How to Spot the Right Body Repair Shop for Your Car

When a car is to be repaired, the owner’s main priority, of course, is having his vehicle back to exactly the same, if not close to the same condition it was in before the accident. If your car encountered some damage because of an accident, the first thing to do obviously would be to bring it to a repair shop. It has to be noted, though, that not all repair shops have the same skills or capabilities to bring your car back to its former condition, like nothing happened to it at all. The repairs some shops conduct do not deliver the level of quality you may expect to restore your vehicle. You need to be assured that your car will be treated to not just the proper, but the best repair.

As the owner, it is your duty to look for a reputable and a very thorough car restoration company. Look anywhere and you will see a good number of repair shops, claiming to know what it takes to erase any damage brought to your car from a collision accident. But as already said earlier, only a select number of these establishments can actually provide the expertise most car owners require.

So, as a car owner, how do you find the best body repair shop in San Mateo that is the perfect fit for your needs? Here are some tips in choosing the best repair company for your damaged car.

Do the Visits Yourself

As mentioned earlier, there might be a good number of repair shops in the San Mateo area that would claim to address your particular needs in repairing your car. However, before committing to one company, try to visit at least three to five of them.

Don’t bring in your damaged car in these visits just yet. That way, you won’t be pressured into settling for the first company that looks promising. You might end up liking the third or fifth company you eventually visit. The purpose of these visits is, of course, for you to personally see the facilities the shops claim to have. Do they have advanced equipment? Are their personnel highly qualified, with years of experience? Are they I-CAR certified, proof that they have undergone extensive training and have expert knowledge and experience in dealing with repairs of damaged cars, no matter what the car’s brand is? Don’t be afraid to ask questions regarding the equipment they use, the methods they employ, and the qualifications of their mechanics.

Visit to Inspect the Work

While you are in their facilities, try to see not only the equipment they use or the recognition and certifications they have. You also need to look at the actual work they are doing in their shop. Try to see if they are specializing in the repair of a particular vehicle brand or car part. A shop may have all the certifications and state-of-the-art equipment, but your totally damaged car may not get totally restored if the shop specializes in, for example, windshield repair. That is not to say that these specialized shops cannot do a competitive job in restoring your car; it is just that there are other facilities, such as DnD Body Shop that takes into account the restoration of the entire car.

Finding the Collision Repair Center for You

Your car usually is on top of the list of investments you make in your lifetime. Sure, you may buy something that’s beat-up or second hand, but the thing is, your car is a part of you. You definitely don’t want to have your car handled by just any hole-in-the-wall body shop in case of an unfortunate car collision. You have to make sure you hire the best collision repair center in the area. Here are some tips on getting the best services:

1. It is easy to get tempted and hire new auto repair shops. For example, in the San Mateo area, it is easy to find new businesses that offer cheaper services in repairing totaled cars. However, it is always better to look into the services of experienced companies first. Companies with experience assure their customers that their vehicles are in safe hands.

2. Exercise patience and do a little checking of the collision repair center’s profile. Some repair centers boast of having thorough knowledge of a certain brand or make of a car. D&D Body Shop in San Mateo prides itself as an I-Car Gold certified facility. This means the people involved in fixing your damaged car are not just mechanics that know a thing or two about fixing cars from spending a summer fixing their own rides. D&D Body Shop’s personnel are specialists with certifiable knowledge and skills to repair your car and restore it to its former glory.

3. Asking friends and officemates who have already hired the service of the shops in the area would be a great idea. People who have had firsthand experience regarding the quality of the shops’ service would know if the service they got is worth recommending to others. Obviously, you can’t go for recommendations from relatives living hundreds of miles away from you. So, you have to consider the testimonials and recommendations of those living close to you.

4. A good number of auto body repair shops have established an online presence as well. Do not be too impressed with swanky animation and sleek pictures on these websites, though. Remember, you are looking for the best service provider for your automobile, not the best website. The website or social media accounts of these repair centers should primarily educate you on what they can do to your car. Thus, don’t just visit these websites, take time and read through them, which obviously means they need to have content for you to consider them, not just glossy pictures.

5. Lastly, when you have a good idea of what these facilities are capable of, make sure to pay them a visit. You have to see for yourself which of your options actually have the goods to back up all their claims. After all, it is one thing for repair shops to tell everyone that they have qualified men and top of the line facilities, but it is always better to see all of these things in action with your very eyes.

Why Have Your Car Fixed by the Best Collision repair Center?

Anyone can have a car, but not all of us have the skills to drive properly. Thus, it is no wonder why road accidents are common sights in US cities like San Mateo. Be it reckless or drunk driving, carelessness, or the weather, road accidents are highly likely to cause extensive damage to your vehicles. On that note, it is very important to take the car to a collision repair center so it can be brought back to top shape, with the help of efficient and highly qualified mechanics.

The extent of damage which may happen to your car in a road accident may be more serious than it looks, so it is always wiser to take your car not just to any body repair shop, but to a reputable collision repair center. The advantages of taking your car to an experienced repair shop abound, and it is best for you not to miss out on any of them.

