When you need to have work done on your car, the first task is to find a proper body shop. Picking the right body shop often comes down to finding the right price. Often times if you go to multiple body shops you will get different estimates that can range in price up to thousands of dollars. So what is the difference between these body shops and how do you know which one to choose?
There are some good tips for how to pick the right body shop to do work on your car - especially when you have to pay instead of insurance.
1. Listen to Word-of-Mouth
It's easy for a business to advertise and say whatever they want, but you will have better luck finding a business that you will feel comfortable using when they come highly recommended from your family and friends. If the body shop has a multitude of satisfied customers, they will usually show their appreciation for a job well done by spreading the word about the quality of service they received.
It's not always best to assume that just because a body shop is big or a national chain that it will be the best fit for you and your needs. Often times in your research you will find that the highest recommended body shops are smaller, locally owned or family owned shops where the owners are also invested in the work being done.
2. Consider the Shop's Overhead Expenses
The cost to you for work done on your car in a body shop is part the cost of the parts being replaced and a majority is the labor hours that it takes to replace those parts. Body shops charge customers based on the amount of time it takes them to work on your repairs - these labor hours can vary from $30-$90 per hour. It is good to ask up front what the cost of labor is in order to avoid being surprised by this item on your final bill.
When considering which body shop to use, keep in mind that a large body shop that has lots of employees is a body shop with lots of employees to pay, so their cost of labor will probably be higher than a smaller shop. If there are employees who are working as foremen or working in the front as office type assistants, their pay will also come out of the labor that you are charged. Remember, the higher the labor charge that a body shop expenses you, the more your bill with be in the end.
The majority of body shops carry a reference guide and manual that has good and fair estimates for how long it takes to get any number of different repairs done, this way shops can give you a fair and honest estimate of the total cost, including labor hours, before they even start services.
3. Seek out Multiple Estimates
It's always a good idea to take your car to many different body shops and get a variety of different estimates. Not only will labor charges vary, but the price of parts may vary as well. By getting multiple estimates you can avoid overcharges or overzealous salespeople who may be trying to take advantage of you. Different estimates will also give you a reasonable range for the price of your repairs - if one is way more expensive or if one is unreasonably cheap, it's probably a good indication that it is a bad estimate.
Don't forget that it is your responsibility to keep yourself from being taken advantage of. Don't let yourself be talked into extra parts or labors. On the other side, don't always assume that the cheapest quote will be the best deal. As the saying goes, you get what you pay for, and having cheap work done on your car is never a good idea.
4. Ask the Right Questions
When you are getting ready to take your car into a body shop, first do your research and come up with a list of questions that you can ask the staff of the body shop about your car and about the repairs that are being done. When you know the particulars of the work that needs to be done, it will help ensure that you get a fair deal and that the work is done right. A good question to ask, besides about the specifics of your repairs, is about warranties. Most shops should offer a one-year warranty on parts that you have repaired or newly installed. Make sure you ask how long the warranty runs and what specifically it covers.
Next, ask questions about the body shop's business practices and insurance. It is a good idea to ask to see their business license and to inquire about their insurance coverage. Should there be any damage to your car while it is in the shop, you want to make sure that it is covered by the shop, not an additional fee you will have to deal with.
You will also want to know about the materials the shop intends to use. Are new, used or aftermarket body parts going to be used? New parts are obviously the best and used parts are fine, though they don't offer the savings people imagine. Depending on the damage to your vehicle, aftermarket parts can save a lot of money and can be just as good as the ones that come from the original manufacturer. If paint work is involved, ask how many coats of paint and clear coat the shop intends to use.
5. Consider your gut feelings
It is most important that you feel comfortable with the shop, with the people performing your repairs and with the work that you are agreeing to let them do on your car. A good way to find out what type of business a particular shop is is to look around when you visit it; is it clean? Are the people friendly? Is it busy? Do customers seem satisfied or are they arguing with employees? You know what you are comfortable with and you know best when you have a good or bad feeling about a place - make sure it's a good one when choosing the right body shop for you.
