Is your car making a rumbling noise? Do you not get enough power when you press on the gas pedal? Then you need to hop — or rather, drive — on down to the auto service shop. It's okay if you do not know what is wrong with your car, because that is the auto mechanic's job to figure out. They can take a look, run a few tests, and figure out what's going on. Then, they'll give you an estimate for the repairs. Your car will feel like a whole new machine once it's all fixed up! Learn more about that process as you read the articles we've curated here.
3 Potential Tips To Lower Your Auto Body Repair Bill
Have you recently run into a tree or damaged your vehicle's exterior through other means? Are you now left wondering how you're going to pay for the repairs? That the damage might not ultimately be your fault is little consolation when you're left staring at a dent in the side of your vehicle. Fortunately, there are a number of things you can do to potentially alleviate the situation. While not all of these will apply to every situation, some things that might potentially help include the following.
Check Insurance Policy
In some cases, your insurance policy may cover some or all of the cost of taking your vehicle to an auto body shop. While it's true that this can sometimes raise your premium rates, this isn't always the case. Depending on the extent of the damage and the cause, your insurance company may not charge you anything extra for having them cover the car repair. In some cases, you'll still be responsible for paying a portion in the form of a deductible but, again, this is something that you'll need to check with your insurance company rather than assuming anything one way or the other.
Install Used Parts
When it comes to some parts of your vehicle, such as the filters or belts, you really need to have these parts installed brand new, lest you risk damage to your vehicle. But for other things, such as doors or body panels, it doesn't matter whether your auto body shop installs a new part from the dealership or a used part from another vehicle. A used part is often a fraction of the cost of a new one and will last almost as long as a brand new part would last. Since some shops won't install used parts, it's important to establish whether or not this is even possible before you drop your vehicle off for service.
Have Other Work Done
When you're low on money, it might seem crazy to even think about having any additional work done to cut down on costs. However, this can actually be a viable way to save money. Instead of immediately taking your vehicle to the auto body shop, wait and start saving up money. When your vehicle needs other work done, that's when you take it to the shop. Instead of paying two labor charges on two separate repair bills, you may only have to pay a single labor charge for both repairs. This will help bring down the total repair bill, making everything more affordable.