Nobody likes to confront things that they don’t know much about, and for most people, auto body repair falls into this category. This can lead to mistrust and a defensive attitude when entering into an auto body shop.

Follow these tips if you want to get the best customer service from an auto body shop:

1. Don’t assume you’re going to be taken for a ride. Unfortunately, going in with a bad attitude can lead to even worse customer service. Most auto body shops and repair technicians are honest and resent negative treatment from prospective customers. They’ll treat you the way that you are treating them.

2. Explain the problem as best as you can. In some cases, your auto body problem is obvious ? You’ve been rear-ended and your bumper has fallen off. But there are other times that the damage is less noticeable. Make sure that you let the body mechanic know all of the problems you’re having. If you don’t let them know, you can’t be disappointed when they don’t fix that part.

3. Be polite. Don’t talk down to your repair technician. He or she is a highly skilled professional. Always treat people with the same respect that you want to be treated with.

4. Ask questions when you don’t understand something. A simple miscommunication could lead you to feel as though you’ve received bad service. Make sure that you fully understand what they are going to do to your vehicle and don’t be afraid to question something that doesn’t’ feel right.

5. Understand what to expect. Your expectations play a key role in your satisfaction. For example, if you expected your car would be finished in 24 hours, and it took a week to finish, you’d be quite upset. Before you leave your car with an auto body repair shop, make sure that you understand the details. Know what they will fix and when they will fix it by.

6. Praise a job well done. Everyone likes to hear that they’ve done well. If you are please with the work that the auto body shop does on your car, let them know. Speak to a manager to let them know that the mechanic that worked on your car did well.

7. Tell your friends. If you enjoyed your experience with the auto body shop, let your friends know about it, especially when they need to find a good shop. Make sure that your friends tell the auto body shop that they heard about them from you. When you do this, the shop will remember you and treat you well when you come in the next time. You may even get a coupon or other discount.

Getting great customer service is a two way street. It’s important for both the customer and auto body shop to communicate well and treat each other with respect.

In the US, labor costs range from about $40-90 per hour, depending on your area of the country. Even within your town, you may find a range of labor costs. Finding an auto repair shop with lower labor costs is one way to save on the price of your repair, but it shouldn’t be the only think that you consider.

An experienced mechanic, with much training is able to command a higher price for their higher level of knowledge. A less experienced (and thus cheaper) mechanic may not properly fix your car. It may seem that the cost of parts should be pretty standard across the board, but this isn’t always the case. Some shops may mark up the cost of the part.  For example, you may find that a necessary fluid, such as oil, may cost twice as much from the auto mechanic as it would if you bought it yourself.

It’s important to take both things into consideration when you decide which auto repair shop to go to. Shop around for the best deal, but also keep in mind the quality of service that you are receiving for your money.  The best deal may not be in the cheapest quote.  Sometimes the best deal may cost you a few hundred dollars more but the piece of mind may be worth it.

With squealing brakes and the crunching sound of metal, your first reaction when you get into an accident is most likely to panic. After all, no one expects it to happen to them and when it does, it’s easy to get carried away.

However, panicking is not going to help anyone and you may actually cause damage. The best thing for you to do is to remain calm and know how to take control of the situation.

The most important thing to do first is to check to make sure that nobody is seriously injured. If the people in your car are fine, check with the other car. If possible, try to see that no one else gets hurt by placing flares or directing traffic around the accident until the police can arrive.

Then, you must call the police. This is important, even in a small accident where nobody is hurt. Filing a police report helps to protect your rights, whether you were at fault or not. If you do not file a police report at the scene of the crime, you may be surprised to learn that the other driver filed one later. This may mean that you didn’t have a chance to tell your side of the story.

While you’re waiting for the police to arrive, you may want to assess the damage to both cars. The best thing to do is to take pictures of the accident, showing damage to the cars and the positions of the vehicles. This will help the insurance company to determine who is at fault. Many people have a camera attached to their cell phone. This is ideal for taking pictures of a car accident. If not, you may want to carry a disposable camera just in case of an accident.

Exchange information with the other driver. Make sure you get a name, address, phone number, and insurance information. You should also take down the license plate number and other car information, such as the make, model and VIN. If the driver is not the insurance policyholder, make sure that you understand their relation.

When the police arrive, they will start to file a report. Make sure that you give them all the details truthfully, but don’t admit fault, especially if you were not at fault or if both parties are partially to blame.

Call your insurance company as soon as possible. If you can, it’s a great idea to do this at the scene of the accident, so that the police can talk to the company if you need them to. The police are often better at explaining the details in the way that the insurance company wants to hear.

