California Car Lovers: Tips to Finding an Auto Body Shop to Repair Your Baby

No matter how much work you put into keeping your car clean and in mint condition, there is always the possibility of damage. Whether it be the result of wear and tear, a side swipe from another vehicle, or even dings on the hood from parking under a tree with falling branches, getting rid of the presence of dints, dings, and scratches takes a lot of hard work.

Without the necessary tools and experience, trying to fix things on your own could leave your car looking – well, less than attractive. That’s when it pays to hire the best auto body shop to complete the repairs for you.

 Before You Make the Call

For most California drivers, your vehicle is like your “baby”, and thus making sure that it receives proper treatment is of the utmost importance. Before you pick up the phone and make the call to a Sacramento auto body shop, or San Francisco or Los Angeles for that matter, it is imperative that you do your due diligence.

1. Ask For Referrals
2. Do a Background Check
3. Ask Questions
4. Get Several Estimates
5. Get it In Writing
6. Ask for Referrals

One of the easiest methods for finding a reputable auto body shop in the Sacramento area is to ask those you trust. Consult with your friends, family members, and co-workers to find who they used. Another great location to check for referrals is social media sites. Here you can locate more information about the company and its consumers by visiting their company profile.

2. Do a Background Check

To find out the real deal about a particular service provider, you’re going to need to do a quick background check. You can locate most of this information online by checking reputable sites such as the Better Business Bureau. There you can review existing consumer complaints about a particular auto body shop.

3. Ask Questions

Now that you’ve narrowed your search down to a few auto body shops you will need to ask a few questions to determine the technician’s level of experience. Some questions you might consider asking include:

• What licenses and certifications do you have?
• How many years of experience does your staff have?
• Do you use state of the art equipment to make repairs?
• Does your service contract include warranties on the services and parts?
• How long might the repair take to be completed?

4. Get Several Estimates

Locating a few auto body shops that service the Sacramento region is ideal when getting a price. Given the types of services provided, contact at least three service shops in the area to find out what the estimated cost would be for your type of vehicle. Be sure to also inquire about what fees are included in the estimate so that you have a better gauge on costs.

5. Get It in Writing

So you’ve gotten the opinion of people you trust, done your background check on the shop, asked important questions as it pertained to your car, and reviewed several estimates. Now all that’s left is to get the estimate in writing and schedule your appointment. Review the final estimate to ensure that everything you discussed has been included for your protection.

This five step process may not have been what you had in mind as it pertains to finding the right auto body shop for the job, but when you consider how precious your car is to you, these steps are necessary. Take your time in selecting a service provider that values their customers and has the same passion for cars as you do.