Choosing The Right Body & Paint Shop in Tacoma


Porsche with a new paint job after a collision.

The last thing anyone wants, is to be involved in an auto accident that requires body and paint work.  Most consumers are apprehensive about body shops because they’re not quite sure what to expect or how it all works, not to mention what the repair bill will look like.

At Collision Specialists our number one goal is to make the body repair process as smooth and painless as we can.  We value our customers and know that is how we’ve grown through the years, and for that we’re very grateful.

Porsche before a new paint job.

The hard part is finding the best shop if you don’t already know where you’re going or if you don’t have a solid referral.  We came across an article on Edmunds.com that we think offers some very helpful tips for choosing a good body shop.

First of all, word-of-mouth is the most important thing to pay attention to.  Just because a shop advertises a lot does not mean that they are the best.  Check out reviews online if you don’t know anyone who can give you a referral.  If you have a referral but don’t feel completely confident with it, still check out online reviews.  Don’t worry if there is one or two bad ones, disgruntled people like to get online and rant, but if there are quite a few negative ones (especially in proportion to good ones), look elsewhere.

Get several estimates in order to avoid being overcharged.  However, keep in mind you probably don’t want to go with the cheapest shop, especially if the estimate is really low.  This probably means that they are going to cut corners.

Go in with the questions that you have on your mind.  You’ll want to leave feeling good about your decision, so get to know the shop and the people that work there.   Find out how long they have been in business, if they offer a warranty, and what materials they will use on your car.  Depending on the damage to your car, you might want them to use aftermarket parts to save money…. or maybe you know that isn’t something you want.

Most of all follow your intuition.  If the body shop isn’t busy, that may be a sign that they don’t do good work.  If they don’t want to communicate with you and seem annoyed at your questions, it might be another sign to move on.

Use the quick links below to view details on our popular services: