Month: December 2020

Do Auto Repair Shops Report To CARFAX?

“Show me the CARFAX!” You probably heard the catchphrase before and remember the fox mascot from commercials, but have you ever thought about how a simple CARFAX could affect you? Usually, a CARFAX report saves buyers from purchasing a lemon that will only be a nightmare later on. There are a number of ways CARFAX gathers information about your vehicle, such as police reports, the DMV, and the insurance company. But will your auto repair shop give CARFAX details about that little fender bender? And how will that affect you if they do?

Let’s find out.

What is CARFAX and How Does it Really Work?

A CARFAX report is a history of a vehicle that is compiled by a third party. Many dealerships will provide free CARFAX reports on used vehicles so that prospective buyers can make a more informed decision. A report will detail things like:

Repair history
Odometer readings
Number of past owners
Reported accidents
Whether the car has been salvaged or junked or called a lemon
Whether the car was ever a fleet vehicle
Repossession and lien history
Manufacturer recalls
Emission inspection status and so on.

The main goal is to prevent people from getting scammed when purchasing a car. The more information you know, the less of a risk it is to buy a used vehicle. In theory, this sounds wonderful, but there are some drawbacks which we will explain soon.

Where Does The Data Come From?

You’re probably a bit shocked by how much information can appear on a CARFAX. But where does it all come from? Believe it or not, CARFAX uses over 92,000 sources to compile a single report. Here are some of the sources that the company draws from:

Vehicle manufacturers
Fire departments
Motor vehicle agencies in the US and Canada
Law enforcement agencies
Salvage auctions
Collision repair and auto body shops
Service and maintenance shops
Insurance companies
Rental/fleet vehicle enterprises
Extended warranty companies
Automobile import and export companies
Inspection stations

For this reason, any time you have an accident, it can show up on a CARFAX report, even if it has not been reported. CARFAX reports receive information from a broad number of sources, including auto body shops that do collision repair, and they catalog everything from minor accidents to the most severe.

CARFAX does warn that, because not every accident is reported or does not have easily accessible information, they cannot guarantee 100 percent accurate information.

Do Auto Repair Shops Report to CARFAX?

As mentioned earlier, auto body shops—primarily collision repair centers—can report to CARFAX. Not every auto body shop is going to opt into contacting CARFAX to update information about your vehicle. If you are uncertain, you can ask. However, there are some actions that can get your vehicle’s information taken in by CARFAX, even if you and your auto body shop did not directly connect with the company. These include:

Shopping for quotes on repairs or receiving multiple estimates. Some software is programmed to automatically report to CARFAX, even if the job you need to be done is just a simple scratch or dent repair.
Ordering parts with the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
Opening an insurance claim.
Going to a dealership.

There are also auto body shops that say they report to CARFAX on the premise of record keeping. Should someone aim to purchase your vehicle in the future, they will be able to see a clear maintenance record, for instance. However, since these services are automatically recorded by CARFAX, it skips over the will of the vehicle owner to decide whether that information is distributed or not.

Does Reporting Ever Cause Trouble?

Unfortunately, this automatic reporting feature can complicate matters for drivers. First off, let us touch on the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). The VIN is how CARFAX keeps tabs on what has happened to your vehicle, and since the VIN is used for a number of services, like insurance and auto body shops, it gets pinged often.

And what happens? Some people have seen their insurance rates go up. Others have reported that when they go to trade it in. Even when any repairs were a result of a small fender bender, CARFAX did their own investigation and called the damage significant enough for structural damage.

Many auto body shops and insurance companies also agree that since the reports are about the vehicle’s history, not yours. You can contact your insurance company directly to opt-out of CARFAX reporting, but there is probably information about your vehicle out there already.

Final Thoughts

Auto body shops, as well as many other businesses and organizations, use CARFAX and also report to the company on a regular basis. Most of the time, that reporting is automatic, and most people are unaware of how much is relayed to CARFAX until it comes back to affect them. Be sure to ask your local auto body shop whether they report to CARFAX. You may be able to opt-out of the reporting.