There are some good tips for how to pick the right body shop to do work on your car - especially when you have to pay instead of insurance.
1. Listen to Word-of-Mouth
It's easy for a business to advertise and say whatever they want, but you will have better luck finding a business that you will feel comfortable using when they come highly recommended from your family and friends. If the body shop has a multitude of satisfied customers, they will usually show their appreciation for a job well done by spreading the word about the quality of service they received.
It's not always best to assume that just because a body shop is big or a national chain that it will be the best fit for you and your needs. Often times in your research you will find that the highest recommended body shops are smaller, locally owned or family owned shops where the owners are also invested in the work being done.
2. Consider the Shop's Overhead Expenses
The cost to you for work done on your car in a body shop is part the cost of the parts being replaced and a majority is the labor hours that it takes to replace those parts. Body shops charge customers based on the amount of time it takes them to work on your repairs - these labor hours can vary from $30-$90 per hour. It is good to ask up front what the cost of labor is in order to avoid being surprised by this item on your final bill.
When considering which body shop to use, keep in mind that a large body shop that has lots of employees is a body shop with lots of employees to pay, so their cost of labor will probably be higher than a smaller shop. If there are employees who are working as foremen or working in the front as office type assistants, their pay will also come out of the labor that you are charged. Remember, the higher the labor charge that a body shop expenses you, the more your bill with be in the end.
The majority of body shops carry a reference guide and manual that has good and fair estimates for how long it takes to get any number of different repairs done, this way shops can give you a fair and honest estimate of the total cost, including labor hours, before they even start services.
3. Seek out Multiple Estimates
It's always a good idea to take your car to many different body shops and get a variety of different estimates. Not only will labor charges vary, but the price of parts may vary as well. By getting multiple estimates you can avoid overcharges or overzealous salespeople who may be trying to take advantage of you. Different estimates will also give you a reasonable range for the price of your repairs - if one is way more expensive or if one is unreasonably cheap, it's probably a good indication that it is a bad estimate.
Don't forget that it is your responsibility to keep yourself from being taken advantage of. Don't let yourself be talked into extra parts or labors. On the other side, don't always assume that the cheapest quote will be the best deal. As the saying goes, you get what you pay for, and having cheap work done on your car is never a good idea.
4. Ask the Right Questions
When you are getting ready to take your car into a body shop, first do your research and come up with a list of questions that you can ask the staff of the body shop about your car and about the repairs that are being done. When you know the particulars of the work that needs to be done, it will help ensure that you get a fair deal and that the work is done right. A good question to ask, besides about the specifics of your repairs, is about warranties. Most shops should offer a one-year warranty on parts that you have repaired or newly installed. Make sure you ask how long the warranty runs and what specifically it covers.
Next, ask questions about the body shop's business practices and insurance. It is a good idea to ask to see their business license and to inquire about their insurance coverage. Should there be any damage to your car while it is in the shop, you want to make sure that it is covered by the shop, not an additional fee you will have to deal with.
You will also want to know about the materials the shop intends to use. Are new, used or aftermarket body parts going to be used? New parts are obviously the best and used parts are fine, though they don't offer the savings people imagine. Depending on the damage to your vehicle, aftermarket parts can save a lot of money and can be just as good as the ones that come from the original manufacturer. If paint work is involved, ask how many coats of paint and clear coat the shop intends to use.
5. Consider your gut feelings
It is most important that you feel comfortable with the shop, with the people performing your repairs and with the work that you are agreeing to let them do on your car. A good way to find out what type of business a particular shop is is to look around when you visit it; is it clean? Are the people friendly? Is it busy? Do customers seem satisfied or are they arguing with employees? You know what you are comfortable with and you know best when you have a good or bad feeling about a place - make sure it's a good one when choosing the right body shop for you.
About the Author:
Finding the right body shop can have an impact on your Texas auto insurance rate as well. The lower your claim, the less likely it is that your Texas car insurance rate will increase and you will have to pay an increased premium. Although shopping around can be a burden it can be well worth it ultimately.
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