The COVID-19 outbreak has caused most Americans to rethink how they work, shop and play. Since March, non-essential businesses have been forced to temporarily close due to social distancing and stay-at-home orders set forth by public health officials. Yet many auto body and glass repair owners have seen an uptick in business as drivers focus their attention on long-awaited repairs while they’re working from home, or because automobile accidents and high-speed crashes have been on the rise since the start of the pandemic, according to analysis by CCC Information Services Inc. To protect their employees and customers most shops have initiated new COVID-19 safety protocols.

COVID-19 Challenges for Repair Shops

Auto body and glass repair shops are considered “essential” businesses, which means they can remain open even while other businesses can’t. Unfortunately, serving customers now presents those shops with day-to-day operational challenges caused by the COVID-19 virus:

• It can be transmitted by simply coughing, sneezing, shaking hands or talking.
  
• It can live on surfaces for varying lengths of time, depending on the surface.

• COVID-19 is more dangerous for people over 55 and those with medical conditions like heart disease, lung disease, cancer, asthma or diabetes.

Although the safety recommendations from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are effective, they also make it more difficult for auto body and glass repair shops to work with their suppliers and customers. That’s forced most shops to rethink their practices.

Glass Repair Shops Are Taking these Precautions  

Because COVID-19 can survive on surfaces, auto glass shops have to minimize risk from contaminated surfaces. According to a recent article shared with Auto Body News, these are some of the new safety precautions now being used by most auto glass businesses when performing repairs and replacements:

• Following all federal, state and local health department COVID-19 safety guidelines.

• Asking customers to wash their vehicles and then let them sit for 24 to 48 hours prior to the appointment.

• Wiping down all surfaces with sanitizing wipes before and after they’re touched by a technician.

• Requiring technicians to wear disposable nitrile gloves instead of safety gloves during the actual repair or replacement.
  
• Practicing social distancing while interacting with customers, including no handshakes.

• Encouraging customers to use mobile services such as CCC’s photo estimate app (only for mobile devices) that can be hosted by a shop on Carwise and accessed from a shop’s profile on Carwise, instead of coming into the shop. Many shops will pick up your vehicle and relay contactless updates on your vehicle’s repair, plus return it contact-free.

• Mandating that all employees wash their hands and use hand sanitizer throughout the day, including anytime they’re assisting a customer. 

• Asking all customers to leave the keys in their car rather than handing them to the technician.

What About Collision Repair Shops?

Collision repair shops face additional challenges because they oftentimes receive damaged vehicles that are towed in, along with the fact that all vehicles must be touched during the initial inspection and estimate. In addition to the glass repair COVID-19 practices listed above, here are some others that you might see at your local auto body shop:

• Upon arrival, asking customers to remove all personal belongings from the vehicle, like sunglasses, garage door openers, CDs and phone chargers.

• Disinfecting a customer’s car when it’s dropped off and then again before it’s picked up, with special attention given to high-touch surfaces like knobs, buttons and touchscreens.

• Covering upholstery surfaces like the steering wheel, dashboard and seats with plastic while the vehicle is in the shop.

• Emailing all repair-related paperwork to customers instead of printing it off.

• Thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting all shop areas at least twice a day.

In the end, the health and safety of customers and employees remains a top priority of auto body and glass repair shops during this unprecedented time in our nation’s history.

Promptly Search for Collision Repair Shops Here

Our thoughts go out to everyone during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially those brave first responders and healthcare workers serving on the front lines. When your vehicle has been involved in an accident, you can locate auto body or glass repair shops by searching on Carwise.com. By using CCC’s photo estimate app (only available on mobile devices), you’ll gain contact-free, remote access to over 19,000 collision repair shops with I-CAR and ASE-certified professionals.  Use Carwise’s shop finder tool to search your zip code for a customer-reviewed auto body or glass repair shop nearby: https://www.carwise.com/auto-body-shops/.