• The availability of parts is not consistent in most a small shops. If you bring your damaged car to one of those independent mechanics, one of the most common concerns you may have to face is getting the best parts for your vehicle. Small repair shops may not have an extensive inventory of parts, so the exact part you may need for your damaged car may not be available to them. This concern is definitely pronounced if you have a luxury vehicle. If you have a damaged sports car or an imported European or Japanese ride, do you really expect a small repair shop to carry the parts you need? You need to remember that excellent car restoration does not only involve skill, but also the right equipment. A small shop may have highly-skilled mechanics, but if it does not have the parts prefect for your car, all that skill may just be put to waste. On the other hand, most established collision repair shops like DnD Body Shop have original parts for you. You are guaranteed you won’t be given substitutes or duplicates.

• Getting the help you need from more established repair shops lets you avoid higher insurance fees. The chances of lowering the insurance fees you would need to pay is higher if you take your damaged car to an established collision repair shop. That is because the repairs done will be faster and more efficient.

• Getting your car repaired by a reputable collision repair shop guarantees your entire car will be fixed, not just a portion or a segment of it. The issue with most small repair shops is that most of them have specialties, making them less efficient when repairing damaged cars. For example, one shop can boast of being an expert on windshield repair, while another shop specializes in paint jobs. While these skills can aid in making a damaged car look new, the finished product may look like a patchwork, with one part of the car looking more ‘finished’ than the others. When a car is repaired in an established, I-CAR Gold certified facility like DnD Body Shop, you can be rest assured that all aspects of your car, from the windshield down to the alignment of the wheels, will be as good as new.

Finding the Answer to Your Car Restoration Needs

Safety should be a top priority when choosing one’s car.  Safety ratings are important especially for those who have children who will ride along.  The good news is that car manufacturers have seen this trend and have made it their priority too. Since people have become scrutinizing in making sure of the safety features of their cars, car manufacturers are relying on new technologies to make sure that their cars have high ratings in terms of safety.

However, the fact of the matter is that no matter how high our car ranks in the safety standards, there are still things that we cannot control when we are out driving on the road.  These are usually beyond our reach as drivers practicing the safety rules because accidents do happen.  We may never have experienced it and have only read it on the papers or watched it on the newscast, but these things are for real and we really cannot tell when it will happen to us.

To prepare for this kind of situation, it is best to have the contact number of a body repair service center that would be able to help you restore your car. There are a lot of centers out there but finding one that you can trust is important. Here are three tips when shopping for a repair center:

1.    Don’t afraid to ask questions.

You do not just leave your car in the service center without asking for the details of the repairs. It is best to have everything cleared up before leaving your car with them.  Ask all the necessary questions such as the total cost of the repair, how to go about in using the car’s insurance, and how long the repair would take.  These are just some of the questions that would help you assess if the shop is indeed capable in repairing your car.

2.    Be wary of insurance companies who are only out to make money.

It is a fact that a lot of insurance companies pair up with repair centers.  If you have a comprehensive car insurance, then good for you as it would mean less worries for you.  However, for those who have limited insurance, be on the alert, as sometimes, insurance agents would recommend repairs that are not really necessary just to make money. Make a background check first and see what your coverage would be paying for.

3.    Doing all the repairs in one place is best.

Some car repair shops specialize only in one kind of repair like windshield repair. Make sure that the shop you send your car into will be able to do all the repairs needed by your car.  It would be a hassle if you have to change shops while in the middle of repairs. 

D&D Body Shop is a great service center that specializes in car restoration. Car repairs and restorations are their specialty and it shows in all the certifications that they have which they proudly showcase in their website and in their shop. Car wrecks are no problem for them because they have all the necessary experience needed to bring back the car to its original form.  They have ICAR-Gold certified technicians that are equipped with the right skill necessary to achieve this.  Their service center is fully equipped with state of the art facilities that are used to repair any car, may it be a Benz, Audi, BMW, or Toyota.  You are sure that your car is in good hands with these people and this center.

Trusting the Trustworthy For Car Repairs

Having a car sure does have its benefits as it can bring you to places at anytime you want.  However, we cannot forgo the fact that owning a car is one big responsibility.  There is more to it than driving around it.  You would have to consider several things like having money to pay for gas, and making sure that all parts of the car are in perfect and good working condition. 

Looking for a body shop when you already find yourself in the middle of an unfortunate incident is not a fun thing to do.  It is not a good idea to do the shopping for a car center in this kind of situation. It would be great if you already have one in your phonebook that you can contact right away to help you bring back your car to its original condition. Here are some tips to help you search for the perfect car repair center.

Ask for recommendations.
One or two of your friends might have been in this situation before and for sure, they went to a professional to restore their car.  If you have lucky friends, you can then go and read online reviews on the Internet on repair shops that are near your place. Just a precaution though, it is not advised to believe in advertisements posted on websites.  It is best to verify the information that you read by calling up the shop or connecting with the people who had tried the shop’s services.

