Auto collisions are stressful. You have to find an alternative as your car sits in the auto shop for some days for collision repairs. This is not to mention dealing with your insurance company. You want your vehicle back as soon as possible. Nonetheless, don’t jump right in after the repairs are done. Getting your car back to its pre-accident state is a complex process, and just because you know the auto body shop doesn’t mean you are off the hook. You trust the professionals, but it helps if you are a little attentive before you take your car. You don’t have to enlist an independent car inspector as that might dig deeper into your finances. Nonetheless, you can establish if the collision repair was done to your expectations with a few details. Among the straightforward post-repair inspection points to consider includes;
Signs of clipping
While you pay the top buck, some auto body services employ crafty measures to lower the parts costs and labor for more profits. A common checkpoint that can help you establish such shortcuts is clipping. This entails using a section from another car, for example, the front end. While not necessarily a bad thing, clipping can affect your car. This is keeping in mind that the models vary. The modern parts feature high-strength but lightweight materials. As such, clipping could affect your car’s structural integrity, exposing you to many safety risks. Unless agreed before undertaking collision repairs, you should be on the lookout for clipping, ensuring that your car is safe and that you get the value of your money.
The airbags
Airbags, especially the top-end, fetch a good price on the black market. If the collision requires airbags replacement, ensure that they are in place. Some unsavory auto body shops target unsuspecting car owners, charging them a full amount but fail to install the airbags. Ensuring the airbags are in place isn’t such a complicated process. Check the dashboard for the airbag indicator. You can also knock on the steering wheel gently; if it sounds hollow, it is an indication that the airbags aren’t in place.
Alignment
Wheel alignment can be a costly mistake. Your car will keep pulling to one side, exposing you to safety risks as it’ll be difficult to drive. What’s more, the tires will wear out faster, costing you more. Apart from the wheels, also check for bent body and wrong unibody alignment. Proper alignment is essential to maintain the car’s structural reliability, making it safer.
Used parts
You’ve invested in your auto insurance and want to get the value of your money. What you might not know is that some insurers collude with auto body shops to lower costs. This includes using duplicate or used parts for the collision repair. While not that common, it is always safer to be on the lookout for such practices. Ask the repair shop for receipts of the parts replaced; it’ll give you peace of mind.
Collision repair can be a confusing process. Nonetheless, you shouldn’t sit back and let the insurance and auto body shop do as they please. A post-repair inspection can reveal a lot, helping you ensure that you get the value of your investment as you strive to get your can in its pre-accident state.
Comments are closed.