The auto body and collision repair business is a very specialized part of the automotive repair industry. Repairing a vehicle after it's been involved in an accident requires the knowledge of many different skills. The repair technician must have a strong knowledge of metals and their properties when working with vehicle frames and body panels. He needs strong mathematical skills to determine exact dimensions and to make sure that a repaired car or truck will travel straight and true when fixed. He needs to understand chemistry when it comes to the chemicals and compounds needed to complete the repair work. Paints must be mixed precisely to ensure that the paint matches even when the rest of the vehicle has been sun faded. And, in most cases, he must be a master mechanic on top of everything else! Suffice it to say, a good auto body technician must have a good amount of schooling behind him and to be really good, he must also be somewhat of an artist!
In the auto repair industry, the two biggies are ASE and I-CAR. We'll start with ASE, The Institute for Automotive Service Excellence. The following is an excerpt from an article by Tom Torbjornsen, Maintenance Editor for AOL Autos and an expert author in the automotive repair industry. He provides an excellent explanation of the benefits of having a "certified" technician work on your vehicleNext would be I-CAR Certification. Also from the same article, Tom Torbjornsen writes the following:
Now let's take a look at I-CARFounded in 1979, I-CAR (Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair) is an international, not-for-profit training organization dedicated to improving the quality, safety, and efficiency of auto collision repair for the ultimate benefit of the consumer.I-CAR has adopted a concept we call "Outward Vision". This concept is driven by the need to define the "Ideal State" of the Collision Industry relative to technical training. I-CAR's definition of the Industry's "Ideal State" is:That every person in the Collision Industry has the necessary technical knowledge and skills relevant to their position to ensure a complete and safe repair. I-CAR continues to develop and deliver technical training programs to professionals in all areas of the Collision Industry. Furthermore, I-CAR provides a communication forum for anyone interested in proper collision repair. Finally, that I-CAR's primary funding is derived from student tuition and services, insuring that I-CAR can remain unbiased in developing courses and services on an industry-wide basis.I-CAR Mission Statement:To research, develop, and deliver quality technical educational programs related to collision repair; to raise the level of available knowledge and recognize professional achievement; thereby improving communication throughout the Collision Repair, Insurance, and related Industries for the ultimate benefit of the consumer.Now do you understand the significance of certifications when choosing a technician to work on your car? As in all fields of expertise, there is "more than meets the eye." Working on today's vehicles requires intense training and continual education to keep up with industry changes. Go do your homework! Save yourself money and hassle over the long haul. Take your valuable "second-largest-purchase-you'll-make-in-a-lifetime" vehicle to a qualified professional.
Lastly, take a look at the shop's previous work and look at the shop itself. Although the building that houses the shop is not nearly as important as the people who work there, and I've seen some extremely good work come out of some of the most unlikely places, there are a few things that should be taken into consideration.
A good, legitimate shop owner should be proud to show you pictures of their past work. They should gladly hand over a list of references with previous customers that you can contact. Here at LDJ, we ask our customers to fill out a form when their vehicle is finished that asks them to evaluate our performance. From their satisfaction with the overall job to their experience with our staff. We also ask them if it's OK to let potential customers contact them. It's a very simple procedure that most of our customers are happy to participate in.
Lastly, get everything in writing. From the estimate to an explanation of your repairs and any warranties involved. All good repair shops will warranty their work and should be happy to provide you with all of them in writing. Parts warranties will come from the parts manufacturer and will depend on what the manufacturer covers under that warranty, but, most manufacturer's warranties do NOT cover the cost of labor. Body work warranties vary between shops, but, a good, reputable shop should have no problem guaranteeing their own body work. Using high quality compounds, bondo, and sealants may cost a little more, but, will outlast the cheaper brands by far. Here at LDJ, body work is guaranteed for the life of the vehicle because we use only the best fillers and compounds. Paint warranties are a different story altogether. Different paint manufacturer's have different warranties and some warranties change with the grade of paint the manufacturers have. Be VERY CAREFUL when agreeing to the type of paint being used on your repairs. Remember, the paint is going to be there for a long time and using a high quality paint will insure that the color will not fade, chip or peel. The shop should provide you with, at the very least, the length of time recommended by the manufacturer and most reputable shops will also give you the option of an extended warranty. Some paint manufacturers offer certification in their particular brands and shops certified by them can offer you greater warranties that those not certified. These certifications include the better manufacturers like DuPont, PPG, Diamont and other large paint suppliers. Using paint certified shops can save you a lot of money should the paint peel, crack or become sun faded because certified shops can offer you labor warranties should the vehicle need to be re-painted and there is a lot of labor involved in the re-painting of a vehicle.
Following the above guide lines should help protect you from financial woes when looking for a good collision repair facility. Of course, nothing speaks louder than your own personal opinion of how comfortable you are with the shop and the technicians you choose.
Accidents happen. And, they are never pretty. Most of the time, they look much worse than they really are. However, there are those times when you have to take into consideration the cost of the repairs versus the value of the vehicle and determine just when too much is too much!