If you follow all of these steps, you can be assured that the technicalities of your accident will go smoothly and you will not have as many problems getting your insurance company to pay the money that you deserve.

If you’ve only gotten into a small fender bender and not a serious car accident, you may be wondering whether it’s really necessary to call the insurance company or not. You may be worried that they will increase your premiums, even if it wasn’t your fault.

Whether you’re worried or not, you should always make a point of filing a report with the insurance company.

Here are some good reasons why:

1. You cannot be sure what the other person is going to do. Another person might act friendly at the scene of the accident and suggest that you settle things privately in order to keep the insurance premiums down. The person may seem trustworthy, but they may end up calling the insurance company anyway. This will make it look like your fault and will not work in your favor. The best thing to do is inform both parties’ insurance companies of the facts of the accident and let the insurance company determine fault.

2. You want to get the money you deserve. At the scene of the accident, you may not know how much repairs will cost. If you make an agreement with the other person, you cannot be sure that they will follow through on their promise. They may balk at the high cost or be unable to afford it. The insurance company will pay you the money that you are owed.

3. Damages are not always obvious. Things may look fine to the naked eye, but there could be internal damage to your car. Only a mechanic will be able to tell you this and give you an accurate
estimate of how much it will cost to fix your car.

4. You may be eligible for diminished value compensation. If your car has been in an accident, it will be worth less when you try to sell it, even if it looks like it’s brand new. Insurance companies
should pay you the cost of this diminished value, which could be thousands of dollars.

While most people will agree that the insurance companies should be called when there’s been an accident, you’ll occasionally meet someone that resists this idea. This is usually because they are at fault and are worried about what will happen to them. Don’t let this person bully you into not calling the insurance company, even if the person is offering you a cash settlement. It’s always in your best interest to follow the rules and do things the right way.

Shannon Tani
Researcher/Writer

Before you call a lawyer, however, you may want to think if it’s really necessary.

If you’ve only been in a small accident, you can probably settle it without a lawyer. Simply file a police report and contact your insurance company and they will take care of everything that you need. This applies to most accidents where no one has been hurt.

Sometimes, though, contacting a lawyer really is the best move:

1. If it’s hard to determine who was at fault. In many accidents, it’s important to settle on who’s fault the accident was. This helps the insurance companies decide which company is responsible
for paying for the accident and whether or not your insurance premiums will increase. In some cases, it’s difficult to determine who caused the accident. An attorney may be able to settle the dispute.

2. If there are any injuries. Whether you are the person that was injured in the accident, or whether it was someone in the other vehicle, it’s usually wise to call a lawyer when there’s been an injury. There can be many costs associated with a car accident injury, including hospital fees, rehabilitation and the money from lost wages. A lawyer will help you to get all of the money that you deserve.

3. If the insurance company denies your claim. Insurance companies want to hold on to their money. They may use loopholes to deny your claim or try to offer you an amount that is lower than you deserve, hoping that you will settle for that rather than wait for more money.

It’s important that you get all of the money that you are owed and a lawyer can help you do that.

4. If you are being sued. Sometimes, a person that was friendly at the scene of the accident turns out to be not so friendly after the fact. People may lie or twist facts in order to get money. If the other person involved in the accident is suing you, it’s important that you get a lawyer that can protect your interests.

If you are worried about whether you need a lawyer after your car accident, it may be best to
simply contact a lawyer just to be on the safe side. You may not need their services, but it will help you to feel more secure.

Nobody wants to get in a car accident, but accidents happen every day and it can be a very trying experience for everyone involved.

Auto repair shops can fix a number of the mechanical or auto body problems you have with your car after an accident. Unfortunately, some problems require a bit more care in fixing.

1.    You may have physical pain. When people get into a car accident, their bodies tend to automatically tense up, which makes muscle strains more likely to happen. Even if there was no blood at the scene of the accident, there could still be internal damages that you need to take care of. Make sure to take a trip to your
doctor and to save any receipts so that the insurance company can reimburse you.

2.    Psychological effects. If your accident was severe, you may feel too stressed out to get back behind the wheel, or even ride in a car. Even if you were just in a small fender-bender, you may feel stressed and anxious when driving. It’s hard to put a monetary value on these things and you may have a hard time getting the insurance company to compensate you for psychological damages.

3.    Repairs can cost money. Insurance companies typically cover the cost of repairs, but it depends on the type of insurance that you have. If you are at fault and you only have the minimum amount of coverage, your insurance company may not cover any damages to your car. You may also have a high deductible on your plan that you are responsible to pay. Finally, some insurance companies have clauses in their policies that allow them to use generic parts as replacements. If you want the mechanic to use the manufacturer’s parts, you may have to pay extra.

