Best Auto Body Shops in St. Louis

Frequently Asked Questions

• Introduction

  Auto body shops, sometimes called auto body repair shops or collision centers, focus on repairing the body of a vehicle. Auto body repair specialists restore dented panels, such as bumpers, fenders, and doors in addition to repainting exterior surfaces.

  
  

  While much of an auto body shop's work concerns a vehicle's appearance, specialists may also repair frame damage and replace windshields and other windows. Interior fixes include headliner, weatherstrip, and seat removal and replacement.

  
  

  Although frequently confused with one another, auto body shops and auto repair shops each focus on separate aspects of a vehicle. As discussed above, auto body shops concentrate on the structural elements. Mechanics in auto repair shops fix the mechanical and electrical components that allow the vehicle to work properly.

• Where can I repair my car after an accident?

  If the vehicle's hood, roof, trunk, bumper, or any other exterior panel is dented, an auto body shop repairs the damage and repaints the car's exterior surface. Mechanical and electrical repairs, such as brakes, power steering, and broken tail lights, are handled through an auto repair shop.

• What do auto body shops do?

  Auto body shops handle the balance and aesthetics of a vehicle. Technicians repair the sheet metal dents. They replace the car's damaged body parts, including doors, fenders, bumpers, and glass. Auto body shops also refinish the vehicle's exterior surface, matching paint to factory colors. Some shops can also repair a vehicle's frame.

• What is collision repair?

  After a collision, your vehicle may require both mechanical and body repair. A body shop can fix dents, replace parts like fenders and doors, and repaint a vehicle. A collision repair center, however, offers more extensive services, often repairing the mechanical and body damage caused as the result of an accident.

• How much does collision repair cost?

  Depending on the extent of damage, collision repair costs can range from as low as $50 to well into the thousands, according to insurance.com. Touching up minor scratches with paint may register on the low end of the cost spectrum, while repairing a bumper might incur a charge of $700, and repainting the entire vehicle could cost $7,000.

• How do I estimate how much auto body work would cost?

  If you've been involved in an accident, you might first want to begin by contacting your insurance company. It will arrange for an adjuster to evaluate the damage, and its representatives can often provide their insured with a list of approved body shops. Armed with the adjuster's findings, it's recommended you get several quotes before choosing a shop.

• Do auto body shops do payment plans?

  Each shop determines its own payment policies. Some auto body shops accept payment plans through their partnerships with specific lending agencies. You also have the option of using a credit card with most establishments. Another alternative is to take out a personal loan with a lending institution. Paying cash, however, may afford you some leverage for negotiating a discount.