Have you or a loved one ever had a minor dent or major work done to your vehicle? Why does the industry suffer from a poor image? Were you happy with the process? Am I getting good value for my money? How do you know if the repairs will be done properly? Your car is one of your largest investments. Have it repaired properly.

How can you tell a good facility from a substandard one? Here a few keys:

Is the facility clean and well lit?

Do they have modern equipment and current technical references?

Can you tour the facility?

Do you see signs, plaques or qualifications of technician training?

Do they use Software to write estimates or is it done as a GuEsstimate?

Do they have a computerized paint mixing system for exact matching and mixing?

Do they have a Lifetime Warranty for repairs?

Do they provide a status report on your vehicle throughout the repair process?

Differences in repair estimates are common. A lower estimate may not include all necessary work. If you're not sure why one estimate is different from another you've received, ask why.

Do they offer re-inspection services to ensure that the work you paid for was actually done.

If the answer is "No" to any one of those questions, then turn around and walk away. I know, I know, you're trying to save money by going to a lower priced facility. However, the experience of thousands of consumers reveal the same thing every time:

Buyer Beware, You Get What You Pay For.

If something sounds too good to be true, then chances are, it is. When do you want out that sub-standard work was performed? Hurtling down the road with your family at 80 km/h is not the time to find that the bolts to fasten your door panel weren't well secured.