Most of us value our vehicles, and we purchase auto insurance to protect them against damage or loss.  States also mandate the minimum amounts of insurance coverage drivers must carry to use their roads.  But let’s face it, the wording found in the average policy can be confusing.  Knowing what your auto insurance policy covers is important, and most notably when you’ve been involved in an accident and your car is at the body shop.  Understanding your policy can help you ask the right questions as the collision repairs move forward, too.  To assist your efforts, here’s some coverage terminology you might find in your policy, along with what it means.

Collision

Collision insurance covers any accident-related structural or mechanical damage that your vehicle sustains while you’re driving it.  That damage could be from other vehicles, or objects like a fence, telephone pole or tree.  Collision insurance does not cover damage from hitting animals or when another person is driving your car.  Your policy carries a collision deductible, typically from $250 to $1,000, which will be your out-of-pocket cost to have it repaired when the accident was your fault.

Comprehensive

This type of insurance protects your vehicle when you aren’t driving it, like when it’s parked, or another driver is using it.  For example, hail damage would fall under comprehensive coverage.  This insurance also covers glass repairs, and damage from hitting an animal.  Fire, theft and vandalism are other examples where a comprehensive claim would be filed, and your policy has a deductible that you’ll have to pay first when the repairs are completed.

Liability

Liability insurance covers claims for people and property when your negligence inflicted the damage.  Those damages could be to another person’s car, fence, house, or to them or their passengers.  Most states set minimums for liability coverage, and your policy has a maximum amount your insurer will pay out if you were at-fault.  It’s very important to carry enough liability insurance in case you cause an accident involving several vehicles and occupants.  If not, you could be sued by the victim(s) for any damages exceeding your policy’s payout limits.

Medical Payments

Also known as “PIP” in several states, this insurance pays for injuries and medical payments for you or your passengers resulting from an accident involving your vehicle.  In some states this coverage will pay medical expenses regardless of who was at-fault, so ask your agent for details.  If someone in another vehicle is injured during an accident you caused, their injuries would be covered under your liability insurance.

Underinsured and Uninsured Motorists  

If your policy contains an underinsured rider, this coverage applies to claims where a driver who’s at-fault hits your vehicle, but they don’t carry enough liability insurance to cover all your repairs and medical bills.  There is also uninsured motorist insurance that pays your bills when an at-fault driver without any insurance damages your vehicle, or when a hit-and-run occurs.  Many states require you to carry uninsured motorist coverage, so check with your insurer for details.

Other Types of Auto Insurance

There are a few kinds of specialty auto insurance that your policy may already contain, or that you may wish to consider.  Those include:

• Gap insurance. This coverage is wise when you’re leasing, or when you owe more on your vehicle’s loan than it’s worth.  In the event it’s totaled out by the insurance company, Gap insurance will pay the difference between the loan balance and its actual cash value (ACV).

• Umbrella coverage. If you have a lot of financial assets, this type of insurance can protect those once your liability limit has been exhausted.  For example, if you have $500,000 maximum in liability coverage but cause injuries totaling $1 million, your umbrella policy would pay the difference.

• Commercial insurance. This coverage protects your vehicle when it’s used to earn a living, for example as an Uber driver or sales rep.  This coverage usually features higher payout limits due to the increased driving risks associated with your job.

We Work Directly with Insurance Providers

Being a responsible driver means carrying adequate auto insurance on your vehicle.  And, understanding what’s in your policy can be frustrating.  When you’re involved in an accident, bring your car or truck to a dependable collision repair shop nearby, and they’ll get it expertly restored like-new again.  The professionals there have the training, equipment and experience to fix it promptly and reliably, while restoring your peace-of-mind.   Don’t feel like dealing with your insurance adjuster?  Most body shops work directly with your insurance company so that you don’t have to.  To search your zip code now for a better collision or glass repair shop in your area, visit: www.carwise.com.

