How to Talk to a Body Shop to Get Paint Fixed

Auto body repair shops work on all external, non-mechanical components of cars, including headlights, bumpers, door panels, quarter panels and hoods. Painting car replacement components or mending scratches in a paint job is routine work for most body shops. If you need to have the paint on your car or truck fixed, make sure you cover specific information about your vehicle, the paint damage and payment arrangements when you speak to a representative from the shop.

Instructions

1

Prepare basic information about your vehicle. Write down the year, make and model of your car. For example: 1998 Ford Contour.

2

Prepare specific information about the damage to your car. Document the part that needs to be painted, how deep the damage or scratch is and the length of the damage. For example: front driver-side fender, 3" shallow scratch.

3

Prepare payment or insurance information. If you are using your insurance to fix the paint on your car, be sure that the body shop you have chosen is approved by your auto insurer. Call your auto insurance company if you are not sure.

4

Contact the body shop. If corresponding by e-mail, prepare a picture of the area that needs to be painted. Hold a quarter or a tape measure in the photo for size context. If visiting in person, take your car or a photo of the damage.

5

Provide the prepared information to the body shop. Ask how much the repairs will cost and how long your car will need to be in the shop. Clarify payment information ahead of time so that there are no surprises when the work is finished and the body shop presents you with a bill.