When trying to find auto body repair estimates you are likely going to call around to many shops in your area. Keep in mind though that without seeing the damage firsthand, it can be very difficult to offer an educated guess on the cost of repairs.
Replacing a bumper for instance might sound straight forward, but there is the chance that all mounting brackets are cracked, or even bent completely out of shape. This will certainly add to the cost since it was not factored in during the estimate. This line of work has very little in the way of cookie cutter solutions.
There are a few online tools and guides that can be used to help prepare yourself before getting auto body repair estimates but you still will have to wait until the end to find out exactly what it will cost.
Simple dent repair can generally be estimated, but keep in mind this is liable not to include any repainting, or the finer work when it comes to getting all blemishes from the metal. Creating a smooth surface takes work, and matching the colors takes paint, this will all increase the cost in the end.
Some shops might not even give you auto body repair estimates without seeing the vehicle themselves. These are probably the more honest auto body techs out there, but still you would like to know before going in.
Your best advice is going to be ask a friend or family member who might be able to tell you what all is needed before calling around town. By knowing exactly what work needs to be done your auto body repair estimates will be a lot more accurate by passing on this information. You still cannot really know actual price until the work is started, but at least you will know what to expect before signing on the dotted line.
