Getting into an accident is never fun, and you are likely looking to get your vehicle fixed as soon as possible. That said, it's important to keep all of your options in mind when selecting a collision repair shop. Here are a few tips to keep in mind before you make your final decision and begin the process of getting your car fixed.

1. You Don't Have to Go to the Shop Suggested By Your Insurer

When you get into an accident, your insurance provider might suggest a repair shop in your area. This could be a shop that has an official partnership with that provider, so the insurer has an incentive to send you there. But you should understand that you are not obligated to take your car to this shop in order to receive coverage. You can take your vehicle to any shop you want. The only difference is that taking it to a different shop might cause you to have to pay for the expenses out of pocket, but you will get reimbursed in full for these expenses by your insurer.

2. You Have a Say in Which Parts Are Used

If you are paying for the repair out of pocket or will not be reimbursed in full by your insurance provider, you might want to try and keep the total repair bill down. That said, one way to do so would be to ask the repair shop to use recycled or refurbished auto parts instead of brand new ones. If your insurance is covering some of the repairs, you will want to talk to them in advance about what is and is not covered, but you should at least ask the appropriate questions to try and keep your bill down if possible.

3. Ask to Tour the Shop

Any reputable repair shop will have no problem letting a potential customer take a quick look around. In general, you're just looking to see that things look organized and professional before you hand over your keys. Just be sure not to walk to any area where someone is actually working on a vehicle as this could be dangerous for you or the worker.

When you need to get your car fixed after an accident, know that you have an option as to which repair shop you take your car to and which parts are used for the repair. Reach out to a local collision repair shop like Select Collision Group today to start collecting more information.