Tips About How to Find the Right Body Shop for You
Chances are, if you’ve been in a collision or if your car was vandalized, dinged, dented or damaged by inclement weather, now you’re looking around for a body shop. You may have likely noticed that there is a ton of lots of advice online that recommends comparing estimates at a wide range of different collision repair shops. If your vehicle has the same damage, why are different body shops giving you different estimates and who should you trust?
At Service King West Ft Worth in Fort Worth, TX, we’re happy to provide you with useful tips about how to find a collision repairer that you can rely on for high-quality work and customer service—like us!
There are many reasons why an estimate can vary from shop to shop, and understanding exactly what they are is important. One thing to think about is the fact that the materials used during the repair can vary dramatically
Different shops utilize different tools, dissimilar materials including paints, plastics, screws, welds, etc. and different hardware and software within their computer systems. All of these can add up to highly varied estimates, so make sure that you’re not comparing apples and oranges.
Also, keep in mind that not all replacement parts are the same. There are a lot of different options when it comes to materials that are used for replacement parts, and some are considerably better than others, depending on your specific needs. The cost of these replacement parts will vary with options that include OEM (original equipment manufacturer) parts, non-OEM parts, re-built, used or recycled parts.
More experienced shops with highly loyal customers and established reputations can afford to charge more because they’re busy all the time, while newer, less experienced or less established body shops may be forced to take any business they can get at any price.
Also remember that estimates aren’t always the same. With the rapid evolution of today’s car technology, there isn’t a standard to use as a qualifier. Some body shops may perform a more thorough and in-depth repair that requires them to completely dismantle your car, while others may have high-end equipment and use sensors. Other shops may base estimates on a series of photographs, and others may rely on insurance company regulations more than other shops do. Some other body shops may tend to overestimate while others will tend to underestimate.
In the end, it’s always a smart idea to ask well-researched questions so that you can understand exactly how your estimate was written and how it could change during the repair process.
Service King West Ft Worth in Fort Worth, TX 76116
Sources: Fender Bender and AARP
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