After an accident, your car may be in a twisted mess, and your primary goal should be to have it repaired as quickly as possible. All you want is to have your normal life back and to see your car in the driveway again. However, quality work at a skilled auto repair shop is a crucial factor in making this dream a reality. Consider selecting a shop that offers several body repairs at an affordable rate. Nevertheless, you need to inspect your car to ensure that your repair shop has done an excellent job and there is no further problem. Here is how to know whether you are getting proper body repairs done on your car.
1. Understand Everything Upfront. The process of fixing your vehicle begins when you drop it off at your repair shop. Make sure you are clear about what you want the shop to fix and ask how they will do the repair. Have everything in writing and ask whether or not they have a warranty for their work. When picking up your vehicle, go through the paperwork to confirm that your repair shop did all the repairs that you requested. A reputable shop will also walk you through all the problems they fixed.
2. Cleanliness. Before giving your car a closer look, check if the work looks complete and clean. The outer appearance matters a lot. A good shop should wash and vacuum your vehicle. You should not see any dust or old parts in the trunk. A clean car is an indication that the professionals did quality work. Pick up your vehicle during the day so you can check it under natural lighting. Make sure that there are no leftover signs of the repairs that are visible.
3. Paint Job. Matching paint finishes can be challenging, and it is difficult to match new paint to the original. Unfortunately, it is virtually impossible to achieve an exact match of the manufactures body paint. However, experienced body repair shops can make their repairs undetectable. Check the paint job of your vehicle during the day to see if there is any significant variance.
4. Electrical Components. Auto body repairs touch several areas when working on your car. The professionals will have to work around or with electrical components such as headlights, horn, wipers and other features. Before you pick your vehicle, text these components to see if they are working correctly. Your safety comes first, and these features are there to ensure you are safe.
5. Take a Test Drive. Finally, take your vehicle for a test drive. Determine whether it rides as it did before the damage. Watch out for any rattling noises, knicks, or chugging. Most drivers underestimate the impact of bodyworks on the engine and drivability of the car. Although you do not expect perfection, the auto body repair shop should meet your expectations.
If your develops repair problems some months later, look for your paperwork and receipt and take your car back to the auto body repair shop. If the problem is under warranty, they should fix it at no extra cost.