4.    Your insurance may go up. Especially if the insurance company finds that you were the one at fault, you may see an increase in your insurance premiums. Additionally, this accident record will stay with you so that you will always pay higher rates.

5.    Your car will have a diminished value. Even though you may take your car to a repair shop and have them fix it up so that it looks like new, your car will still be worth less money when you try to sell it than the same car that hasn’t been in an accident.  This is because consumers see the accident as a bad thing and given a choice, they prefer the car that has not been in an accident. Often, insurance companies do not want to give you compensation for this diminished value and you may need to consult with a lawyer or
company to help you get the money that they owe you.

You can often prevent a car accident by using defensive driving techniques, but if you do get in an accident, it’s important to know what things you might expect and different ways for addressing these issues.

You’ll have to talk to the insurance company. Make a list of questions that you have before you call. If you don’t understand something, call back. Keep asking questions until you fully understand all of your rights and responsibilities.

In most cases, the insurance company will only pay for repairs that are done by certain mechanics. Your mechanic may not be one of the ones that you can see. However, if you trust your mechanic, you may want to take your car to that shop first to get a list of the things that you’ll need fixed. That way, you can be sure  that the insurance company-approved mechanic is not trying to cut corners.

Make sure that you understand the time limit to settle a claim from the insurance company. Most insurance companies require you to have repairs done within a certain time frame and they will not cover the costs if you exceed that period.

Don’t settle for something that you don’t want. A car mechanic may try to push you to use generic replacements, but if you want to use the brand associated with your car, insist that they use the manufacturer’s brand.

Keep all of your receipts so that you can prove how much you paid for repairs. These are an important part of your proof.

You may want to see how much the accident has diminished the value of your car even after repairs. Any car that has been in an accident is automatically worth less money than a car that is the same year, make, and model as a car that hasn’t been in an accident. You can try to get the insurance company to compensate you for the loss of value to your car.  If you were NOT at fault, you may be able to negotiate a claim for the diminished value.  Check with Advocate Auto Claims to see if you have a valid claim.

Finally, don’t take a check from the insurance company unless you believe it’s fair. Insurance companies are running a business and they will do their best to pay you as little as possible. They may even offer you a check that is not for the full amount, hoping that you will take it and settle. This is not in your best interest. Make sure that you get all of the money you deserve.

1. Approved shops are in cahoots with the insurers. Auto insurers like State Farm and others contract with providers to repair vehicles for a pre-negotiated rate (think of it as managed care for sick cars). This encourages auto body shops to cut corners. Some practices, such as requiring low hourly rates and making the shop pick up the rental car tab if a repair takes too long, could tempt shops to cut corners quite a bit — by, say, neglecting to align the wheels or using plastic filler in a dent rather than replacing the sheet metal.

1. Not all replacement parts are created equal. Original-equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts are designed to match precisely and may be safer. But insurers prefer that shops use generic or salvage replacement parts because they’re cheaper. If you cause an accident, you could be bound by wording in your policy to use aftermarket parts — or pay the difference for OEM parts. But if someone hits you, make sure to tell the shop to use OEM parts.
2. Repair costs, along with a lot of other physical goods, are on the rise. If the accident is your fault and you have the typical $500 deductible for a collision, chances are that it will be gone. A survey of repair shops in the Washington, D.C., area by Consumers’ Checkbook, a consumer-information group, shows that replacing a fender on a 1998 Buick LeSabre can cost as much as $982. A new front bumper on a 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class can go as high as $1,350.
3. Auto body shops often do the same thing that the airlines do- overbook. Mechanics routinely blame missed deadlines on delays in parts delivery. But the truth is that many of them take on more business than they can handle. Before you commit your business to a shop, check the local Better Business Bureau, check reviews and ratings from your friends and the internet, and don’t forget to check government consumer-affairs offices for complaints against it.
4. Your car needs a shop that has people that really understand its designers. Many European cars use aluminum and ultra-hard steel that require special equipment to repair. Plus, replacement parts for late-model European vehicles have to be fit with an especially high degree of precision. Shops should be certified by the manufacturer to do the work, meaning that they have specialized training and equipment — and charge higher rates. Insurers won’t necessarily recommend these shops, but they should be willing to pay the tab.
5. Don’t get snowed by going to the “favorite” shops of the insurance companies. Insurers sometimes dangle warranties on the parts (for as long as you own the vehicle) to entice you to go to shops in their network. But the body shop’s guarantee is the one that’s important. Nearly all shops will guarantee their work, and parts makers guarantee their parts, making the insurance warranty all but worthless.
6. Rental cars can be more expensive than you think. Renting a car for three weeks could cost $1,000 or more. Even if you have optional rental-car insurance (which costs $1 or $2 a month), your daily reimbursement may be limited to the cost of a compact car. If you need a minivan while your car is in the shop, make sure you have minivan-size coverage.
7. If the other party was at fault for the accident, contact Advocate Auto Claims to see if you are owed additional money that you could collect.

