“Look at the shop’s equipment and see how clean it is,” says Joe Milani, owner of Milani’s Autocraft in Novato. “If the floor has a lot of old, rusted cars in varying states of assembly, then the company’s turnaround times probably aren’t very good.” If there are only older vehicles in the shop, consider taking your new vehicle somewhere else. Conversely, if you’re looking to restore an older car and the shop is filled with new models, it’s probably not the best place to entrust your beloved classic.
Cleanliness is important, advises Mr. Milani. A shop that takes the time to maintain a clean work floor is one that will take time to do a repair job right. “Look at the equipment and ask questions,” he says. “See if the workers are knowledgeable about and have the equipment to repair full-frame and unibody vehicles.” Do they have state-of-the-art spray booths and laser-measuring systems? Do they have the equipment to adequately estimate and repair your car? Answer these questions before making a choice.
If you keep your eyes open and aren’t afraid to ask a few questions, Mr. Milani says the difference between the best auto body shops and the rest of the industry will quickly become apparent.
