Madison, WI. – You have been involved in a pretty bad car accident. Your insurance company says the damage is substantial but won’t go as far as to deem your vehicle “totaled.” Their advice; hire a qualified body shop to make the extensive repairs. They may even give you a list of local body shops they have deemed reputable. But now it’s up to you to find the shop who will do the best job they can to make your car as good as new. Where to start?
According to James Anderberg, director of Ball Body Shop, a division of Smart Motors in Madison, one of the most important things to do when looking to hire a body shop, whether it’s for major or minor repairs, is to start by asking the right questions.
“Start with your insurance company,” says Anderberg. “Ask them if you need to use one of their pre-qualified body shops.” Anderberg says if your insurance provider requires you to use one of their repair facilities and you go elsewhere, you may end up paying out of pocket, so make sure to understand the insurance company’s regulations regarding repairs.
Of course you want your car to come out of a body shop looking like new, so the next thing you’ll want to do if your insurance company permits you to look for your own repair service is to ask people you trust to make some referrals. Make a list using the referrals as well as shops you might find through your own research and start compiling initial quotes.
“There are basic, general questions you should ask each body shop on your list, and then there are the specifics that could really affect the way your vehicle is repaired,” says Anderberg. “Be prepared for a lot of numbers to be thrown your way, and really listen to the body shop representative when it comes down to the nitty-gritty.”
Anderberg says each of the shops on your list will probably start with an inspection which will lead to an estimate and will include high and low-end numbers. It may be tempting to go with the lowest estimate, but if you want the job done properly, your next set of questions will really help you distinguish the quality of an auto body shop.
“Ask the body shop point blank if they have the equipment and training to fix your car correctly,” he says. “Today’s cars might include Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, ADAS. It takes special tools, training, and technology to know how to make these repairs in order to maintain the safety of the vehicle.”
Anderberg says along with this, you should ask what kind of parts will be used to fix your vehicle. Even though the estimate may be lower, you need to beware of any shop who uses salvaged or aftermarket parts. Utilizing these cheaper parts could compromise the safety rating of your vehicle.
“You also may want to ask if the repair shop will make the experience convenient for you,” he says. “High-quality shops will do everything they can to create a satisfied customer; from scheduling a rental vehicle and/or a tow, to communicating with the insurance company.”
Anderberg says if repairs take three days, the client at Ball Body Shop will get a loaner vehicle for three days. If it takes three weeks, the loaner is theirs for three weeks, all at no charge. The loaner vehicles (cars, hybrid cars, vans, trucks) are free to use until repairs are completed if you don’t have rental coverage.
When Ball Body Shop expanded their operation in 2010, it became the largest full retail body shop in the state. It also added high tech equipment to become a state-of-the-art facility. From an alignment rack that can lift any vehicle, to a full-service glass company (NOVUS Glass Madison), Ball Body Shop remanufactures vehicles back to pre-accident condition according to the original manufacturer’s specifications.
There’s even a special 220 volt squeeze resistant spot welder which knows the make and model of every vehicle. The $25,000 computerized welder knows the contour of every car, truck or SUV and will tell the technician the precise point to weld. “Our goal with every repair is to restore the vehicle to pre-accident condition using the exact specifications from the vehicle’s manufacturer,” said Anderberg.
Ball Body Shop has served the Madison community for over 60 years and its technicians feature decades of experience. Their team is constantly learning new techniques and strategies to make the vehicle remanufacturing process more efficient and affordable.
These amenities and the state-of-the-art facility might make it sound exclusive, but Ball Body Shop works with all major insurance providers to ensure they can quickly get their customers back on the road. Ball Body Shop repairs over 2500 vehicles per year, with the utmost levels of quality.
“And yes,” says Anderberg, “we have the equipment and know-how to make just about any vehicle look and operate like new again.”
About Ball Body Shop
Ball Body Shop, the official body shop of Smart Motors, opened its doors in 1950 and has provided body services to all makes and models of vehicles ever since. Ball Body Shop has been voted “Best Body Shop” by readers of Madison Magazine over the years and is located at 2225 Eagle Drive, Middleton WI. Phone #: 608.831.5944.
