Auto Repair Shops

Okay, so the above two things are things to watch out for if you haven't picked an auto collision repair shop. What, you say your vehicle is already at a repair shop that the insurance company referred you to? Don't panic, here are some things that you can do that will help you keep the shop honest:

1. Ask the shop manager to provide you with a copy of all the invoices for parts they had to purchase to fix your car, and then compare the parts list with the cost listed on the insurance company estimate.

2. Ask the shop for a written repair guarantee.

3. Ask the shop if they are a direct repair facility for more than one insurance company (just asking this will make them think twice about cutting a corner at your expense). If they are, ask them for the list.

4. Bluntly ask if they have used new Original Equipment Manufacturer Parts (OEM), used OEM parts, or aftermarket parts.

5. Ask the shop to explain "betterment" to you, just because you are curious. This is just to show them that you are reading up on the repair process.