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Eight questions separate a great shop from a bad one, and a shop worth your keys answers all of them without flinching. The two that matter most: is the workmanship warranty in writing, and do they handle ADAS calibration in-house or through a documented sublet.
→ send us photos: free written estimate, usually same day.You’ve been in an accident. Your car needs work. Now you have to pick a body shop, and the shop you pick determines how your car looks, drives, and protects you for years.
Here are the 8 questions that separate a great shop from a bad one. Ask all of them before you commit.
Ask These Before You Hand Over Your Keys
- Are you going to use OEM or aftermarket parts? For structural and safety parts, the answer should be OEM.
- Do you have a lifetime workmanship warranty? The answer should be yes, in writing.
- What's your process for paint matching? Listen for “spectrophotometer” and “blending into adjacent panels.”
- Will you recalibrate my ADAS after the repair? The right answer is a specific yes, performed or coordinated on every applicable repair.
- Can I see the shop? A good shop welcomes you in, clean floors, organized tools, a real paint booth.
- What's the realistic timeline? A real range, with the caveat that supplements after teardown can push it.
- Who will be my point of contact? A specific person's name, your service advisor, start to finish.
- Can I see reviews and photos of your work? Real, recent reviews and before/after photos of cars like yours.
1. Are You Going to Use OEM or Aftermarket Parts?
For structural parts and safety components (frame rails, airbags, sensors), the answer should be OEM, original equipment manufacturer. For cosmetic parts (some bumper covers, trim), high-quality aftermarket can be acceptable. A shop that says “we’ll use whatever your insurance approves” without pushing back is a shop that’s working for your insurance, not you.
2. Do You Have a Lifetime Workmanship Warranty?
The answer should be yes. Reputable shops back their work for as long as you own the vehicle. If the shop only warranties 1 year or 90 days, they’re hedging, they expect their work to fail and they’re protecting themselves from the cost. Read about our lifetime workmanship warranty.
3. What’s Your Process for Paint Matching?
The right answer involves the words “spectrophotometer” and “blending into adjacent panels.” A shop that just “mixes the paint code” and sprays the panel will leave you with a visibly different shade, common with chains. Computerized color reading + blending = invisible repair.
4. Will You Recalibrate My ADAS After the Repair?
If your vehicle has lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, or 360 cameras, it has ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems). After collision repair, these systems often require recalibration. A shop that says “you should be fine” without checking is a shop that doesn’t take safety seriously. Real answer: “yes, we perform or coordinate ADAS calibration on every applicable repair.”
5. Can I See the Shop?
A good shop welcomes you. You should be able to walk through the work area (with appropriate safety gear) and see how the place is organized. Look for: clean floors, organized tools, separate aluminum work area (if they do aluminum repair), modern frame rack, a paint booth that’s clearly climate-controlled. Avoid: cars stacked in a dirt lot, parts strewn everywhere, no paint booth (curtain in a bay isn’t a paint booth).
6. What’s the Realistic Timeline?
Ask: “If I drop off Monday, when am I picking up?” A good shop gives you a real answer, usually a range, with the caveat that supplements after teardown can push it. A shop that promises 3 days for a major collision is over-promising. A shop that won’t commit at all is hiding something.
7. Who Will Be My Point of Contact?
The answer should be a specific person’s name, your service advisor. You shouldn’t be passed between people every call. One person should know your repair from drop-off to pick-up.
8. Can I See Reviews and Photos of Your Work?
Yes, Google reviews, Yelp, the shop’s portfolio. Look for real, recent reviews (not just stars). Look for before/after photos of work similar to yours. If the shop’s online presence is bare or 100 5-star reviews appeared in the last month, be skeptical.
Red Flags
Avoid shops that:
- Won’t give you a written estimate
- Pressure you to make a decision on the spot
- Tell you not to involve your insurance (“I’ll do it cheaper for cash”)
- Don’t have a paint booth
- Don’t have a frame rack
- Won’t answer “will you use OEM parts?” directly
The TL;DR
If a shop has a lifetime workmanship warranty, real reviews, a clear answer on OEM parts and ADAS calibration, and gives you a specific service advisor, they’re probably good. If they hesitate on any of those, keep shopping.
Need a free estimate from a shop that checks every box above? Submit photos for a free virtual estimate, usually back within one business day.
“Expert quality repair. Made car look like new. Car returned crystal clean.”
