Roughly 6 million people a year are involved in reported car accidents in the United States alone. If you’re among that overwhelming amount of people, you probably have a lot on your mind right now.
You’re thinking about your health. You’re thinking about the well-being of other passengers you may have been traveling with. You are also wondering how you’re going to get your car back into driving shape again.
The process of finding an auto body shop to repair your car and interacting with them effectively is a strenuous one. That is especially true if you don’t have much experience with getting repairs.
To help, our team has compiled a list of 5 things to expect below.
1. Talk to Your Insurance Provider
Before looking for a body shop, you’ll want to understand how your insurance company is going to support you.
How much of your repair costs with they cover? What’s your co-pay? Do they limit you to certain shops?
Understanding any caveats in your coverage from the get-go can save you from making costly mistakes after being hurt in a car accident.
2. Build a Good List of Shop Leads
After you understand the do’s and don’ts laid out by your insurance, it’s time to shop around for a covered mechanic.
If you already know somebody or have a friend that knows someone, great. If not, we recommend taking to review boards like Yelp to find qualified, well-reviewed mechanics in your area you can meet with.
3. Come Up with Questions
Not all auto body shops are created equal. Because of that, you will want to make sure you have a deep understanding of how the shop you’re considering works and what they’re going to charge you.
To make sure you’re not surprised later, we recommend pre-compiling a list of important questions and reading them off to each mechanic you meet with.
Being prepared beforehand will reduce the chance of you forgetting to ask a question and being left out to dry when something violates your expectations.
4. It Could Take 3 or More Visits
Patience is a virtue during the post-accident car repair process. Again, many mechanics have many different approaches to their service and prices. For that reason, it could take a few body shop meetings before finding your match.
Be patient and always take your time to find a reputable mechanic that your trust.
5. Repairs Will Take Time
Good body repair takes time so get prepared to wait a while depending on the extent of your car’s damage when you take it in to get fixed.
If you rush your mechanic you’ll either end up getting cut-rate work or getting into an altercation with the team managing your repair.
To avoid problems and make sure your car is 100% when you get it back, be prepared to be patient during your car’s repair process.
Going to an Auto Body Shop After an Accident
When you’ve been involved in a car accident and need to find an auto body shop to make repairs, it’s important that you know what to expect so you’re not caught off guard.
We recommend getting prepared by resigning yourself to the points we’ve outlined above. Doing so will help you ensure that your insurance covers your repairs, you find the right mechanic and that the work you get is of excellent quality!
Are you looking for auto repair manuals, resources and more? If so, our team at YouFixCars.com has you covered.
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