Body Shop FAQ

General Motors Body Shop F.A.Q.'s

Here at the Old Mill & Eastside, we get a number of calls asking for information about our auto body & collision repair services, not only directions and hours, but detailed questions about process in general.

We felt it would be very helpful to our customers to come up with a list of Frequently Asked Questions and answer them publicly. If you don’t see the answer to your question , please  contact us directly at 416-878-3003.

Q. When my car is in an accident, do I have to take it to a shop that my insurance company recommends?

A. It is completely your decision to have collision repairs done at your shop of choice, however if the insurance company is directing you to a certain facility that means they are comfortable with that shop and usually your claim will go more smoothly.

Q. If I have a leased car, is it necessary to get it fixed at the dealership I purchased it from?

A. You do not have to, but if there are any problems when you go to trade in or lease return your car, if the dealership body shop repaired it, it should be covered by their warranty and not some independent shop that might not have a warranty.

Q. What is the difference between body shops at dealerships or independent body shops?

A. Most independent collision repair and body shops sort of make their own rules and fees for doing bodywork and sometimes don’t have the quality control that a dealership does. Also if the dealership sells the type of vehicle you drive, they are much more experienced with that line and usually have parts available quicker. They are able to offer additional services while your car is down for repairs (i.e. oil changes, recalls, detail work, or possible future new car purchases)which makes it more convenient for you as a consumer.

Q. When choosing a body shop to repair my vehicle what should I look for?

A. #1) Quality of the collision repair that the shop does, most shops nowadays have a website that usually has testimonials from customers and/or before and after pictures of vehicles they repaired.

#2) Also be sure to look for certification(s) at the shop. The longer a technician has been doing body repairs also contributes to the knowledge and experience they have with auto body repairs.

#3)  I also look for a clean and presentable facility (if the office looks like a mess, than usually the shop itself will be in a worse condition) office staff should be friendly and greet you with a smile.

Q. What happens if I pick my car up from a body shop and find a problem later on?

A. Most body shops have some sort of a guarantee or warranty for the repairs they perform. If the problem that occurs is related to the accident and not a workmanship problem with the body shop, then you can go back to the insurance company.

Make sure before you take your car to a body shop you research the shop and see what their warranty is and exactly what it covers and for how long.