It’s the ARLnow Five and Five, where nonprofit Washington Consumers’ Checkbook provides five top-rated local businesses and five tips for getting great service and prices. ARLnow readers can access all of Checkbook’s ratings of auto body shops until May 5 at Checkbook.org/ARLnow/auto-body.
These Arlington-area auto-body shops received Washington Consumers’ Checkbook’s top rating for quality (as reported by their customers in Checkbook’s surveys).
Bailey’s Crossroads Auto Body
5710 Center Ln
Falls Church, VA 22041
703-671-0810
Best Auto Body
5635 S Van Dorn St
Alexandria, VA 22310
703-922-0777
Falls Church Auto Body
101 W Jefferson St
Falls Church, VA 22046
703-237-8166
Fleming’s 1st Choice Autobody
525 S 31st St
Arlington, VA 22202
703-836-6920
NT Auto Body
3945 Wheeler Ave
Alexandria, VA 22304
703-370-4242
Checkbook’s Top Five Tips for Auto Body Work Success
- If there is even a possibility of serious damage to your car, take it to a shop that rates high for quality, and have the insurer send its estimator there. That shop will provide a better evaluation of the damage than an insurance company drive-in appraisal center.
- The best body shops not only do great work but employ staff who can explain and justify exactly what needs to be done. If you will be dealing with an insurance company, an articulate representative at the body shop will be the key to getting necessary repairs performed and paid for.
- Since most repairs are paid for by insurance companies, most customers consider price less important than quality. The consumer is usually concerned only that the prices are acceptable to the insurer. If the customer is paying for the work, however, price is an important consideration—and Checkbook finds big shop-to-shop price differences.
- Check your car thoroughly before taking it home from the shop. Look and feel whether repaired surfaces are smooth and paint has the proper gloss and color. Take a test drive if the damage was substantial. The car should function as it did before the accident.
- Ask your body shop for a written guarantee. You are likely to get a minimum of 30 days’ guarantee against defects in parts, materials, and workmanship, and most high-quality shops offer guarantees of six months or longer; the length of some guarantees varies by type of job.
Washington Consumers’ Checkbook magazine and Checkbook.org is a nonprofit organization with a mission to help consumers get the best service and lowest prices. We are supported by consumers and take no money from the service providers we evaluate.