Auto body repair shops are listed in the yellow pages by the hundreds! They all claim to give A+ work for a fair price. Some says they are the cheapest price in town. Trying to find who is really the on for you can be daunting, but with a little patience, and asking alot of questions, you can get the quality and price that is right for you.

The first thing I noticed when I was researching was that not all auto body repair shops are equal. Some specialize in classic restorations, some do “budget” quickie jobs, others focus on modern vehicles after accidents, yet they all claim they can do it all.

Your first step is to ask, ask and ask some more. I started with my regular mechanic, asking who they recommend. I asked people everywhere I went who gave my fender the “that poor beautiful truck” look. I asked my neighbors, the check-out lady at the grocery store, and parents at the soccer field. I even called people who I knew had work done over the years.

The questions I put to them included:

-how much did it cost?

-was it for a replacement or fixing the old part?

-did they finish on time?

-was your car returned in a clean condition?

-do they keep the car in a secure area after hours? During foul weather?

-after time, where you still satisfied with the result?

-if a problem came up, did they stand by their work and correct the problem without a fuss?

After all the quizzing, I actually only had two shops people referred to alot. Out of the hundreds, these two stood out as winners. I visited the shops, and even just standing in the lobby, I looked at the pictures on the walls of “projects” they had done. Most shops display their best work as badges of honor. Knowing that only the cream of the crop get displayed, I asked if I could see some repairs in progress, and they let me wander around the shop freely. That was a big clue that they are sure their work is flawless! Plus, while standing there, I openly listened while they spoke on the telephone to other clients, vendors, insurance carriers. How they were treating them gave me a clue on how I would be treated.

Once again, the questions! I asked all the previous to them, but expanded on the repairs they suggested for my truck. Why is repair better than replacing? What is the difference in cost, and expected quality? Is payment due by myself or will they file with insurance carrier? What happens if they are not able to do the repairs as they expect due to lack of parts available? Or if repairs are made but don’t look so well? If I have my car back for a month, six months, etc and the paint starts to bubble, or peel, what then? Do they offer me a ride home after drop off, at pick up?

I asked both shops the same questions, and really the final decider for me was the quality, and honesty I perceived in their answers. Being a girl trying to find the answers and respect in what is traditionally a “boys world”, I used every resource I could find to educate myself on the process. Since my repairs were done, I have been very pleased with my truck. My husband would have never known I crashed his fender on his truck if I hadn’t already told him!