Thinking about taking your vehicle to an auto body shop can leave you wondering what distinguishes one business from another. If you're not sure where you'd prefer to get some attention for your car, follow these tips to figure out which shop you'd prefer to do business with.

Ask Your Insurance Carrier

Even if you're not making an insurance claim, the folks at your insurance agency have dealt with a lot of claims. They know which businesses have dealt squarely with their customers, and they know who does good work. Similarly, when you file a claim, it's good to work with a shop that has a relationship with your insurance carrier. Not only will they be able to iron things out quicker, but the technicians at the shop will likely have access to apps that allow them to send photos and assessments in a matter of seconds. This ensures that processing your claim will go faster.

See the Location

Auto body work requires a clean environment, and one of the easiest ways to judge a business is to see what their location looks like. If they're not taking care of the waiting area and any other things that you can see, the odds are good they're also not taking care of their repair space or paint booths.

Take the time to ask about the technologies they use, too. If you're worried about the use of eco-friendly methods, ask whether they employ water-based paints and follow government-approved standards.

Look at Their Work

Most places take pictures of the work they do, and they'll happily share it with you. Folks who are good at auto body work love to explain techniques and show off their results. Look for brightly lit photos, and take note of whether they show off the vehicles from all angles.

Be Careful About Online Reviews

It can be tempting to lean on online reviews for information, but be aware that there's a selection bias in play with who leaves them. Disaffected people often take to the internet to grind axes. When you read reviews, try to find common themes in the reviews, but also take them with a grain of salt.

If there's someone you know who has had work done at a particular auto body shop, don't hesitate to inquire about it and ask to see the vehicle. Learn what their knowledge of auto body is, and try to take that into account.