While there has been a decrease in the number of car owners in the US, over 90% of American households still have access to at least one vehicle. With so many vehicles in the country, one would think that finding a reliable and affordable auto body shop in Los Angeles or anywhere else in the US would be incredibly easy. But that’s not always the case – especially if you’re a new car owner. 

Of course, that doesn’t mean there aren’t shops to be found on every street in your city. But there’s no way that all of them are reputable establishments. Or that they’ll be able to provide you with services that you can afford. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to make sure that you do end up choosing the right auto body shop for you and your vehicle. 

Do your research.

The best way to find out which is the best auto body shop for your needs is to take the time to do your research. What does that mean? 

First, get recommendations from people – friends, family members, colleagues, and even acquaintances. Find out which shops they frequent and why. Gather all the information they have on their preferred auto body shop. But don’t stop there. Dig deeper and find out more about these shops. Look at customer reviews online if there are any. Check out their reputation through a variety of websites such as Yelp and Better Business Bureau. Visit the shop’s own website, if it exists. 

Questions to ask when doing research:

• Have there been any complaints regarding their services, employees, or prices?
• What specific services do they offer? Do they offer frame repair services? 
• How much do services cost?

Get several estimates.

Asking for recommendations and doing some online research is simply the first step. The next thing you need to do is to get estimates from all the shops you found. Find out how much they charge for services. What’s the usual cost of their car diagnostic services? How much is labor? What about the cost of parts? 

Don’t forget to ask how long repairs will take. Most shops use a reference guide that provides them with estimates on how many hours it takes to perform certain repairs. 

Compare the total costs plus the time it will take for each shop to finish repairs. Take note that the lowest estimate isn’t always the best choice. While it’s important that you protect yourself from being overcharged, you should also make sure you aren’t being scammed by a fly-by-night mechanic. 

Pro tip: some shops are willing to match the estimates of other shops, so don’t be shy to use the estimates you get to haggle and get yourself a good deal.

Ask for license and certification.

Make sure that any repair shop you choose has a business license. You don’t want to take your car to a shop that’s operating illegally. In addition, don’t be shy to ask if their auto body repair technicians are certified as well as how much experience they have and how long they’ve been working. Not only will the answers and documents help ease your mind about the shop’s capabilities, but it will also lower the risk of a bad repair job. 

Ask the right questions.

When choosing the right auto body shop for you, it’s important that you also take the time to ask questions. Be sure to gauge their attitude and level of knowledge based on their answers and how they respond to your questions. Are they polite and professional? Or do they seem unwilling and defensive? Do they seem interested in fixing your car problems? 

Since you’re already going to ask questions, you might as well ask the right ones. Ask if the shop provides a written warranty. If it does, find out how long the warranty is and what it covers. The minimum is a one-year warranty. 

Another question you should ask is about insurance. Does the shop have any? What kind do they have? What if your car is damaged by fire or burglarized while in the shop?

Don’t forget to ask about the materials that the shop uses. Do they prefer to use new parts? Aftermarket ones? What about used parts? New parts are great but aftermarket ones are more affordable. Used parts may cost less, but they won’t save you money in the long run.

Get the best auto repair shop nearest you.

As we’ve already mentioned, the most affordable car repair shop isn’t always the best choice. Sometimes, the one nearest you is better, even if it offers you a higher estimate. This is because it allows you to easily visit the shop to get a report on the progress of the repairs. In addition, some shops offer a towing and deliver service to their customers who live nearby. 

Why choose us?

If you’re a resident of Los Angeles and are in need of car repair services due to an accident or a collision, there’s only one auto body repair shop that fits the criteria listed above – Hyperion Collision Center. 

We are a licensed auto body repair shop that has been in service for over 30 years. We employ certified technicians as well as professional estimators and staff members trained to provide the best customer care. We use up-to-date equipment and materials. 

We offer a lifetime warranty. Not only that, we waive our clients’ deductibles and even assist them with their insurance claims. When it comes to the best auto body repair shop, you can’t go wrong with Hyperion Collision Center.