After being involved in a car accident, one of the first things you’ll think about is getting your car repaired as quickly as possible. But taking your car to the first auto body shop you find would be a hasty decision. In order to find a reliable and reputable auto body shop, take time to do your research and ask questions so that you’ll receive high quality auto body repair work for your vehicle.

Here are some questions and things to consider before allowing an auto body repair shop to repair your vehicle

Learn more about the auto body repair shop. 

Reading an online review about an auto body repair shop can be a useful resource. You can get a sense of the quality of the auto body repair shop based on customer feedback, ratings and reviews. You might want to ask the following questions after reading an online review:

1. How often will I receive text or email updates about my car’s repair status?
2. Can I view repair updates online?
3. Can I arrange for a loaner or rental car online or through an affiliated rental car service

What kind of warranty comes with their auto body repair work?

If they offer a warranty, ask how long it lasts and what it will cover.

Does the auto body repair shop have rental cars on their lot or do they provide loaner vehicles?

Being without a car is an inconvenience, so you’ll need to make sure that you have a rental, loaner or courtesy car while yours is in the shop. Some auto body repair shops have a car rental facility located in or near their shop. Other auto body repair shops may offer loaner or courtesy cars that can be used while they are repairing your car.If there is a pre-rental agreement, review it carefully – read the fine print. Take photos of the car before it leaves the shop & when you return it (honest shops will not object to this; it’s common practice in the age of Smartphones). Take note of the mileage as well.

How long will the auto body repair take?

This is the #1 question asked of all auto body shops. There is no hard and fast answer since each case is subjective. There are many factors related that can affect the length of repair time, including the extent of damage to your car, how busy the auto body repair shop is at that particular time, or even holidays during which the shop may be closed.  A 2017 Industry Trend Data report published by CCC Information Services Inc. showed that the average length of customer loaner or rental car usage – the measuring stick used to determine length of repair time – has grown from 9.26 to 9.85 days.Additional factors may include the level of the repair technicians’ certifications and training, the quality of the shop’s parts procurement process and the channels through which parts are acquired (does the shop deal with parts suppliers and manufacturers or with auto junkyards?) and/or the equipment with which the shop is outfitted. Is their equipment state-of-the-art or antiquated? Are work areas clean and efficient? What, if any, repairs are outsourced? All of this can shorten – or lengthen – the time of your car repair.

Is your car covered while it is in the shop?

Ask the auto body repair shop if they carry fire and theft insurance. You want to be sure that you’ll be covered just in case your car is damaged, destroyed, stolen or burglarized while it is in the auto body repair shop. It is also not advisable to stop paying auto insurance premiums on your car while it is being repaired. Most states require auto insurance and will penalize you for a lapse of even one day. Also if the mechanic needs to drive the car for testing purposes, he/she could be penalized if pulled over. By allowing your auto insurance policy to lapse, you will likely spend more on penalties than save on premiums — even if the repair time is lengthy.

Will the paint match the rest of my car?

In most cases, cars have a paint code on a plate located either in a door jamb, under the hood, or in the trunk. This paint code will give the exact color of the manufacturer’s paint. Make sure the auto body repair shop will be using the same exact color of paint and not a similar color. For further reading, check this blog post: How Much Does a Car Paint Job Cost?

How soon can you wash your car after an auto body repair?

An auto body repair shop usually returns your car back to you clean. They may have already washed it or waited for the paint to dry so that you can drive your car immediately after the repair. Still, it is important to know whether it is it safe to take your car to a car wash that uses friction brushing or a touch-free car wash with acid presoaks and super concentrated car wash soap soon after a fresh paint job.

What is friction brushing?

Friction brushing usually employs a combination of high pressure blasters with foam and/or cloth brushes. Brush-equipped washes generally perform better and move faster, as brushes clean in hard-to-reach places. Additionally advances in soft-touch systems increase the quality of the wash while reducing the possibility of damage to the finish. Consult with your auto body repair technician on the best option in your car’s case.

