How to Know You Can Trust Your Panel Beater

There’s no doubt that being in a car crash is a stressful event on its own, let alone dealing with the resulting damage after the fact. From working out the costs, through to precisely what kind of professional help you need to enlist – there’s plenty to think about.

If you are required to find a panel beater to help you restore your vehicle, there are lots of things to keep in mind. For example, it’s essential to ensure that the professional you decide to work with is fully certified and has the knowledge required to get the job done effectively.

A good panel beater will keep all legal and regulatory elements in mind, as well, meaning all work is compliant with Australian standards. In the end, you’ll be left with a car that looks like it never hit the road in the first place and access peace of mind that you’re in safe hands.

So, how do you choose the right panel beater for you?

There are lots of options out there, we know. But every provider comes with its unique features and specialities. When choosing a panel beater to restore your car, first make sure that they carry all the certifications necessary to perform the services required. In Australia, a practising professional must have a certificate on the trade and must also have at least four years of experience in training.

Panel beaters learn the essential knowledge during this time, and their training areas should include the following:

• Removing, repairing and replacing damaged panels
• Shaping any new panels needed
• Filling and repairing dents on the vehicle
• Smoothing the vehicle
• Re-fitting all hardware
• Realignment of the vehicle.

Apart from this, other factors that you, as a client, should consider before handing in your vehicle over, include:

• Timeframe: Make sure a timeframe is discussed and a date on when all repairs will be done by. It’s not uncommon to hear stories about missed deadlines and jobs that take unnecessarily long.
• Reputation: Like with any other business, it’s important that you make sure that the panel beater carries a trustworthy reputation. Consider not only how they have been able to perform the work needed on other cars, but also how past customers have been treated overall. Timeliness and finishing a job on time is vital as this tends to be a common issue in the industry.
• Work guarantee: This is a written and signed agreement given to the customer by the panel beater confirming that all parts needing replacement have been replaced. It also outlines that all agreed work was completed effectively. This is an important document to keep in case anything unexpected happens to the car after it’s been repaired.
• Quote: Before any work begins on your car, your panel beater should send you a comprehensive quote outlining all the work that will be done. The quote should include an estimated labour cost, with line items on all of the time expected for the job to be completed. A note on any parts that will need to be replaced and their costs should also be included. You should carefully review this before commencing any further.

If all of these essential details – including clear dates, costs, and work – is outlined before the fact, you’ll be far better off than going in blind. To ensure the job is done accurately, both parties need to be aware of what the car repair will entail, as well as all specifics. Remember also to check certifications and reviews were possible to make sure that your panel beater is trustworthy in the field.