Although there is no formal Consumer Bill of Rights for auto body repair, we feel that the below should be. If your auto body shop doesn’t agree with it, you may want to consider going somewhere else.

1. Your choice is the one that is important in where you choose to get your auto repaired. You can choose any shop you want. Scout around, get recommendations and find a good one.
2. You’re entitled to have your vehicle fixed all the way up to the exact state it was in BEFORE the accident. Even still, it will have lost value. Don’t let the insurance company, repair shop or anyone else tell you differently. The drop in the value of your car is called Diminished Value. You can get this money back from the insurance company of the person that hit you. In some cases, this results in thousands of dollars back in your pocket! For more information, go to Advocate Auto Claims (link: http://www.advocateautoclaims.com). Recoverign this money will not raise your insurance as it is being paid by the insurance company of the person that hit you.
3. Although you’re only required by law to obtain one repair estimate, it’s often a good idea to get three or more if at all possible. You may be surprised at the results. You aren’t required by law to show the insurance company all of them. A low estimate may simply mean that they are leaving out necessary labor or parts, so look in detail and listen to what the mechanics say. If you have questions, ask the shop manager.
4. Choose a shop that has the latest and correct repair equipment; not all of them do. Look for certified shops and technicians, but not necessarily ones that are on insurance companies lists, because many of them cut corners for the insurance company.
5. Make sure your repair shop does not use used or rebuilt parts without your authorization. You are entitled to the correct and new parts for your vehicle.
6. Always get a written warranty that covers labor, materials, parts and paint.
7. It is against the law for any repair shop, painting, auto glass, or collision repair facility to bury or otherwise absorb a deductible of an insurance policy for any covered automobile.

If you want your car to take care of you, then you need to take care of your car. Having it repaired professionally will not only help retain it’s value but will save you money in the long run. As with anything mechanical, if you start hearing a “funny” noise, you have two choices: Turn the radio up so that you don’t hear it or get it fixed. It’s very unlikely that it will “work itself out.”

Never drive a car that could be unsafe because of damages or because it needs to be repaired. Generally, it’s more expensive to fix you at the doctors after an accident than it is to have the car repaired at a reliable auto shop. Additionally it leaves the insurance company potentially off the hook because of your perceived “negligence”.

Some insurance companies may want you to go to their claims center before having your car repaired. Unless this is stated as a requirement in your coverage, it may be better to leave your car at your collision repair shop and ask that the insurance company inspect the car there.

As of this writing, you are not required by law to obtain more than one estimate or appraisal. If your insurance claims that you must do this, ask for the law that they are following or consult with your attorney.

Insurance companies are regulated and your insurance company cannot require you to go to a particular shop. They may adamantly insist that you do, but it’s probably not a law. Again, laws change and this site does not provide legal advice. There are differing views about going to a body shop that is a “preferred vendor” (or other such term) of an insurance company. On one hand, you may actually get a better rate, on the other hand, you may not get everything that is actually owed to you. The reason for this is that these shops have guaranteed rates for different repairs, even down to the amount of labor allowed for each job, just like managed health care. The auto shops are encouraged to cut corners, since they know the amount of money they get for each job is fixed.

Get several quotes if at all possible. There can be quite a difference in repair estimates. You aren’t obligated to take the lowest one, or even show all the quotes to an insurance company. Also, some shops specialize in certain types of cars which generally means that they will end up doing a better job even if it is a bit more. It pays to use a specialist in these cases. Also, a lower estimate may not include all necessary work. If you’re not sure why one estimate is different from another you’ve received, ask the shop manager.

Only choose a shop that has certified technicians.

Ensure that the shop will be using manufacturer (OEM) replacement parts and not some after-market which can often be a lower quality. If you need to use (because the OEM part is not available) or want to use after-market parts, ask about getting a discount for those parts.

Ensure that the body shop offers a repair warranty. Make sure it covers labor, parts, paint, and auto glass, if applicable.

Let the collision repair shop you choose help you negotiate your claim with the insurance company, this often leads to a better deal.

If you were not at fault for the accident, let a professional service like Advocate Auto Claims help you reclaim the Diminished Value of your car. In many cases, this can amount to thousands of dollars.