First off, inspect the repair bill. This document should list all structural repairs made, frame & alignment spec sheets, and parts used in the repair process. The bill should itemize the type of parts used such as; used, aftermarket, rebuilt, or factory. Most body shops include a warranty, so ask what that warranty specifically covers. The bill should also have the incoming mileage and should be checked against the current mileage to verify that no joyriding was done.

Now it’s time to physically inspect the vehicle. Pay close attention to the affected areas and panels. Make sure the doors, hood, and truck open and close smoothly. Also check the size of the gaps of the panels compared to the opposite side as to how they fit against the body.

Make sure the painted panels match perfectly with the body. Check for dust and imperfections using the interior lighting of the shop. You can do this by inspecting the paint at an angle. The paint should be smooth and perfect. Then pull the vehicle into the sun and check the color match against the rest of the existing body panels. There should be no difference in the coloring. As a non-expert, you shouldn’t be able to see any difference or the job was probably done wrong.

At this time you should check for overspray-or paint on areas that shouldn’t be painted. Check the windows, body side moldings, rims, chromed panels, or anything else that should not have been painted. If the paint job was done properly, these items would have been masked or removed before painting.

Next, check all electrical items. Make sure that the headlights, taillights, side markers, turn signals, and other electrical components that are in the affected areas are working. Sometimes as items are removed and replaced in the repair process, wiring can be disconnected or severed. If it worked before you brought it in then you want to make sure it’s fixed there, especially if a panel has to be removed. Also check the radio, as sometimes the battery has to be removed during certain procedures, and you may need a security code to get it working again. Try and spot any electrical hassles before leaving the body shop.

On the drive home, be sure to be observant for any unusual sounds or handling issues. If it doesn’t feel and handle the same way it did before the accident then you may have a problem.

If you find a problem after you’ve taken it home, be sure to get it back to the shop immediately. The longer you wait the less likely that shop will take your concern seriously. If you should feel that your repair shop is not addressing your concerns appropriately, you should contact the insurance company-who is paying that shop for the work. If that doesn’t resolve your concerns you can always contact Consumer Affairs or the Better Business Bureau.

At Collision Authority, we frequently inspect the work of other shops on behalf of customers, and sometime fix mistakes made by those shops. If we find something that needs repairing, we may be able to simply bill the insurance company and they recoup their money from the original shop. Our only concern is that your repairs were done safely and properly.

If you have concerns regarding the workmanship on your vehicle, you could bring your vehicle to Collision Authority for a full inspection just by contacting any one of our convenient locations throughout the valley. Click Here to Contact Us. These inspections are done by appointment only and usually by the General Manager, so please call and make the arrangements first.