What is a touch-free wash?

Touchless washes employ a combination of chemicals, presoaks, detergents, high water pressure and modern systems even include laser-guided contour sensors. The advantage of a touch-free wash is that nothing touches the vehicle for the duration of the wash, which is typically longer than a friction wash. One possible disadvantage is, because a touch-free wash is so reliant upon chemicals, certain mix ratios can cause stains on the paint. Consult with your auto body repair technician on the best option in your car’s case.

Does the auto body repair shop have any certifications?

Certifications, such as I-CAR and ASE, are a good sign of a reputable auto body repair shop. A certification usually means that the auto body repair shop has the skills and knowledge required to perform complete, safe and quality repairs.

Will the auto body repair shop put everything in writing?

When bringing your car into an auto body repair shop, ask if you can receive a written estimate. You should also ask for an itemized bill after all work is completed. If the written estimate doesn’t match the itemized bill, don’t be afraid to ask about any discrepancies.

1. Consider the below excerpt from the “Auto Body Repair Consumer’s Bill of Rights,” which was passed into law in California in 2009:

A CONSUMER IS ENTITLED TO:

• AN ITEMIZED WRITTEN ESTIMATE FOR AUTO BODY REPAIRS AND, UPON COMPLETION OF REPAIRS, A DETAILED INVOICE. THE ESTIMATE AND THE INVOICE MUST INCLUDE AN ITEMIZED LIST OF PARTS AND LABOR ALONG WITH THE TOTAL PRICE FOR THE WORK PERFORMED. THE ESTIMATE AND INVOICE MUST ALSO IDENTIFY ALL PARTS AS NEW, USED, AFTERMARKET, RECONDITIONED, OR REBUILT.
• BE INFORMED ABOUT COVERAGE FOR TOWING AND STORAGE SERVICES.
• BE INFORMED ABOUT THE EXTENT OF COVERAGE, IF ANY, FOR A REPLACEMENT RENTAL VEHICLE WHILE A DAMAGED VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED.
• BE INFORMED OF WHERE TO REPORT SUSPECTED FRAUD OR OTHER COMPLAINTS AND CONCERNS ABOUT AUTO BODY REPAIRS.
• SEEK AND OBTAIN AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR ESTIMATE DIRECTLY FROM A REGISTERED AUTO BODY REPAIR SHOP FOR REPAIR OF A DAMAGED VEHICLE, EVEN WHEN PURSUING AN INSURANCE CLAIM FOR REPAIR OF THE VEHICLE.
  For further reading, check out this blog post: Top 10 Ways Auto Body Shops Can Ensure a Positive Customer Experience

What is the payment policy?

Most reputable auto body repair shops post their policies and payment methods where customers can easily see them. The payment policies may include labor rates, materials, warranty information, guarantees, and acceptable forms of payment. If you don’t see payment policy information, ask before the shop begins any auto body repair work on your vehicle.

For further reading, check out this blog post: Top Consumer Facts & Tips About Repair

Getting into a car accident and then being surprised by a high estimate for the auto body repair costs makes a bad situation even worse. Considering how expensive auto body repairs can be, it is very important to know how to handle a car accident before and after it happens – especially if the cause of the accident was your fault.

Helpful Auto Body Repair Tips

When taking your car to an auto body repair shop for the first time, you should know a few things before arranging to have any work performed. You should also know what to look for after getting your car back from the auto body repair shop.

SELECTING A GOOD AUTO BODY REPAIR SHOP:

• You can read online ratings and reviews on Carwise.com to get a sense of the quality of the auto body repair shop based on real customer feedback.

• When doing preliminary research on an auto body repair shop on a review website, pay close attention to the reviews that are well-written and more through. Even the best companies receive one-liner bad reviews from time to time.
• According to a Harvard study, 16% of Yelp restaurant reviews are fake. The auto body repair shop reviews on Carwise.com are 100% real customer reviews from real people who have had their vehicles repaired at these auto body repair facilities.