Elmer’s Auto Body believes in transparent and honest service. Our team will be completely upfront with you about what we do and what our services include. If you are looking for a trustworthy collision repair and maintenance shop, then you should call us or fill out the contact form today. We look forward to hearing from you.

Why You Should Use Your Local Sewell Collision Repair Shop Instead of a National Chain

2020 has been nothing but uncertainty. More and more people are being affected globally by the coronavirus. The best way to pull through these chaotic times is to rally the local community and support smaller businesses when you can. Together, we can get through the global pandemic and move forward to a better future. In order to do that, we need to ensure that local businesses continue to thrive.

But there is more to supporting your local Sewell collision repair shop over national chains than financial security. Auto body shops are considered essential businesses, but that does not mean they are not struggling during nationwide lockdowns and hindered commutes. Of course, even with life moving a little slower than usual, there are still cars on the road and accidents occurring.

Whether you want to support local businesses or you simply find yourself with a car in need of repairs, here are some reasons why you should use the local Sewell auto body shop instead of a national chain:

Choosing a Local Sewell Collision Repair Shop

When you are in need of car repair or maintenance, you probably go right to the phone or computer and choose the top result on Google. That top result is probably a national chain that pays millions on advertising. That does not guarantee an adequate service. Many of these national chains can promise quick, cheap repairs because they do not use the best quality parts.

Local collision repair shops, on the other hand, often go through painstaking training and adhere to specific guidelines to become I-CAR and OEM certified. This means they have extensive training and technicians with many years of experience to back up warranties on workmanship. Additionally, technicians at the local body shop will know about the latest safety technologies, also known as Advanced Driver Assistance Program (ADAS).

You won’t get the same level of care from most national chains. Other reasons to use local businesses include:

Better customer service and care. Local businesses will treat you like a neighbor because you are! You can expect more quality from a local collision repair shop than a national chain since smaller businesses are usually locally owned and family operated.
Support the local economy. Your local Sewell collision repair shop employs locals, like yourself.
Environmentally-friendly choice. Did you know that local businesses are better for the environment because they usually have safer, more eco-friendly practices? Go green. Go local.

Do Not Choose The Cheapest Estimate

You may be tempted to visit the national chain simply because their estimate is far cheaper than a smaller collision repair shop. That might sound like a blessing—until you look at the estimates and compare the steps involved. Fast and cheap usually equals less attention to detail and sloppily done repairs. Even though you get your car faster, with unresolved problems simply hidden beneath a shiny exterior, you are bound to wind up back at the auto body shop in no time.

At Elmer’s Auto Body, we have gotten tons of requests to repair errors made on cars that were supposed to be fixed. Sometimes, we even have to declare the vehicle totaled, even when a national chain said the vehicle was safe to drive.

In short, choose the auto body shop that is as concerned for your safety as you are. Choose a business that will not resort to “fast and cheap” but “quality and transparency.”

Ask The Right Questions

Worried about finding a quality collision repair shop that will work with you? Don’t. Finding a trustworthy auto body shop can be difficult if you are only looking at national chains or listening to the recommendations of your auto insurance provider. That said, there are plenty of places with high qualified technicians, renowned certifications, state-of-the-art facilities, and so on right in your community.

Knowing which questions to ask can help you sniff out the best local Sewell collision repair center for the job. Any decent shop will have a customer care representative who can answer all your questions. Give them a call and ask how long the body shop has been serving Sewell, what kind of services are provided, whether the technicians are certified, and if the work is guaranteed.

And remember: it is always best to receive multiple estimates rather than going right for the cheapest one.

Local Is Better

Simply put, going to a local auto body shop in New Jersey is much better than giving business to a national chain. A local business is going to care more about the quality of the repairs than a corporate chain. They may even be able to help you with insurance claims and other issues affecting your vehicle.

At Elmer’s Auto Body, you never have to question the quality of your repairs. We have been serving South Jersey for many years and have many satisfied customers. Every day, we strive to provide the local community with top-quality car repairs and services that you can feel good about. Every one of our technicians knows the latest about OEM and ADAS. You will only ever receive honesty and quality from us! If you need collision repair in Sewell or the surrounding areas, give us a call or fill out the contact form. We are happy to answer your questions or concerns.