Why You Should Always Use the Same Autobody Repair Shop

Continuity Counts for Collision Repairs

When you’re feeling under the weather, you want advice from a knowledgeable expert you can trust—someone who is already familiar with your overall health and has access to all your records. Starting over with a new doctor each time just doesn’t make sense, and it’s exactly the same situation with your car.

Today, we’ll delve into some of the key reasons why bouncing around between collision repair shops can be a bad idea—one that can end up costing you more in terms of time, money, and overall satisfaction.

Research Once, and Research Well!

The internet has made it easier than ever to identify and research collision repair shops in your area, but narrowing down your options from there is still a time-consuming process. You still have to read through reviews, vet the facility’s reputation and certifications, and rely on your judgment (and to some extent, your instincts) in order to choose the autobody shop you believe will be most likely to do an excellent job of looking after you and your car.

Once you’ve invested the time and effort to identify a collision repair facility with a proven reputation for providing great service and value for your money, why would you want to go through the whole process again or, even riskier, choose another shop at random and hope for the best? Once you’ve found a shop that puts your vehicle and best interests first, the most sensible plan of action is to stick with it.

Record of Repair History

Collision repair shops (at least the good ones) maintain detailed records about your car based on your prior visits. From part numbers to paint colours, accessing these records is a simple matter of pulling up your information in the computer. Beyond knowing exactly what’s needed for your current repairs, your preferred autobody shop will also have a detailed history of repairs done in the past, including the specific products, tools, and techniques that were used to ensure results of the highest quality.

Historical information like this can save your collision repair technician time and effort—which translates to savings for you.

Insurance Claim Expertise

Policy numbers, coverage limits, rental car eligibility … insurance policies are complicated, and sorting through all this information can be frustrating to say the least! An autobody shop that is already familiar with you and your vehicle is in the best position to advise you on all things insurance. Most of the good ones (like Mitek) will also offer to coordinate with your insurance company on your behalf to ensure your claim will be properly filed and processed, and to alert you of any “red flags” in your policy that you may not be aware of.

When you are already dealing with the stressful aftermath of a collision, this specialized support can go a long way to restoring your peace of mind.

Preserve Your Vehicle’s Value

Ideally, the shop you patronize will be properly certified to repair your specific make and model of car. This assures you they’ve invested the time and money required for their autobody technicians to gain the specialized knowledge necessary to diagnose and repair your luxury car. In addition, you should always confirm that they use only original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts for all repairs.

These two benefits combined will help to maintain the long-term value of your car and maximize your proceeds when it comes time to sell. Potential buyers will be sure to appreciate the fact that your car has received consistently excellent care, including the use of parts that fit perfectly and are guaranteed to stand the test of time.

Familiarity = Trust (and Friendship)

Using the same collision repair provider every time makes it possible to really get to know and appreciate the shop’s people, policies, culture, and to witness the pride they take in their work. Best of all, you never have to worry about being taken advantage of. You know from past experience that they do quality work, their pricing is fair and their estimates and invoices are detailed and transparent—no hidden fees or sneaky add-ons.

In a world where so much business is conducted at a distance, we genuinely enjoy interacting with our customers, and we make a point of treating them like extended family. With many of our regular customers, we also know a little something about their lives outside the shop—their families, jobs, hobbies and interests.

Most of all, we are grateful for the fact that our repeat customers continue to place their trust in us—many have been with us for 30 to 45 years! And we go out of our way to repay them for that loyalty with each and every repair.