We all need car repair at some point in our lives, so it’s only reasonable we have questions. You’re probably wondering how long the repair will take, how much is it going to cost, among many other questions and concerns about your repair.
Regardless of what your question might be, you would expect that whatever body shop you take your car to would be able to repair your vehicle correctly. Not to mention, with how advanced cars have gotten over the past few years, you would think that body shops across the country would only be performing the safest and highest quality repairs out there.
Unfortunately, people are victims every day of bad collision repair. They don’t even notice until after they’ve driven away from the shop, and their car isn’t performing the way it should, especially after being in the shop. However, it is possible to get good collision repair. The best body shops will repair your vehicle precisely as the manufacturer would instruct by following the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) repair procedures, and you would never know it was in an accident.
Whether you recently had your car repaired or are simply wanting to know what are the signs of lousy collision repair, we at 3D Collision Center are here to help Pennsylvania drivers throughout their entire process.
It’s important to note that most states don’t require technicians to be licensed to work on your car; it’s ultimately the shop’s responsibility to pay for the technician’s training. The best body shops have highly trained technicians capable of performing any repair that comes into the shop the way the manufacturer would instruct. These shop owners know the importance of their technicians receiving proper training and never take any short cuts in the repair process.
What Are The Signs?
As mentioned above, poor collision repair may not always be something that you can see but can be affecting your car from the inside, creating significant damage. We pulled together a list of things to check once you pick up your vehicle from the shop. They are a combination of things to test, listen, and look for.
Check them out below:
Test to make sure:
- The steering feels normal (not “gravelly” or “choppy” when you turn the wheel).
- The car drives straight even when you take your hands off the wheel momentarily
- The brakes work properly and stop in a straight line (no pulling to one side or another).
- There’s no delay in the handling through turns, and it’s responding normally
- Electronic accessories work normally
Listen for:
- Unusual noises such as whistling or roaring from the wind, whining, or grating
Look:
- The paint looks different than other parts on the car and in different lighting settings
- Water leaks (which can lead to corrosion to the body structure and interior damage)
- Gaps between body panels
- Bumper is misaligned
- The doors, hood, and lift gate open and close smoothly
- No warning lights illuminated on the dashboard
- Headlights, brake lights, and blinkers work properly
- Uneven gaps between body panels
- Distance between tire and fender is the same on both sides of the car
In addition to the above list, your car must be returned to you cleaned. Believe it or not, a dirty vehicle is another sign of poor repair service. This is because your car is bound to get messy once it is in the service bay. A quality body shop will not only repair your vehicle correctly but will also return it to you looking brand new.
What to do if you suspect that you have received improper collision repair?
If you believe you’ve received improper collision repair, you are not alone. You can request what’s known as a “post-repair inspection (PRI).” This may be an out of pocket expense at first (typically just a couple hundred dollars). However, if you’ve received horrible repair and it’s proven so with documentation from a qualified auto body shop or appraiser, your Insurance company could get involved. They would then deal with the body shop that gave you the poor service, and the right steps will take place.
Because of how often people have bad collision repair, more body shops are offering to provide this documentation as a service. It might take some time to get a resolution, but the results will be worth it.
Your Safety Is At Risk:
Technicians put your safety at risk each time they perform an inadequate repair, along with anyone else who rides in your car. You can’t put a price tag on safety, which is why it’s critical you get your vehicle repaired somewhere that puts your safety as the top priority.
OEM repairs aren’t just manufacturers wanting to make sure your car gets a quality repair. They’re there to ensure your car protects you with the same level of safety it was originally designed for. Anything less than these repairs won’t be able to come close to the level of protection you need. If you get in an accident after receiving bad repair, you can get seriously injured or possibly get killed.
Where In Pennsylvania Can I Get Proper Car Repair?
Here at 3D Collision Centers, we have Pennsylvania drivers coming to us all the time to repair their car the right way. Any autobody repair shop can make your car look good as new. It’s receiving a repair that has safety and quality as the top priorities, which is what OEM repairs are, which make all the difference.
We are proud to say that we are among the 10% of auto body repair shops in the country that are I-CAR Gold Class trained. This is especially important when looking for the best place to take your car to be repaired when technicians aren’t legally required to follow OEM repair procedures.
In addition to providing you with only the safest and correct repair, we will work with you and your insurance company to ensure the process is as stress-free as possible. You can think of us as your agency/policyholder liaison!
We have seven different locations across Delaware, Chester, and Montgomery Counties. Feel free to give us a call at anytime at (877)-692-7776. For a list of the phone numbers for each of our locations or to schedule an estimate, click here.
We look forward to showing you the 3D difference!
