Body shop questions, answered

What to bring for an estimate, what can be repaired, and what to expect while your car is in the shop.

What to bring for an auto body estimate

A short checklist for your body shop visit: vehicle details, damage photos, insurance information and questions to ask before repairs.

Which photos to email a body shop, what details to include, and why a photo estimate may still need an in-person inspection.

What hidden collision damage means, how a repair supplement works, and what to ask when more damage is found behind a panel.

Why the size of a scuff is only part of the decision, and how mounting damage and vehicle sensors can affect a bumper repair.

When paintless dent repair may be an option, why panel access matters, and what changes if the paint is cracked or chipped.

Why the factory paint code is a starting point, what paint blending means, and why an adjacent panel can appear on your estimate.

The difference between a surface clear-coat scratch and missing paint, and what to ask before choosing polishing or refinishing.

What Maryland’s insurance consumer guide says about choosing a repair shop, plus questions to ask about coverage and payment.

Why a repair schedule depends on inspection, parts, approvals and finishing, and which questions help you plan while the car is in the shop.

How cameras, parking sensors and radar can affect collision repairs, and why a diagnostic scan and calibration are different operations.

Call, email photos of the damage, or stop by the shop.