When you've been in an accident or your vehicle has otherwise suffered damage, you need a good auto body shop to handle the repairs. However, it can be difficult to choose the right shop for your vehicle. To ensure you’re happy with your selection, below are some tips for choosing the right collision repair facility.

How to Select a Good Auto Body Shop

1. Ask Around

When a shop does particularly excellent work, they normally develop a reputation for quality. People are typically happy to share the name of a team that treated them well, so feel free to ask friends, neighbors, and work colleagues if they can recommend a shop. Recommendations by people you trust are a terrific method of narrowing down your choices. Ask about shops that have ties to the community. Is the business family owned and operated? Are they involved in community activities, such as donating to local charities or sponsoring local sports teams? These kinds of connections often indicate a business that feels a deep sense of responsibility to its clients and the community at large.

2. Get Multiple Estimates

Although price shouldn’t be your only criterion, affordable service is an important consideration when selecting a good auto body shop. Get quotes from multiple sources and select a shop whose rates seem fair. If they’re too expensive, they may be price gouging. If they’re too inexpensive, they may be inexperienced, or may be hiding fees that they’ll charge later. Additionally, look for a shop that offers free quotes. You shouldn’t be charged even before the technicians start repairing your vehicle.

3. Ask About Experience

You want an auto body shop that has been in business for at least a few years. The longer the shop and its technicians have been working in the industry, the more experience they’ll have diagnosing and repairing vehicles. A shop with some years under its belt has likely been doing something right to survive. Additionally, ask if the team has experience with your make, model and year, especially if you drive a foreign or otherwise uncommon vehicle. 

For expert collision repair at affordable rates, contact Murray's Auto Body Shop in Goshen, NY. This family-owned and -operated auto body shop has been serving Orange County since 1953. A pillar of the community, they’re involved in various local charitable organizations. They specialize in wheel alignment, frame straightening, and bumper replacement, and they take pride in solving your car issues the first time. Visit their website to view directions and business hours. Call (845) 294-6139 to schedule an appointment or request a free quote.