Top rated auto body shops near me

The driver on a bender. The distracted accidental tourist. The speed demon who can’t stop in time. No wonder auto body shops do such brisk business: The hits keep on coming.

While even the best body shops can’t undo the accident, ratings by the Delaware Valley Consumers’ Checkbook find that good shops can restore your car to its pre-accident appearance and performance.

But our ratings also find that some shops may compound your misery with lousy work. And that prices at some shops are more than twice as high as their nearby competitors. (Until Sept. 5, access Checkbook’s ratings of local auto body shops at Checkbook.org/Inquirer/Auto-Body).

Auto bodywork is difficult to do well. Because any blemish shows on the smooth skin of a car, even ordinary tasks such as patching rust spots or blending paint are challenges. Below the surface, precision is equally critical — an error of less than 1/16 inch in the adjustment of a modern car body frame is capable of affecting performance.

Bodywork doesn’t require exacting work standards alone. Mechanics also must possess expertise on the properties of metals and plastics; the mechanics of high-tech suspension and steering systems; modern welding methods; the art of paint tinting and blending; how to spot accident-related damage to mechanical, electrical, air-conditioning, and other systems; and much more.

Shop around

If you, not an insurance company, are paying for the work, shop around for a good price. Checkbook’s undercover shoppers got bids from area shops for the same bodywork and found some big differences in prices. For example, to replace the rear bumper cover, left-side bumper reflector, and left taillight assembly for a 2020 Nissan Sentra SV using new Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts, prices ranged from $800 to $1,950.

Don’t assume a low price means lousy work. Shops that quoted the lowest prices to Checkbook’s undercover shoppers scored better on its customer survey questions than shops that quoted high prices.

If an insurance company is paying for the repairs, as is the case with more than 80% of auto bodywork, you need a shop that won’t let the insurer cut corners. Does the shop provide a clear estimate? Can its representative explain and document the need for each element of the job? If so, chances are good that the shop will get your insurance company to pay for all needed work.

Consider the damage

If your car suffers minor damage, and you are certain there are no structural or other safety-related problems, you probably will be asked to use a drive-in claims center that will provide an authorized repair-cost figure and the names of body shops willing to make the repairs for that amount. Using a drive-in service is convenient and should be satisfactory when there is only cosmetic damage.

Some insurers offer another option: Take your car to a company-designated shop and have the repairs made with no estimate. This is an acceptable arrangement if you need only minor repairs.

But if there is even a possibility of serious damage to your car, take it (or have it towed) to a top-rated shop and have the insurer send its estimator there. The independent body shop will provide a better evaluation of the damage than an insurance company looking to keep down the costs of claims, and the best shops will serve as your advocate in dealings with the insurance company.

Ensure proper parts are being used

If an insurance company is paying for your repair work, make sure the shop will use OEM parts because there is some concern over the quality of non-OEM parts, particularly aftermarket parts. Aftermarket parts often don’t fit properly and may corrode faster than OEM parts.

Laws in New Jersey and Pennsylvania require shop estimates to disclose which parts are aftermarket or used. Delaware does not have a similar requirement. If aftermarket parts will be used, insist that your body shop (and the insurance company, if applicable) use CAPA-certified parts, which are certified by an independent testing organization set up by insurers.

If there’s a dispute with the insurer, especially over costs, and your claim is on your own policy, check the policy for an arbitration provision. Arbitration can be time-consuming — meaning you’ll probably have to pay repair costs yourself while arbitration proceeds — but it gives you a good chance to get a fair shake.

Check the work

Check your car thoroughly before taking it home from the shop. Look and feel whether repaired surfaces are smooth, and paint has the proper gloss and color. Take a test drive if the damage was substantial. The car should function as it did before the accident.

Ask your body shop for a guarantee. You are likely to get a minimum of 30 days’ guarantee against defects in parts, materials, and workmanship, and most high-quality shops offer guarantees of six months or longer; the length of some guarantees varies by type of job. Whatever guarantee they offer, get it in writing.

Delaware Valley Consumers’ Checkbook magazine and Checkbook.org is a nonprofit organization with a mission to help consumers get the best service and lowest prices. It is supported by consumers and takes no money from the service providers evaluated.

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