the Cost of Auto Body Repair

During a rainstorm, I damaged the front bumper and front right quarter panel after hitting an object because of low visibility. The damage was not extensive, but it still cost nearly $600 to repair both the front bumper and right quarter panel. They sustained dents and scratches and so I took my car to a body shop that I previously had used based on high recommendations from friends and the dealership.

Approximately 40% of my service charges were from parts; the remainder was allocated to labor. Parts included paint and clear coat, nuts and bolts and other odds and ends. Labor charges were understandably the bulk of my service charge because of the time required to remove the dents and sand, prime and paint the parts.

Because I became a customer of this body shop a few years ago, I had an idea of what type of service to expect. The staff were professional, friendly and courteous.

I was apprehensive about receiving the estimate because I know labor costs are high. I expressed to the shop I was price-conscious and they handled it with ease and tact. The estimator even walked me through the process (without having to ask) and explained why each item was included in the estimate. To demonstrate the prices were fair, he even accessed a database used by repair shops to show fair cost ranges for each item for my region. After the estimate was completed, I was given time to review it and ask questions. At no point was I rushed into making a decision and all my questions were genuinely answered.

When I agreed to the repairs, I was offered to bring my car back the next day in the early morning or to leave my car there overnight and have a loaner car issued to me at no cost. Being offered a loaner car was a plus; taking advantage of one at no cost was even better.

Throughout the day, I received call and emails from the shop about the status of my repairs and pictures were even included. I am happy if I receiving just one phone call when my car is taken in for service, but this body shop took the time to advise me as each part of the service was completed.

When I finally returned with the loaner car to pick up my car, I was allowed generous time to inspect the work performed and ask questions. I knocked on, wiggled and bumped each part. I asked the car to be lifted off the ground so I could look at the underbody. The staff accommodated each of my requests without hesitation and explained what they did to each part of my car.

Once I was satisfied (actually, amazed) with the work and service, I was escorted by the technician and service advisor to the cashier. The clerk asked if I wanted to review the charges so we could resolve them with the staff and manager if I disagreed. I proudly stated all my expectations had been exceeded and this was a rare moment I was happy to pay for car service.

Perhaps I was just lucky, but the two times I have used this body shop have yielded great results in terms of service and customer satisfaction--the reason I gave them my repeat business. I cannot think of one negative aspect of the service. The service is an exceptional value, especially since a late-model loaner car was provided to me at no cost.

Always be nice to those in the service industry. If you have questions, politely ask from the perspective of curiosity rather than an attempt of intimidation or playing hardball. Body shops tend to have a stigma with overcharging and adding unnecessary services, but I made it clear I would like the justification for each part and service and the cost associated with each. In turn, the staff complied and made this a memorable service.

Because I had used this body shop before, I already had an idea of how I would be treated. I openly recommend this shop to my family, friends and colleagues.