3 Tips For Collision Repair After A Fender-Bender

According to estimates from car insurance companies, the average driver will file a claim for a collision at least once every 17.9 years. While being involved in a minor fender-bender may not be life-threatening, your car could sustain some damage during these types of accidents. 

Here are three tips that you can use to ensure that you get the proper collision repair after your next fender-bender.

1. Choose your own body shop.

If you are filing a claim through your car insurance company, your insurance agent may recommend a body shop that he or she routinely works with when it comes to repairing damage caused in a collision. It's important to understand that you don't have to take your car to the recommended body shop if you feel that another establishment might be able to provide better service. 

If you own a high-end or luxury vehicle, you will want a body shop that specializes in repairing the make and model of your car. Don't be afraid to tell your insurance agent that you will be choosing your own body shop when repairing collision damage after a fender-bender.

2. Do not accept aftermarket parts.

To reduce the cost of repairs, many insurance companies will try to get a collision repair shop to use aftermarket parts when restoring your vehicle after a fender-bender. Since aftermarket parts are created by a different manufacturer than the one that produced your vehicle, the quality of these aftermarket parts can vary. 

Many aftermarket parts are not crash-tested, so their safety could be questionable. The installation of aftermarket parts could also void your vehicle's warranty, so ensuring that any parts that need to be replaced following a fender-bender are replaced with Original Equipment Manufacturer (or OEM) parts is essential.

3. Be sure that the paint looks consistent.

When a vehicle's body panel needs to be replaced due to collision damage, the new panel must be painted to match the rest of the car. Obtaining an exact match when making paint repairs can be difficult, so it's important that you take the time to ensure that the paint on your repaired vehicle looks consistent. 

Examine your vehicle in bright sunlight, and from a distance to spot any paint inconsistencies that might need to be fixed before you are satisfied that the collision repair is complete.

Being involved in a fender-bender can be stressful, but knowing how to ensure your car is properly repaired after a collision can help reduce the stress associated with a minor car accident in the future. Contact a business like Accurate Auto Body or another location for more information.

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