When it comes to protecting your vehicle purchases, it pays to educate yourself. It would be nice to think that you can simply hand your car over to auto body shops and they'll take good care of everything, but that isn't always the case. A quality body shop will protect your vehicle and will help keep your car in great shape, but there are a few warning signs you should know about that might tip you off to a less-than-high-quality shop. Here are three auto body shop secrets you need to know.

Get Everything in Writing

Asking to get work orders and estimates in writing isn't rude, it's a commonplace practice. A reputable shop will have no problem providing an estimate for you. In fact, you probably won't need to ask. Having everything in writing protects you, the shop owner, and the technicians. If there is any confusion or questions later on about what work was done or how much was charged, you'll have documentation to back you up.

Owners Are Often Technicians as Well

You might want to ask specifically who will be working on your vehicle. If the owner is also a technician, it's worth it to request they work on your vehicle. They will likely take the work more seriously since it's a reflection of the business that they own. According to Gitnux, 72% of auto body shop owners work as their main technicians as well.

Auto Body Shops Require Licensing

You should be aware that many areas require that auto shops obtain licensing in order to operate their business. You'll want to check out the business you're considering to make sure they have the licensing they need. This is done as a safeguard for customers and the business too. Licensing usually requires that the owner proves that the technicians have the proper training or certifications to be doing the type of work that's being advertised. It's a good idea to do some research on any new auto body shops you're considering using to see if they have the right certifications and licensing.

These are just a few things you should be aware of before hiring auto body shops to work on your car. If you're looking for a reliable shop in your area, please contact Vision Collision today.