? I helped write estimates at an auto body shop in Mesquite, TX, for a while and found almost everyone dropping off a car asked how long the process would take to complete. Each shop should be able to provide a reasonable time of completion based on the amount of damage found during the estimate process.
- Do you provide a rental car or shuttle service? The rental car question was the second most asked question I would hear daily. Not having a car for a few days can be challenging if you rely on it for work, daily errands, or taking the kids to school. For this reason, it’s always good to find out if the collision estimate includes a rental car or loaner. However, most body shops provide shuttle service to your home or office after receiving your vehicle.
- Will you replace or repair the damaged body panels? If the damage is extensive enough, the auto body shop should replace the damaged part instead of straightening it or filling it with Bondo. Replacing badly damaged panels can cost less than the labor needed to straighten, fill, and smooth the surface in most cases. However, fixing the dented surface with paintless dent repair costs less if you have minor damage, such as hail damage or door dings.
- Do you install OEM or aftermarket replacement parts? In most cases, body shops prefer OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) parts over aftermarket or off-brand. However, if you’re filing an insurance claim to fix your car, the insurance company will determine the replacement part. OEM parts are more expensive but match manufacturer specifications, so there’s no additional work required to ensure the part fits correctly. Of course, returning the car to its original pre-accident condition is possible with both OEM and aftermarket parts.
- How much training or experience does your team have? To ensure a gold-class repair experience, collision repair technicians should have extensive knowledge and qualifications in collision repair technology and understand how to fix foreign and domestic vehicles. For example, the body panels could be sheet metal, fiberglass, or aluminum, depending on your car. Each body type requires a different process to fix, so additional training and experience in vehicle types are essential.
- What type of certifications does your body shop have? Certified repair facilities have additional training for their collision repair team to ensure quality repairs. Continuous industry-leading training and certifications such as I-CAR are essential to help a collision repair specialist stay on top of repair techniques and improved technologies surrounding the auto body repair process. I-CAR training would ensure the technician understands minor cosmetic repairs and more extensive things such as frame repair, mechanical repairs, and new technologies like ADAS (Advanced Driver Assisted Systems).
- Does your shop provide a warranty or guarantee? A reputable repair shop will offer a limited lifetime warranty to guarantee their quality. Find out if their warranty is only suitable for a specific timeframe and what it covers. If you plan to sell your car in the future, find out if the warranty transfers to the car’s new owner.
- Will the paint match the original paint? It can be challenging to perfectly match a factory paint job with so many shades available. However, auto body shops have advanced equipment to help ensure the automotive paint doesn’t appear different than your original paint. If the painted finish isn’t a perfect match, the shop will blend the paint into the adjoining panel to hide the subtle color difference, giving it an excellent finish.
- How often will you provide updates while my car is in the shop? It’s good to know if you’ll have email updates, text updates, or someplace online to check for regular updates. These updates help you keep up with each stage of the repair process and help the shop stay accountable for estimated completion timelines.
- What happens if more work is required to fix the car than what is in the estimate? Finding hidden damage when repairing a vehicle is almost inevitable when removing body panels and exposing the subsurface. If the body shop works with your insurance provider, they’ll submit a supplement to approve the additional work before fixing it. However, if you’re paying cash, they should get approval directly from you before continuing. Likewise, they should not proceed without your authorization if paying out of pocket for the work.
- Where do they leave the car while it’s at their body shop? Ask if your car is parked in a secure area with monitoring to prevent theft. Leaving your vehicle at a shop with an unprotected storage lot can lead to additional costs related to theft. However, it’s best to remove all your personal belongings before dropping the car off.
- Will you provide an itemized breakdown of all the work performed? Professional body shops will track all parts, labor, and work performed and should provide an itemized statement to show the work.
- When do you require payment? Body shops typically require payment after finishing the work and giving you time to inspect the car. Be sure to ask about their payment policy. In some cases, some shops won’t take checks unless there’s a special arrangement made ahead of time.
- Do you charge extra fees for pickup and dropoff? Many shops will pick up and deliver vehicles free of charge, depending on where you live. Others charge a flat fee for this service.
Post-Service Questions
- Why does the paint look like an orange peel? If the paint finish in the repaired section of the car has an orange peel appearance, the shop might have missed the wet sanding step. After the paint has cured under heat in the paint booth, the body tech will wet sand the finish with different grits of sandpaper to remove minor blemishes. After wet sanding, the tech will buff the paint to smooth out the finish. Missing this step in the collision repair process sometimes creates an orange peel appearance.
