Tag: auto body shop

Being in a wreck is stressful. Among those stresses is having to choose a repair shop. Most insurance companies will recommend repair shops for you to choose from, but you have a choice of where you want your car repaired – recommended or not.

Certifications

You might see that some shops have certifications. That means their technicians have been trained by the manufacturer to know how to properly repair that specific model of vehicle. If your recommended shop is not certified in your vehicle make, you might want to take a look to see if there are any shops nearby who are.

What a recommendation means

When your insurance recommends an insurance company, that means they have an established relationship with that shop. These relationships help make the repair process easier for the customer and allows insurances to recommend shops they trust.

The recommended shops also typically meet the insurance company’s deadline to repair the car quickly and keep costs low. However, faster is not always better.

A recommendation does not mean this is the only shop your insurance will work with, but it’s important to ask about how

Does ‘recommended’ mean ‘guaranteed’?

In many cases, the insurance company will guarantee the repairs made to your vehicle as long as you own it. Should the repairs not hold up after a certain period, the repairs can be fixed at no additional cost to you.

Still looking for answers? See our FAQs here.

Quality has always been a top consideration for collision repair shops when purchasing paint. But recently, many have had a growing concern for the effects of our products on the environment.

Choosing a body shop that will provide quality and be friendly to the environment takes research. When it comes to paints, ask body shops if they use water-based, or waterborne, paints.

Using waterborne paint

Waterborne paints have benefits beyond being safer to the environment than lacquer-based paints. Waterborne paint has heavier viscosity which means it provides about three coats of coverage in nearly half a millimeter of thickness. This means less clear coat is needed to even out the surface, and less materials is better when it comes to using resources.

Only technicians trained to use waterborne paint should apply it to a vehicle, for a quality result. Imperfections are easier to spot with waterborne paint, and it is tricky to work with in humid conditions.

The difference of waterborne paint

Many auto body shops use solvent-based paints, despite harsh toxins. This type of paint has higher levels of organic solvents and when it dries it releases Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) into the air. VOCs are known for being harsh on our health, as well as adding to smog conditions.

Water-based paints have improved over the years and are quickly replacing the use of solvent-based paint. Waterborne paints feature acrylic emulsions that now offer a faster drying time, similar to solvent paints. It also has less odor and greater durability.

Our team at AMM Collision is trained to provide an exceptional paint job to your vehicle using waterborne paints. Give us a call today for a free estimate.

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After an accident, your insurance company may recommend an auto body repair shop for your repairs. Some may feel obligated to use the recommended shop, but the choice is always yours on which collision center you want to use. Here are some pointers on how to decide where you want to go.

Choose Certified

As you choose a body shop, remember that you want certified collision repair. This means the technicians at that repair shop have been trained by the manufacturers to make repairs to your specific model of vehicle.

Insurance guarantee

Choosing your insurance’s repair shop recommendation could have benefits. Some insurance companies will guarantee the repairs for as long as you own the vehicle. If there is an issue with the repairs, they will be fixed at no cost to you. This could be beneficial in the long run and shows your insurance company has confidence in their chosen repair shop.

Deciding on the recommendation

Most insurance providers have a list of preferred repair shops. Remember, your agent can’t make you use a shop on their list. You have the right to choose where you want your vehicle repaired.

Preferred repair shops normally meet criteria set up by the insurance provider, such as meeting their quick deadlines for repair and providing the services at a low cost. Efficient repairs should still maintain quality, and faster does not always mean the work is performed correctly.

If you choose to use the insurance recommendation, ask if that shop uses less expensive parts or parts from the manufacturer. Manufacturer parts (or OEM parts) often fit and work better than aftermarket parts, and therefore have a better chance of having your repair last. Some shops may cut costs by using cheaper parts because of low payments from insurance companies.

AMM Collision is a preferred body shop with most insurance companies, but we work with any insurance provider. At all of our auto body repair shops, we use manufacturer recommended parts for the highest quality repairs. Contact our team for a free estimate or download our estimating tool on your smartphone for a quick and easy process that will get you back on the road.