We all need car repair, regardless of what needs to be done. But even with all the advancements in car safety and the way cars are built, we still have a lot of questions around the repair process. You might be wondering how much the repair will cost, how long will it take, what needs to be done, and so much more.
No matter what your question is, you would think wherever you take your car to be repaired would you only give you the best possible repair for your car, right? In fact, you’d think that body shops would be better than ever with their repairs with how advanced cars have gotten over the years. Unfortunately, this is not the case and every day, drivers across the country are victims of bad collision repair.
In fact, it’s usually long after you’ve left the shop that you notice your car is working the way you think it would following a lengthy repair process. It may have been in an accident, but even that doesn’t seem to justify why it’s not working properly. Sound familiar?
Perhaps you haven’t had your car repaired yet, and you want to know what are the signs of lousy collision repair that you can look out for. Whatever the case may be, we at Autotech Collision Service are here to let New Jersey drivers know the signs to look for when it comes to bad collision repair. We do this because we realize not every autobody shop will perform repairs the way the manufacturer wants, also known as OEM repairs. We do because your safety is our number one priority. A sloppy repair can actually put your life at risk, but we’ll get to that down below.
Although most states (including New Jersey) do not require technicians to be licensed to operate in a car, it is the shop’s responsibility to pay for the technician’s training in collision repair. 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 being trained and never take any short cuts in the repair process.
What Are The Signs?
Poor collision repair may not always be something that you can see but can be affecting your car from the inside. 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
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
Your car must be returned to you cleaned after getting a repair. It might sound a bit extreme, but believe it or not, a dirty vehicle is another sign of poor repair service. This is because your car is bound to get dirty 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 are unfortunate collision repair victims, more body shops are offering to provide this documentation as a service. It might take a while 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 New Jersey Can I Get Proper Car Repair?
Here at Autotech Collision Service, we want to show New Jersey drivers what it means to get your car repaired the right way. So many times, people are victims of bad collision repair, not realizing they have choices on where they get their car repaired and how important it is for a shop to follow OEM repair procedures.
We are an OEM certified repair shop that has been proudly serving Southern New Jersey for nearly 30 years. We aren’t stopping anytime soon because our customers are our number one priority. We pride ourselves in providing Southern New Jersey drivers with the highest quality OEM repairs because that’s what you deserve out of an auto body repair shop.
If you’d like to schedule an appointment or to get an online quote, click any of the buttons below! Or, feel free to give us a call at (856)-232-1833. We look forward to hearing from you!
