I have been in this industry for over 25 years in the same area, I have worked in high quality auto body shops large and small, and have owned my own collision and custom shop in Portland Oregon for the last 8 years. In my area there are hundreds of auto body repair shops in a very small area, yet I only know a few I would trust with my vehicles. So for the most part you have to be as informed as you can, and ask alot of questions.

I am going to give you some information about the industry that will hopefully help to make that informed decision a little easier. First, do not let your insurance company tell you where to have your vehicle repaired, in most cases they have contracts with the shop to save them money in exchange for sending them your vehicle. in this case the insurance company saves money, the shop gets the work but has to cut corners to keep the cost down for the insurance company. And you, the one that pays the insurance company all those inflated premiums, and pays the body shop your deductible gets a substandard repair. The insurance company may say “if you don’t take the job to our repair shop we can’t guaranty the work”, the fact is any and all good auto body shops guaranty their work for as long as you own your car, if they don’t, go somewhere else.

Next thing to do is be sure to question the person who is estimating your damage, smaller shop owners will usually take care of you personally, and in most cases, actually be involved in the repair process. In most of the larger or chain shops the person writing the estimate on how to fix your vehicle is a salesperson, usually having absolutely no experience repairing cars, not to say that the techs working at that shop wont fix your car correctly, but they may just not feel like rewriting the estimate the way it should of been written to begin with. Just be aware and ask the questions. Also small shops may not have all the fancy lasers and computer operated equipment of a large shop, Then again lasers and computers don’t fix cars in most cases they are sales tools and rarely used. Even a frame rack although necessary is nothing more then a few well placed trees, they don’t fix cars, the tech is the most important part of the repair.

Ask if the body shop is on any insurance programs or DRP,(direct repair programs) if they are ask why? the only reason I know why a auto body shop would agree to be on a DRP would be to get work that they couldn’t get on their own. Again this does not mean just because they have a DRP they are not a great shop, but if they have 20 DRP’s then I would be a little concerned? Ask them to explain.

And by far the best resource for finding a good body shop is word of mouth, a friend that’s had work done and is happy to let you know about the auto body shop he had good luck with is a good sign they were treated well. If you have no friends or coworkers that have had resent repairs, you can try the local automotive paint supply stores in the area, they visit shops large and small every day and may be able to help you out.

I hope this gives you a starting point, there is so much more to information on this subject and I will try to keep writing more articles in the near future.

Paintless dent removal works with your car’s existing materials to remove unsightly dents caused by minor accidents and impacts. Using specialty, reusable tools, the dent repair specialist is able to “massage” the dent so that it returns to its original shape. Because the process is very gentle, the factory paint is left intact, leaving no cracking, chipping, or any other evidence that damage occurred at the site.

Traditional auto body repair that relies on other methods can include everything from touch-up paint and body fillers to sanders – all of which leave a chemical residue both in the air and on the ground. While most auto body shops are responsible in their disposal of these types of chemicals, it is impossible for them to keep all the fumes contained or to avoid using chemical products which must then be replaced.

How PDR Saves Energy

When you choose a paintless dent removal company with mobile services, you get the added benefit of not being required to travel for estimates, repairs, or even touch-up work. Mobile dent removal companies typically make estimates through a picture you can either email or upload onto the Internet, and setting an appointment is as easy as finding a time when they’ll be in your area. The total driving time for everyone involved is reduced, saving on gas and carbon emissions.

Choosing a PDR Provider

While paintless dent removal can be done on almost any type of car, truck, or SUV, hybrid owners are among those who benefit the most. As responsible drivers who are already concerned about their impact on the environment, hybrid owners can rest easy knowing that they’re taking care of their cars without adding undue pressure on our ecological system. It’s a win-win situation for everyone.

Paintless dent removal works with your car’s existing materials to remove unsightly dents caused by minor accidents and impacts. Using specialty, reusable tools, the dent repair specialist is able to “massage” the dent so that it returns to its original shape. Because the process is very gentle, the factory paint is left intact, leaving no cracking, chipping, or any other evidence that damage occurred at the site.

Traditional auto body repair that relies on other methods can include everything from touch-up paint and body fillers to sanders – all of which leave a chemical residue both in the air and on the ground. While most auto body shops are responsible in their disposal of these types of chemicals, it is impossible for them to keep all the fumes contained or to avoid using chemical products which must then be replaced.

How PDR Saves Energy

When you choose a paintless dent removal company with mobile services, you get the added benefit of not being required to travel for estimates, repairs, or even touch-up work. Mobile dent removal companies typically make estimates through a picture you can either email or upload onto the Internet, and setting an appointment is as easy as finding a time when they’ll be in your area. The total driving time for everyone involved is reduced, saving on gas and carbon emissions.

Choosing a PDR Provider

While paintless dent removal can be done on almost any type of car, truck, or SUV, hybrid owners are among those who benefit the most. As responsible drivers who are already concerned about their impact on the environment, hybrid owners can rest easy knowing that they’re taking care of their cars without adding undue pressure on our ecological system. It’s a win-win situation for everyone.