Anticipate auto body repair costs

Knowing that an auto body repair can be quite expensive. Before filing the claim check to see how much your current collision deductible is on your auto insurance policy. Most deductibles can range from $250 – $1,000, if you chose to file a claim, know that you will be paying the full deductible amount. . Keep in mind that if you do file a claim your insurance premium will most likely increase at your next renewal. Therefore you may want to get an estimate from a qualified auto body shop before filing the claim.

Read auto body repair shop review and recommendations

There are several review sites on the web, but few specialize in auto body repair. Using Carwise.com you cannot only find an auto body repair shop near you but also read ratings and reviews from actual customers that had their cars repaired at those facilities. With this research available, you can use your best judgment when selecting a shop to repair your vehicle.

WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE HAVING YOUR CAR REPAIRED BY AN AUTO BODY REPAIR SHOP:

• You should never drive a damaged car because it might not be safe.

• Your vehicle is one of your biggest investments. To find a good auto body repair shop, you should go to a review website like Carwise.com so that you can protect your investment by getting it repaired properly.

• A signed copy of the written estimate should describe the condition, what needs to be repaired, the affected parts and the estimated labor charges.

• The estimate should also state that the auto body repair shop will contact you for approval before they perform any work that might exceed the time or cost on the written estimate.

• Don’t be afraid to ask questions about your auto body repair. A professional auto body repair shop will take the time to explain the entire process.

• If you bring your car to an auto body repair shop within the Carwise network, you can view your car’s detailed repair status updates via the Carwise website or mobile app. Many of the Carwise network shops also can send you frequent repair status updates via text messages or email, eliminating the hassle of calling to get updates.

Visit an auto body repair shop

Call or visit auto body shops in your area. The best time to call or visit an auto repair shop is after the morning rush. Visiting an auto body repair shop when they are busy may not be the ideal time to get the full attention of the shop staff.

Get everything in writing

Most states require that auto body repair shops give you a written estimate. Make sure you have the opportunity to review the estimate before the shop begins your repair. When you pick up your car, make sure you compare the written estimate to the final bill to verify that everything matches. Don’t be afraid to ask the auto body shop about any discrepancies.

Verify your insurance coverage for a rental car

You’ll need to know what your insurance policy will cover when it comes to getting a rental car while your vehicle is in the shop. For example, if you need a bigger vehicle like an SUV or van to fit your lifestyle, you should be aware if your insurance only reimburses you for the rental of a compact car. By checking your policy in advance, you can reevaluate as needed to avoid future problems and fees.

Certifications are signs of a reputable auto body shop

When selecting a repair shop, look for certifications. A certification usually means that the auto body repair facility is committed to the continuous training of their staff on proper repair procedures. Certifications also show that the auto body repair shop has the information, knowledge, and skills required to perform complete, safe and quality repairs for the ultimate benefit of the consumer. The most common certification programs are offered by I-CAR and ASE.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW AFTER GETTING YOUR CAR BACK FROM THE AUTO BODY REPAIR:

• The auto body repair bill should describe all the work that was done. It should list every repair, which parts were used, labor charges, and the odometer reading of the car before bringing it in.

• If there is a discrepancy between the itemized bill and the written estimate, don’t hesitate to ask the auto body repair shop about the differences.

• In some cases, you might not notice any problems until a few months later. For example, you may notice uneven tire wear on your car. This might be a result of the front suspension not being aligned and repaired properly. A good auto body repair shop will stand by their work and fix the problem under the warranty.

• Remember to always keep your paperwork and receipt so that if you discover issues later, you can bring it back to the auto body repair shop to assess what is causing the problem.

Sources:
Today.com
AOL Autos
i-Car.com

Harvard University

FTC.gov