Car Bodywork Repair – If you have bought a new car, there can be a debate that you go through every time the car needs maintenance. Should you go to the dealer for repairs or an independent shop? The debate is constant between car owners, and it seems that half of the people you ask say dealers and the other half swear by independent shops. There are risks and benefits to both options, and which option you decide to go with depends entirely on your personal preference.
The first question people often have is whether or not dealerships do collision repair. Dealerships will always have their own service department with trained technicians employed to handle all different types of collision repair for your make and model. However, some dealers will outsource body repair to third-party shops, usually due to time and cost constraints.
Car Bodywork Repair
Dealerships are very proficient in standard repair work, but when it comes to body work, such as that required after a collision, they tend to focus more on the time it takes to repair a vehicle rather than repairing a vehicle in a manner correct
The Process Of Accident Repair
Most dealerships do bodywork for the makes and models they sell. Some vendors will outsource this bodywork if they do not have the current capability to complete it. Many dealers are under a lot of pressure to complete the bodywork quickly. With dealerships, service fees and repair work are often tied to how long the department estimates it will take to repair a vehicle.
This incentivizes service departments at dealerships to rush repairs quickly. If a technician can complete a job quickly, under the estimated hours, the dealership will make a profit. And at a time when dealership margins are being squeezed by online competitors (Carvana), increasingly well-informed consumers (Autotrader, TrueCar), and automakers, they are looking to recoup this lost profit through the departments of – their service.
Technicians at dealerships often have factory training and know the makes and models sold at the dealership very well. But are they better than an independent body shop? Not always. Independent body shop technicians often have the same factory training as dealership technicians, and may be more proficient if they have been in the industry longer.
Working on a range of makes and models in an independent body shop gives these technicians a wider range of experience and technical knowledge when it comes to repairing any vehicle. Body shops can also be certified as Collision Centers for specific makes and models, meaning they have been independently certified by that automaker for repairs. For example, Subaru, Honda, Volkswagen, and Tesla all require specialized training and certification to complete some repairs.
Auto Body Shop
The 3 main factors in deciding whether to take your vehicle to a collision repair shop or your local dealer are:
As far as the price of repairs go, the independent shops have the dealerships beat. On average, people who go to dealerships for their car repairs end up paying more for those repairs. Independent shops can help cost-conscious car owners save money on their necessary repairs. However, people who go to dealers argue that although they pay more on average, the repairs come from more experienced workers, which as we discussed, is not always the case.
The arguments on experience and knowledge of mechanics for both sides seem to go back and forth. However, one thing that cannot be argued is that the workers at a dealership work almost exclusively with certain car brands, while independent auto repair businesses work on a wider variety. The dealership mechanics may have more knowledge of that specific car, and, in turn, can do a better job because of that knowledge. However, it is not always a guarantee that independent mechanics know less. Many independent stores across the United States have a blue seal of excellence, which means they have passed various examinations that validate their status. They must also be recertified every few years.
While most garages have access to the parts needed for unique repairs to your car, some parts are more readily available to dealerships, due to their focus on certain makes and models. They are more focused on specific cars, and work with those cars exclusively, which means they know everything about special parts and their availability.
Welcome To Romsey Car Accident Repair Centre
While there are costs and benefits no matter where you go, it is ultimately your personal choice as to where you take your car for auto repair. Dealerships may have more knowledge about your specific car, but independent shops may be less expensive. The important thing is to do your research before making any decision and choose the option that works best for you.
If you’re in the Portland, OR area and need body work done on your vehicle, consider choosing Mackin’s Auto Body to get your collision repair done right, the first time. Our network of 8 auto body shops has served the Portland community since 1945. Call us to set up an estimate, or read our thousands of reviews here.
Chris Roberts is the Director of Operations at Mackin’s Auto Body, where he has been making an impact since 2018. With a career in collision repair that began in 1999, Chris brings a wealth of experience and dedication to his role. Prior to his current position, he served as the Assistant Operations Manager at Mackin’s Auto Body from 2013 to 2017. Chris holds a BA from Northwestern Nazarene University. When he’s not making sure everything runs smoothly at Mackin’s, you can find him skiing on snowy slopes, wake surfing on sunny days, or cheering on his daughter at her soccer games.
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Most people never consider bringing their vehicle to an auto body shop until they are in an accident and file a claim with their insurance company. Working with both your insurance company and the auto body shop is typically easy when body repairs are needed after an accident or when there is damage caused by some type of accident that does not involve the driver another.
Even if an independent body shop is not listed as one of your insurance providers “preferred” repair shops, you can typically bring your vehicle to one like ours and still have most of the damage covered . We work with all insurance companies so if your vehicle has been damaged, bring it in and we’ll explain how we can help.
Get The Best Results From Car Accident Repair Using These 4 Tips
We are an Idaho Falls auto body shop that has been doing auto body repair for a very long time. A family owned and operated company that has been doing business in Idaho Falls for over 50 years, there’s a reason people trust us as their one-stop shop for auto body repair.
If you are looking for a family owned and operated business to help your vehicle today, give us a call at (208) 522-9099. We look forward to hearing from you! Prefer to work on your car yourself? Do you like the idea of being able to fix a variety of car problems in your own garage? Aim for professional-grade details and enhancements? Then these tips are exactly what you need for DIY auto body repair. Note: Don’t forget security. Always wear safety glasses and protective clothing when working on your vehicle, and understand all the precautions you should take when working with toxic or corrosive chemicals.
To fill the cuts and scratches, you will need a high quality car body filler and a mixing board to prepare and apply it. Don’t skip the meticulous preparation for auto body work! To learn more about how to apply filler properly, check out our guide that walks you through the process.
When it comes to taking an account of a dent and working on a repair, proper lighting is very important. Make sure your garage is brightly lit with bright lights that easily illuminate every nook and cranny
Accident Repair Centre Nottingham
Start a car body work. We have a guide on choosing the best LED lights for auto body repair too!
Many auto body repairs require you to fix and retouch a section of your car. Once compared to the