Check out the shop’s facilities
Pictures on websites may look so nice and good, however, don’t be fooled for everything nowadays can be altered via photoshop.  The pictures online may look good because of this.   Schedule a shop visit when you go out for errands just to check things out and verify what they advertise.  Things can look very different from what you see in the actual collision repair center compared to their pictures.

Read their service contract
If you see that what they advertise is true, go ahead and read out their contracts.  It is best to be informed because you would know what to expect from them.  Don’t forget to read the fine print, especially how they go about insurance claims and repairs.

“An ounce of prevention is always better than a pound of cure” may sound so cliché but it does have a point.  It is always best to be one step ahead of things even in the state of your car.  To live out this saying, you can get the services of a good collision repair facility. 

There are shops that could be trusted, especially when you get to know their certifications and qualifications.  If you are in the San Mateo, CA area, DnD Body Shop is one center that I can highly recommend, being a very satisfied client of them for quite some time now.  Their I-CAR certified technicians are qualified to repair BMWs, Fords, Toyotas and any other car brand. You can sure trust them to touch your car and bring it back to life.  You are sure that with DnD Body Shop, your car is in good hands.

Costly Car Repairs on Non-Certified Repair Centers

Having a car is a convenience that not everybody can enjoy.  First of all, you would have to have enough money to pay for its purchase. A brand new car entry-level car nowadays can cost you anywhere between $13,000 to $16,000.  If you do not have enough money but really want to own one and not minding if it is not a brand new one, then you can go for a second hand used car.  It will surely cost way less than the brand new one. However, you would have to make sure that it is well maintained and still be road worthy to drive.

Making sure that your car is road worthy is necessary so that there is a less chance for the car to break down and collide with another one.  Especially now that 4th of July is coming up fast, your car should be in tiptop shape for that road trip that you are planning with your friends. 

Going on long drives require your car to be in good condition.  Never forget to check on the engine oil, brake fluids, water levels in the tank, air conditioning system and tire conditions.  It is best that all these things check out before venturing out.  You will never know what can happen along the way and of course, you do not want to get stranded in the middle of nowhere just because your car unexpectedly gave up and broke down.  The best thing to do is to bring your car to a reliable repair shop that will help you check and make sure that your car is road worthy. Should there be a road you come across an unfortunate circumstance of being the other half in a car collision accident, you will not have any qualms of bringing it to this collision repair center.  Of course, you do not want not just anybody or anyone fixing your car, right?  Centers, which are certified, may be more expensive than the others but the peace of mind that your car in good hands is worth more than what you are paying for. 

Do not scrimp on repairs that are needed to fix the mess made by collisions.  You will never know if the guys at the other repair shop really did their thing to repair and restore your car.  At least with I-Car GoldCertified facilities, you are sure that they are maintaining high level of standards when it comes to car repairs and restoration.  You may be able to save some money by going to other body shops but with the quality of their work, you may need to bring your car back to them again repeatedly because of their sloppy work.  In the long run, it is you who will feel cheated.

Getting the Best Service for Your Benz at DnD Body Shop

To have a trusted body repair shop where you bring your car for periodic maintenance is necessary. This need is not just for brand new cars, but also most especially for older cars whose mileage has run more than 20,000 km. These old cars need more care and attention, especially when they are still used often. This is to make sure that it maintains its road worthiness. This is also to prevent accidents from happening on the road because of poorly maintained cars. 

As mentioned, second hand cars or used cars need more attention and care. These kinds of cars have been used for quite some time already and you will never know its history, as you do not come face to face with the car’s previous owner. That is unless you bought your car from a friend or an acquaintance. However, the fact is that it is an old car and that waiting for it to be sent in the shop for major repairs will be more expensive than bringing it to an I-Car Gold Certified car restoration shop regular periodic maintenance check and repairs. 

There are a lot of shops that you can bring your car to for both minor and major repairs, including a windshield repair. There are those whose repair services come in very affordable. We may be tempted to make this your regular repair shop. However, make sure that their technicians are certified folks who know what they are doing. There are shops that could afford to give you low prices for their services because they do not have certified technicians thus they could afford to give them low rates for their pay. For those cars whose services are more expensive compared to the rest, they will tell you that the reason for this is they invest in not just having the best equipment but also the set of people around to use their equipment. They make sure that their technicians are up to date with the latest in car restoration and repair technology. This will allow them to give the best service there is. 

DnD Body Shop is one restoration and collision shop wherein you are assured of a high level of service for their clients. Aside from being an I-Car Gold Certified shop, they also meet the Mercedes-Benz Factory Standards making them an authorized repair shop for all models of Mercedes Benz. Their technicians are well trained to fix all kinds of repairs concerning this luxury car brand as well as the equipment they use. They have more than enough experience when it comes to restoration and repair of Mercedes-Benz brand of cars. 

So now that Fourth of July celebrations are just around the corner, make sure that your car is fit enough to bring you any place where the grandest celebrations will be. For sure, you will be invited to attend picnics at the park and barbeques with your folks from all over. You can be more confident if your car is well maintained and ready to go anytime you want.