Are you looking to sell your car or are just tired of the worn-out look of it? A good auto body repair shop will restore your car to its original look, raise its appraisal and help you sell it within a short time.
Madison, WI is home to tens of auto body shops, all claiming to offer the best services in town. The biggest mistake you can make is to trust blindly or fail to conduct due diligence when looking for body repair services.
To help you make the best decision for your car, here are factors that you should consider when looking for an auto body in Madison, WI.
Location
To significantly lower the cost of the repair, we advise you to choose auto diagnostic services and auto body repair shops that are closest to where you live. In case the repair job lasts for several days, it will save you from transportation costs.
Besides, it will make it easier for you to monitor the progress of the repair work and suggest additional improvements. Also, settling for an auto body shop that is near makes it easier to return the car in case of additional issues.
Besides choosing a conveniently located auto body shop, also consider the availability of several branches. Some auto body shops allow their clients to pop into any of their branches for standardized repair jobs.
User Reviews
User reviews provide great insights into the competency of auto body shops. You can learn a lot about the quality of service, customer service, after-sales service and professional level of any auto body based on customer reviews. Luckily, you can find whatever information you need from online car communities, respective auto body sites or even friends and family.
A reputable auto body shop will have overall good ratings and reviews from clients. Most importantly, seek advice from people who have used the services of the shop in question.
Quality of Materials Used
Consider the quality of materials used by the auto body shop. This can be difficult to ascertain especially if you aren’t conversant with repair products.
Start by asking the auto body dealer about the materials they use. If they are honest and confident about their products, they won’t withhold this information.
If the shop seems reluctant to share this information, put that down as a red flag. Later, you can search the internet for product information or consult someone knowledgeable in car repairs.
Certifications
You cannot afford to gamble on the quality of repair jobs expected from the auto body shop. One way to check if an auto body shop gives quality service is by looking at the certifications.
A certifying body such as the car manufacturer, ASE, I-CAR or Platinum issues certificates to body shops that certify certain requirements. The best shops will display certifications, but you can also enquire from the technicians as well as the shop in case none has been displayed.
Cost
A mistake many of us make is equating price to quality of service. While this could be true, it’s never always the case.
It’s not uncommon for top-rated auto body shops to offer competitive rates. Consider price differences when evaluating auto body shops.
Some auto body shops charge exorbitant prices because of their reputation, location of shop and size of the shop. In other cases, some shops target a specific clientele such as high-end cars which makes their overall pricing structure expensive even for normal cars.
In the same breadth, be wary of ridiculously low-priced body shops. The danger with such could lie in the quality of materials used.
Look out for the average cost within your area and make your choice keeping in mind the quality of materials used versus the pricing structure.
Warranty
Some auto body shops offer warranties while others do not. You stand to benefit by taking your car to a shop that offers a warranty. It could be a long-term warranty or a limited-term warranty. A warranty will save you additional costs should your car develop problems as a result of the repair job.
Specialized Technicians
No one car repair technician will be super skilled at all aspects of car body repairs. Some are better skilled at paint jobs while others are good at body panel repairs. Ask your target shop whether they have specialists for various works.
In some cases, you may even need to find technicians who are good with specific car models. You will especially need this kind of flexibility if you have a rare model.
Conclusion
We hope this article has been helpful in giving you an idea of what to look for when choosing a reliable auto body shop in Madison, WI. There are a lot of great options out there, but it’s important to do your research and make sure you’re getting the best possible service for your needs.
Take your time and ask around, and you’re sure to find the perfect shop for your car.
