If you own a sports car, you probably won’t trust just anyone to work on it. Not only can sports cars be more expensive than the average vehicle, but they are often a source of pride for owners. But, if your sports car does need work, there are a few things you can do to make sure you choose the best shop for your pride and joy.

Check certifications

One easy way to know if a shop might be a good fit? Check their certifications!

Shops can be certified by general automobile organizations – such as the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) or I-CAR – or they can be certified by different manufacturers, including Porsche, Audi, BMW, and others. Certifications indicate an extra level of training for technicians in a shop, and many certifications require continuing education to maintain certification.

If a shop is certified in your particular car’s brand, they’ll be trained to repair your vehicle.

Trust word-of-mouth

When it comes to finding a shop you can trust, ask opinions from people you trust. Friends, family or other sports car enthusiasts can steer you toward – or away from – certain shops.

At Carwise.com, you can also read reviews from prior customers and see when the reviews were left. This can provide you with extra confidence when choosing a shop, knowing that other customers before you had a good experience.

Ask for examples

Before you let a shop work on your high-end car, know that you can always ask for examples of a shop’s previous work. You don’t have to just hand your car over to be painted or repaired – ask for recent photos of other paint jobs or repairs they’ve completed.  Also, be sure to ask if they have experience working with your car’s particular make and model. You can also use Carwise.com to search for repair shops that share before & after photos of their work. 

Remember: Stay up-to-date on maintenance

Of course, no one wants unnecessary repairs on a car. Remember to keep up with your sports car’s basic maintenance, including:

• Keeping an eye on fluid levels and topping off or replacing as needed
• Prioritizing tire pressure and keeping it within range
• Covering your car when storing
• Washing your car regularly to keep it clean of debris

Find a Auto Body Shop Near You

When you’re ready to find an auto body shop for your sports car, Carwise can help. With details on over 21,000 shops nationwide, you’ll find information about shop certifications, customer reviews, before & after photos, as well as the basics from hours and location to contact information. Get started with your auto body shop search today: https://www.carwise.com/auto-body-shops/.

When your car needs a repair, it can pay to be choosy about who you select to fix it. You want to make sure that any repairs or part replacements are done correctly the first time, so you don’t end up paying more later.

You should feel empowered to ask questions when choosing a shop. Below, find a few questions you should ask before any repair work starts.

1 – What are the shop’s certifications?

Collision repair shops and their technicians can obtain a variety of different certifications to let consumers know what type of cars they are certified in and specialize in repairing. These certifications take lots of factors into consideration – the training and experience of the repair technicians, the repair and safety protocols of the shops, and more. The most common certifications in the U.S. are the National Institute of Auto Service Excellence (ASE), the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repairs (I-CAR), and OEM certifications (shops that are certified by Original Equipment Manufacturers such as Honda, Ford, etc.) You can learn more about shop certifications here. Many shops will list their certifications in their Carwise.com profile.

2 – Does the shop offer warranties?

When doing a repair or replacement, many shops will offer warranties, in case there is a failure with one of the parts that was replaced or the body or finish work. However, warranties can vary widely from shop to shop, and so you should be sure to ask about this before agreeing to a repair. That way, you’ll know exactly what’s covered under warranty and for how long.

Warranties also vary based on the type of part being used in the repair. Ask what warranties are available with your chosen parts.  

3 – What are my repair options, and can you explain them to me?

A good repair facility should be able to explain the repair process to any customer, regardless of their level of car knowledge. Ask lots of questions when discussing a repair, including asking for a full range of options and an explanation of each. If you don’t understand what’s being said, ask them to clarify in simple terms. You should fully understand what’s going to happen with your vehicle before work begins.

4 – What services does the shop charge for?

Many shops offer free estimates for repairs, but some do not. Before you hand over your keys, ask the shop technician what their process is and what services they charge for, including if they charge for estimates and diagnostic tests in addition to the repair itself.

5 – Does the shop have positive customer reviews?

Online reviews are a great way to find out whether a shop is trusted in your community. You can find reviews from real customers on Carwise.com, as well as other sites like Google, Facebook and Yelp.

Find a Auto Body Shop Near You

If you’re just starting your auto body shop search, use Carwise.com to find answers to many of these questions and more right on the shop description page. You’ll find customer reviews, shop certifications, hours, location, and contact information on over 21,000 shops in just a few clicks. Get started with your auto body shop search today: https://www.carwise.com/auto-body-shops/.

How Auto Body Shops Identify Unseen Damage After a Collision

A dented bumper, scratched paint, a broken windshield—the aftermath of a car accident is often accompanied by a visible reminder. However, it is important to know not all damage following an accident is visible. This can be especially true in newer vehicles that include automated driver assistance systems (ADAS) as these sensors and components are often not visible.

After a collision, when assessing the damage, you may want to bring the vehicle to a professional to determine if the damage is cosmetic or if there is unseen damage that could impact vehicle performance or safety features.  

Unseen Technologies

Many newer vehicles include a variety of sensors to guide driver assistance technology. Often sensors are located in the front and rear bumpers as well as throughout the interior and exterior of the vehicle. These sensors work together with onboard computers to allow features like parallel parking assistance, rear cameras for assistance backing up, and even collision prevention measures. Following an accident, it is important to confirm that your systems are fully operational.

Fortunately, auto body shops have various ways to detect this unseen damage, and one of the most important is diagnostic scanning.

A diagnostic scan is performed after you drop your car off at the shop, before repair work begins. To perform a diagnostics assessment, a repair technician connects your car to a scanner, which reveals if any Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC) appear. This scan runs through all the various programs and features that help your car run, and it flags any problems or miscommunications between those systems.

This scan gives auto repairers visibility into seen and unseen systems.

If you’re in an accident, it is important to remember to think about unseen damage as well. You can always play it safe and contact a local collision repair professional to determine the extent of the damage. Carwise is happy to connect you to local professionals, many of which offer photo estimates online. Use the shop finder tool on Carwise to search your zip code for a customer-reviewed auto body or glass repair shop nearby: https://www.carwise.com/auto-body-shops/.

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