7 questions to ask a body shop before you hand over the keys

One: do you follow the manufacturer's published repair procedures for this vehicle, and can I see them? Modern procedures specify which panels may be sectioned, which fasteners are single-use and which welds are permitted. A shop that works from procedures will say so immediately. Two: will you perform pre- and post-repair scans, and will I get both reports?

Three: which parts will be used — OEM, aftermarket or recycled — and where does that appear on the estimate? This is a legitimate choice with cost implications, but it must be a choice you made. Four: will the driver-assistance systems be recalibrated, static or dynamic, and is the calibration documented?

Five: will structural measurements be taken on a bench or measuring system, with before-and-after printouts? On unibody cars this is what proves the geometry was restored rather than approximated. Six: how will colour be matched — by paint code alone, or by spray-out card checked against the actual panel under the same lighting?

Seven: what does the workmanship warranty cover, for how long, and is it transferable? Written answers to those seven questions form a repair file that follows the car. That file is worth real money at resale, because it converts "it was in an accident" into "it was repaired correctly, and here is the proof."