Some Tips on Choosing an Auto Repair Shop

It is inevitable. You are driving along, minding your own business and paying attention to the rules of the road when someone else slams into you, causing massive damage to your car. While it is not your fault, it is still your job to get estimates for the damage so you can present the insurance company with an accurate summary of what it will cost to get your car fixed. No matter how light the accident was if there has been body damage, the cost to repair your car will likely be through the roof.

Because cars today are nearly all one piece, instead of several sheets of metal like they were in the past, costs have risen considerably when it comes to getting body repairs. This is why you need to find a good Auto Repair Shop, which will offer you a fair price and estimate on fixing your car, so even if you have a deductible, you won't have to worry about insurance rates rising too much. Auto Body Repair shops are numerous, as more and more people are getting into the field of auto repair; however, not all shops are created equal and there are many things you should look out for when choosing your shop.

The first thing you should ensure is that you are hiring a licensed professional. Many people perform small time repairs out of their garages and while this can be great in saving you money, it's unlikely an insurance company is going to accept a hand written estimate on a sheet of notebook paper. Once you have ensured that you are speaking with a licensed professional, be sure to get a detailed estimate. A piece of paper that says it is going to cost $1,500 dollars to fix your car is not enough for most insurance companies. They want to know exactly why a service is going to cost $1,500 and where all of the money is going. If they feel the cost for any portion of the estimate is unreasonable, they could reject it. This is why it is so important to be sure you get an itemized estimate.

Aside from itemization, you should ask around to find out how long it will be in the auto repair shop. If your car is severely damaged to the point of being inoperable, you'll likely be given a rental which will have to be paid for. Who pays for the rental car is determined by your insurance policy, so make sure to check what you're getting into.