Covid-19 is affecting us worldwide with mandated quarantines and stay at home orders which has many of us questioning who is essential and who isn’t. Collision repair shops are considered essential business therefore, Statesville Collision Center is currently open and serving our community.
We have noticed a trend in supporting small, local businesses lately over corporate chains which has brought a sense of togetherness back to the community. Local businesses can offer a more personalized experience and provide much needed jobs during these uncertain times. Not to mention, your dollar spent at the small business will go much further than if spent at a large high production chain.
This is no different when it comes to choosing which collision repair shops to use. As long as people are still driving, there will still be accidents and cars will still need to be repaired. If you find yourself in need of collision repair right now, or in the future, we have put together some tips to help you know you have made the right choice.
How do you choose what body shop to use in Statesville?
Most newer vehicles built in the last decade are equipped with the latest safety technologies (also called Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems, or ADAS). These sensors and smart systems are what makes modern collision repair more complicated and more expensive. Every different vehicle make and model are designed differently which means no collision repair will ever be identical. So how do technicians know how to repair each car correctly?
In order for a collision repair technician to know how to properly and safely repair your specific car with the damage sustained they need to look up the manufacturer guidelines. The Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) guidelines are updated frequently which requires body shop technicians to also constantly reference them.
Unfortunately, not all body shops will do this in an effort to save time which could put you at risk in the event of another accident. National body shop chains or high production shops are notorious for cutting corners to save them time which also saves them money.
Faster and cheaper repairs do not always mean better
Oftentimes, people will get lured into using a high production chain because they will quote a faster turn around time and a repair estimate hundreds of dollars cheaper than the local shop. While the cheaper price and having your car back sooner might sound appealing, this also means there are more than likely sloppy and unsafe repairs.
Despite your car looking completely fixed on the outside, there are serious flaws hiding beneath the surface that could seriously increase your safety risks. Many times these body shop chains simply fix what they see or just how they always have rather than refer to OEM guidelines. Re-calibrations and scanning might get missed which means your car may not be back to the way it should be.
Unfortunately, here at Statesville Collision Center we have gotten cars in the shop that have had previously done and extremely unsafe repairs at one of these national chain body shops. We find that sometimes we have to declare the vehicle a total loss or the repair bill is much more expensive in order to fix the previously performed poor repairs.
All that we care about is your safety and we will not let you back on the road driving an unsafe vehicle.
Know the right questions to ask
You should ask any and all questions that come to mind when it comes to your collision repair in order to weed out the shops that might skip steps. Questions like, do you follow OEM procedures? How up to date are your technicians on collision repair technicians when it comes to their training?Don’t be afraid to ask a body shop questions, anything from needing help with your insurance claim to what the repair process is. A good collision repair center will be willing and happy to assist you and walk you through the process.
Statesville Collision Center is proud to be a Gold Class collision repair business. The Gold Class recognition indicates that our technicians are trained in the proper repair techniques and procedures that contribute to the complete and safe repair of your vehicle. As a Gold Class shop, we require each of our technicians involved in collision repair to take ongoing training every year. This includes classes on new vehicle technologies and the latest repair techniques.
Statesville Collision Center is among only 10 percent of collision repair businesses to achieve Gold Class status, whereas shops that are not Gold Class may train minimally or not at all. Gold Class shops are trained on how to fix your vehicle right; on what can be repaired and what needs to be replaced; and on how to see hidden damage you may not see.
If you are in need of collision repair services and would like to get an online quote or schedule an appointment, click the buttons below or feel free to give us a call at 704-881-0410. We are happy to discuss what measures we are taking to keep both our staff and customers safe.
