Part 2 - Revealing the Truth about "7 Things Auto Body Shops Won't Tell You"

Hello out there!  Last time we spoke I was revealing the truths about a ridiculous article posted on MSN.com titled “7 Things Auto Body Shops Won’t Tell You”.  I, Body Shop Babe, have already delved in to 4 of these claims and today I will reveal the truth about his last 3.  Along this trip of discovery we are playing a game called “Clap, Crap or Snap” and as we finalize this game today we will see what Mark Solheim, the writer of this ludicrous article, will earn after he rolls the dice for his final time...and I have a feeling it won’t be any score he would be proud of.

5.  A rented car will cost you. Renting a car for three weeks could cost $1,000 or more. Even if you have optional rental-car insurance (which costs $1 or $2 a month), your daily reimbursement may be limited to the cost of a compact car. If you need a minivan while your car is in the shop, make sure you have minivan-size coverage.

Good old Mark receives a “Clap” (+1 point) for this one!!  Hooray – and the crowd goes wild!!  If your policy does not have rental car coverage then get ready to dish some dough.  The average rental car in the economy & compact class will run you at least $40 a day plus tax.  That can add up very quickly.  When you use Casa Body Shop as your auto body repair shop and you don’t have rental coverage on your policy then we are able to get you a “shop rate” of $24.99 a day for an economy car plus tax. 

We really suggest you looking in to getting rental car coverage added on to your policy.  It typically costs $2-$4 a month but will end up saving you a lot of money if you ever need to use it!  Some companies will give you a dollar amount per day that they are willing to give towards your rental and some will give you a total amount for a specified time – for instance, $80 for 30 days of rental coverage.  You should talk with your insurance representative about what your insurance company offers and seriously consider adding this on.

6. Your car needs a shop that speaks its language. Many European cars use aluminum and ultrahard steel that require special equipment to repair. Plus, replacement parts for late-model European vehicles have to be fit with an especially high degree of precision. Shops should be certified by the manufacturer to do the work, meaning they must have specialized training and equipment -- and they charge higher rates. Insurers won't necessarily recommend these shops, but they should be willing to pay the tab.

I will be kind and give this point a “Snap” (0 points) for being partially true.  IF your car is a Jaguar or Maserati – typically a high end European car – then you do need to use a shop that specializes in aluminum repairs.  These types of shops need a “clean room” where there is a sterile environment for anti-corrosion and specialty tools are used.  These shops will charge you higher rates because such specialized tools and methods are used.  But most likely, if you are driving a Maserati you know that your repairs will be higher than if you would have bought a Honda - duh.

For the majority of the population that is driving Fords, Toyotas, Chevys, Hondas, Cadillacs, etc. any shop SHOULD be able to repair your vehicle.  A professional shop will have trained technicians that know how to properly repair different vehicles.  Casa Body Shop repairs all makes and models and offers a lifetime guarantee on workmanship so you know we stand by our repairs to be first class!!!

7. The insurer's warranty isn't all it's cracked up to be. Insurers sometimes dangle warranties on the parts (for as long as you own the vehicle) to entice you to go to shops in their network. But the body shop's guarantee is the one that's important. Nearly all shops will guarantee their work, and parts makers guarantee their parts, making the insurance warranty all but worthless.

And for our last point in this wonderfully executed article, the author receives a glowing “Crap” for a big -1 point.  The insurance companies warranty is a big deal and you should be confident in it.  If your insurance company has a contract with a body shop then both the insurance company gives you a warranty on workmanship and parts and so does the body shop.  The insurance companies have standards they uphold and any reputable insurance company wants their in-network body shops to A – do excellent work and B – take care of their customers even if it means to go above and beyond what the customer expects. 

If your insurance company sends you to one of their shops and the work was not done correctly then the insurance company has guaranteed that work and will either force that shop to correct the work that was done incorrectly or if something has happened to that shop, then they will send it to one of their other networked shops to make sure the vehicle is correctly repaired. 

You do not have to use a body shop that your insurance company directs you to.  You have a choice to use any body shop that you like.  If you choose to use a body shop that is not on your insurance company’s list of shops then they will not guarantee the work.  But, a professional, long-standing body shop like Casa Body Shop will have its own guarantee where workmanship and paint has a lifetime guarantee and parts a 12-month guarantee.

In conclusion, our fantastic author Mark Solheim earned a big….da da da daaaaa….. NEGATIVE 2 points!  Sorry Mark, you have tragically lost this game but you have given us some things about auto body repair, body shops and insurance companies to talk about.

If you have any questions or were under some assumptions like good old Marky Mark then please post a comment or email us at info@casabodyshop.com and let us help you understand our world of auto body repair a little better. J

Body Shop Babe – over and out.