Like scouting for a plumber or a mechanic, the reputation of the body shop is an important factor to consider. Always ask for references from your insurance company. They don’t deal with inferior service providers because they have a vested interest in the vehicles being repaired properly. Another thing you can do is ask your mechanic. If he has been around the area awhile you can bet that he knows who the best body shops are and which ones to avoid. A good reference is priceless. You can also contact the Better Business Bureau about a particular shop.Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) and I-CAR are training and certification associations for the collision repair industry. Look for these ASE and I-CAR logos which indicate that technicians at that facility are well trained and certified by these associations.

You also want to be able to view their work. If they are unwilling to show you before and after photos and even let you see jobs they are currently working on just walk away. Any reputable body shop will be more than happy to show you the quality of their work.

Another thing that you definitely want to look for from a quality body shop is a guarantee. A good shop will always stand behind the repairs they have done and will usually give some kind of warranty on paint, parts, and labor. Ask specifically what their policy is regarding guarantees and what they will do for you if you are not happy with the quality of the work that they have. If they get indignant with you leave and find another one, any decent body shop knows and understands a customer has concerns about there vehicle being repaired properly.