Estimate Tips

"A Good Auto Body Shop Experience".

So unfortunately you have had a fender bender, or maybe you have just decided to get that new paint job on your baby. Before you go for an Estimate, you should be prepared, wash your car, take a couple of pictures (for the record) and have a close look at the damaged area, and the rest of the car. Some people are never really aware of the present condition of their vehicle. Are there some new door dents in it? Is it starting to rust a little along the bottom? Is the glass cracked? Any parts missing or broken? Well, now you are updated on the condition of your entire car as you head for the Auto Body Shop. (doing these things will make your whole Auto Body Shop experience much more pleasant).

Sometimes there can be some communication problems when dealing with the Auto Body Shop, or any other Service industry business. Every vehicle and situation is different so lets just cover the basics. When getting that estimate you should ask lots of questions to make sure you and the estimator understand each other correctly. Most of today's estimates are computer generated so we can expect them to be quite accurate. All the items are listed with part numbers and prices and the repair and refinish details are clear. Most people are told to get three estimates, and usually they are all different, Why? Well what I think is important here is that you understand that each shops repair procedure will be vastly different. For example:

-Items are missed altogether.

-Different labor or material rates.

-Repair versus Replace. One sheet may say to repair a panel the other to replace the panel.

-New versus Used parts.

-Base Clear paint or Single Stage paint.

You will have to compare the sheets very carefully. Maybe one shop is planning to blend the repair both ways and is charging a little more or a little less. The Best thing to do is to get the estimator to explain in detail to you exactly what he plans to do and ask lots of questions.

Some more Questions you should ask:

What is your warranty, or guarantee on the body repair and paint?
These can vary greatly from shop to shop, some may only have 1 year warranties others may be life-time! Be sure to read and understand the warranty or guarantee carefully. For example rock chips are usually considered normal wear and tear, peeling, fading, cracking should be covered. Some shops will cover rust others not, this should be written on the estimate.

What is the cost for refinishing the entire car?
If you are having a estimate done on collision damage, it would be a good time to ask for a price on refinishing the entire car. If the repair is going to be covered by an insurance company, they pay for the paint work on the damaged area, and depending on what that is you may be able to paint the whole car for less than you think.

Did they include a wheel alignment and are they going to check if the frame or unibody structure is out of alignment or damaged in any way?
Most of today's new cars should have a Four wheel alignment done after a heavy collision repair. All vehicles faced with a serious accident are sent for professional alignment.