Improving Your Vehicle

Having to take your vehicle to an auto body repair shop is never any fun. Chances are whatever happened to your vehicle was unexpected and now you are mentally adding up the damages and repair costs inside your head. While collision repair is obviously not cheap, it doesn't have to absolutely destroy your budget either. If you're smart and know what questions to ask, it's possible to find collision repair services in your area that will help you get back on the road quickly and at a reasonable cost. Here are three tips to help ensure that you can keep the total cost of your repair job down.

Ask People Who Know

When it comes to collision repair shops, word of mouth is often everything. Start at your local Mom and Pop auto shop and let them know you have major auto body work that needs done. Smaller auto repair shops don't usually handle major collision repair jobs but they are likely networked with the local auto body shops and will be able to refer you to someone with a good track record. If you've never had any major collision work done before and don't know where to begin, this is a good way to get pointed in the right direction. 

Get Multiple Estimates

While you might get referred to one specific auto body repair shop by the local guy who usually changes your oil, you should still be prepared to head out into the wild and get more than one estimate. Be sure to let each collision shop know that you are getting multiple estimates and that you won't be making a decision until you have all of them. By letting the collision repair service know there will be competition right from the start, you might be able to get yourself a better deal.

Always Get It In Writing

When you receive an estimate from an auto body shop, make sure that everything that will be done is put in writing, down to the smallest detail. This will ensure that what you are quoted is what you end up paying and it can also help if you will be sending the final bill into your insurance company for reimbursement. Make sure you get any questions about the estimate fully answered and explained in writing before work begins.

If you want to ensure that you find a good auto body shop for your upcoming collision repair and save a few bucks during the process, start by asking around at local auto dealers or small repair shops. Once you have a list of reputable collision repair specialists in your area, head out and get multiple estimates if possible, always making sure that you get each estimate in writing. For more information, contact an auto body repair shop, such as Central Body Company, Inc.