- How long do I need to wait before waxing the car? The amount of time to wait depends on the type of paint and curing process the body shop uses. However, in most cases, the shop will apply a sealant and polish the newly painted finish so you won’t need to wax the car for a few months. In addition, professional body shops typically recommend waiting 90 days to have the surface of your car hand waxed or polished with an orbital buffer. Having the surface of your car polished sooner can interrupt the curing time for the new paint and even cause scratches.
- Is it okay to wash my car at a full-service car wash? Professional body shops recommend washing the vehicle by hand in the first week with a soft wash mitt and a chamois cloth for drying when it comes to fresh paint. After that, it’s safe to use touch-free wash locations.
Things to Check After a Collision Repair
Collision repair services can either leave your vehicle looking new or make it worse. So here are some simple checks to perform when picking up your car from the auto repair shop to set your mind at ease.
- Be sure the shop parks the car in the sun: Direct sunlight will help show any difference in color between the fixed body part with new paint and the original factory paint.
- Check the gaps between body panels: Depending on the work performed, it’s possible part they removed and re-installed parts to complete the job. During this process, some of the pieces might not line up completely. Check gaps on the opposite side of your car to determine if they match the fixed side.
- Check fender well spacing: This would only be required when fixing areas such as the fenders and quarter panels. Check the spacing from your tire to the metal on the unfixed side first, then compare it to the fixed side. The spacing should match on both sides.
- Check your headlights: The front headlights are another item that only needs checking if the repairs require them to be removed or replaced. Start by parking with the front of your car 20 feet away from a wall, then turn on the lights. The high and low beams should point in front of the vehicle and not veer to the left or right. You’ll also want to ensure they’re not too high or low on the wall.
General Questions People Asked
- How can I tell if my car needs PDR or conventional collision repair? The size of the dent isn’t the determining factor when it comes to conventional collision repair or paintless dent repair. The best way to decide which you need is by checking the paint and metal. If you have cracked paint or creased metal, PDR won’t work without damaging the painted surface further. If you’re still unsure, we recommend taking your car to a local body shop.
- Do I need conventional collision repair for hail damage? The type of repair depends on the severity of the damage. You might consider traditional repair if the hail dents are large or have sharp center points. Larger hail dents can stretch the metal resulting in additional paint damage when a PDR tech attempts to remove the dent. We recommend taking your car to a professional to help determine which process will work best. Check out our article on hail damage repair costs to learn more.
- Will insurance estimates be the same as cash estimates? Cash estimates are usually higher than insurance estimates. With insurance estimates, it’s easy for the shop to go back and get a supplement to pay for additional damage found during the repair process. However, with a cash estimate, the shop will usually include possible hidden damages upfront to prevent waiting on authorization from you to proceed.
- Why is the repair estimate different from one collision center to another? If the price difference is substantial between collision centers, it’s typically related to an inexperienced estimator leaving something off the estimate. We recommend comparing estimates page by page to find the differences. Remember, the amount isn’t as important as picking a quality shop.
- How much will my car depreciate after a wreck? A car wreck typically causes your vehicle to decline by 25% regardless of how well the shop fixed the damage.
Key Takeaways
- Pre-service questions can help you uncover the qualifications of a collision center before you decide to leave your vehicle with them.
- Body shops prefer OEM parts, which cost more, and some insurance plans may only cover aftermarket parts.
- Reputable shops should have a warranty or guarantee on the work performed.
- Color matching isn’t perfect. For this reason, body shops will blend the paint into the adjoining panels for a smooth finish.
- Estimates should include all necessary work, but the collision center may need a supplement if they find hidden damage.
- The body shop should provide an itemized statement of all completed work at the time of payment.
- You should only make the final payment after being satisfied with the completed job.
- Checking the finished paint in the sunlight will help show differences in color and blemishes that need additional work.
- You can wash the car immediately, but you should wait at least 90 days to apply a hand wax.
What’s Next?
If you found this article helpful in searching for a professional collision repair center, consider sharing it so that other car owners can see it. Need to speak with a body shop about a wreck or an auto glass shop about glass repair? Use the “Find Local Shops Now” button at the top of this page to locate your nearest provider.
