Questions and Answers

Honda Accord Needs Some Paint Work Q. Vincent, My new 2003 Honda Accord needs some paint work done to it because of some scratches. What should I look for in a quality auto body repair shop? They will need to do some touch up paint work as well. So, what is normal and what is "beyond the call of duty" as far as painting goes.

What should I ask about when searching for a body shop? What are the pitfalls and traps associated with this kind of work. I wan't the paint to be like the factory and I don't mind paying to get a perfect job done.

Thanks,
Dana
Cary, NC

A. It is hard to offer advice on body work since there are so many variables. A lot depends on where the scratches are located, how deep they are and the color the car is painted.

In general you look for a body shop the same way you should look for any repair facility. Talk to friends, neighbors and co-workers and get recommendations from them. Then call the local BBB and see what kind of track record they have. Look for a body shop that has ASE certified technicians.

Get at the very least two estimates. Most body shops will give you a free estimate or charge a small fee which is usually deducted if you have the work done.

If there are a lot of scratches then you're probably looking at have a whole body panel painted. If it is just one or two scratches then filling in and painting just the damaged area will suffice. At any rate the new paint will not exactly match the old paint but should come so close you won't notice it unless you really look for it.