Anyone who is a driver knows that having a driver’s license requires a great deal of responsibility and awareness of safety at all times. Unfortunately, even with the right precautions, accidents are bound to happen on the road. According to CNBC, there were 42,795 deaths due to car accidents, an increase of about 10% since 2020. If you've recently been in a car accident, it's important to have your car assessed for damage right away. Even if the damage seems minor, it's still important to have a technician take a careful look at the vehicle. The good news is that a reputable collision center will take care of your car from start to finish. Be sure to keep these nine things in mind when you are searching for an auto repair shop after an accident to ensure the best service.

1. Estimates and Inspections

Before leaving your car at a shop, it's important you know what you can expect to be done to your vehicle. You'll want to make sure that the technicians offer a detailed and comprehensive exam and note any damages that may need fixing. Pay attention to whether they take their time or rush through the general estimate, as this shows extra care for their customers and vehicles. Look for someone who offers comprehensive, free estimates for any accident-related damages and provides photo documentation throughout the process as well. They should take time to check the minor details such as locks, lights, windows, alignment, and other mechanical functions.

2. Accident Repairs

After an accident, it's extra important to first make sure your car is repaired appropriately. Collisions can take a toll on your car in many ways, including minor damage to parts or major damage to the entire body of your car. Whether you've experienced a large accident and need larger repairs on your vehicle, or have damage from a minor fender-bender, look for an auto shop that can bring your car back to its pre-accident condition. It's important to look for experts who can help restore your car to new and offer comprehensive repair services, including electrical wiring, broken lights, or even a complete bumper replacement.

3. Post-Accident Refinishing Services

While ensuring that your vehicle is able to drive and the necessary repairs are made, making sure your car looks as good as new is also essential in the post-collision process. After all, if your car is running well again, you want it to also look good! Make sure to look for an auto center that also takes painting and refinishing seriously. Enlist technicians who understand the importance of car aesthetics and only use the best materials to finish your vehicle. Scratches and chips are common after car accidents, so a good paint job is key. Look for a collision center that has experience repainting all models of vehicles. They should offer custom paint jobs to the entire vehicle and areas affected by the collision. They should use a color-matching system for that extra bit of care in refinishing your car.

4. Walk-In Availability

You never know when your vehicle is going to be in need of repairs. That's why it's important to find a collision center that offers walk-in availability. This will allow you to be able to get your vehicle repaired as soon as possible. It also shows a true dedication to customer satisfaction. By offering walk-ins, a collision center is proving that they are always ready to assist in vehicle repairs.

5. Final Inspection and Finishing Touches

While repairs and refinishing are important when it comes to repairing your car post-accident, you'll also want to look for a local collision center that pays attention to the small details, too. Many centers will do one final scan to double-check that everything has been taken care of, including headlights and electrical parts, showing they going the extra step to ensure your car is driving smoothly.

6. Post-Accident Maintenance

While getting your car fixed post-collision is essential, you'll also want to find an auto collision shop that cares for your car well after the accident. Keeping up with car maintenance is essential to making sure your car continues to run smoothly as well as help prevent other accidents in the future. Check to see what maintenance services your local auto body repair shop offers, such as air filters, lights, tires, transmission fluids, spark plugs, and more. Finding an auto collision shop that can offer post-collision services and regular maintenance services shows a dedication to keeping your vehicle on the road.

7. Quality Control

You may also want to check that the collision center has a special quality control process that will ensure everything is in working order. Find a collision center that goes the extra mile to ensure satisfaction with your car. For example, the best auto body shops will perform a final inspection and then have a dedicated quality control team do another once-over to make sure nothing was overlooked throughout the entire process. They should check to make sure the paint is matching and that damage wasn't missed. They should also give your car a final drive to make sure it's functioning properly.

8. Certifications

Even if an auto shop seems like it can perform repairs, detailing, or maintenance properly, you'll also want to make sure that they are a reputable company. You can do this by looking at their certifications. When checking for certifications, check to see if the technicians are certified by ASE. This means that they hold a certification from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence and work to keep up to date on vehicle repair and services. You can also see if the shop itself is I-CAR certified, which means that they are accredited by the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair. Both of these certifications and accreditations show a higher level of expertise and education in the industry. When you take your vehicle to a certified business, you can trust that your vehicle will be well taken care of by professionals who know what they're doing.

9. Positive Reviews

With so much information readily available, it might be a good idea to check the reviews of any local shop online. This will give you a good idea of the general reputation of the auto body shop as well as a behind-the-scenes sneak peek of the entire process. You should be able to tell that your body shop has worked hard to provide excellent results to other customers.

While being in a car accident is never fun, finding a collision body shop to partner up with can help you feel at ease and make the entire post-accident process feel less overwhelming. By checking these nine things at your chosen auto shop, you can be sure you're leaving your car in safe hands. You can feel confident in bringing your car to City Side Auto Body, where one of our ASE-certified technicians can share their expertise. If you've recently been in a collision or need repairs in your vehicle after any kind of car accident, don't hesitate to give us a call. We're happy to discuss more of our services and give you a free, comprehensive estimate. We look forward to assisting you. Reach out today to see how we can make your car repair as stress-free as possible.