What To Look For In Auto Repair Companies

Written by Genny Clark

If your car windshield has a crack in it and you are looking to get it repaired, choosing the right glass repair service is important. All companies are not created equal. If a company is priced low but uses secondary equipment or service, you could end up paying for another repair or worse, your safety could be at risk.

It is good to know what kind of safety standards they adhere to and what the quality of that standard is. It is also good to know what kind of guarantees a company offers and how long they have been in business in order that they will still be around to back up the guarantee. Some companies however simply charge too much or take too long. Reading this article and doing a quick review of some of the local companies that offer auto window repair should put you in the position of making an informed decision.

How long has the company been in business

Longevity can be one of the good indicators of quality. If a company has just started up, you might not want to be the customer they work out the kinks on. Also, it will be harder to check out previous customers’ experiences with a briefer history to sort through. Some auto service companies may have been around for a while, but have only recently started entering the world auto glass repair. Try to determine the length of time the company has been repairing auto glass specifically, not just the date of the establishment of the company.

What safety standards do they adhere to

There are almost as many different governing bodies or “safety and standards organizations” as there are auto glass repair companies. Here are some of the various different safety committees and standards.

Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM)

This is really more for having parts replaced. The original seal around your windshield attaching it to your car is done by the manufacturer of the car so you can be sure it is done to meet all safety standards and qualifications. The glass used is made precisely for your vehicle. Choosing OEM parts might be more expensive but it is certainly a safe choice.

US Motor Vehicle Safety Standards

Determines the rules by which Chevrolet, Toyota and the rest must abide by. Specifically for glass, the windshield must be able to withstand rollovers and crashes at certain speeds and still maintain a certain amount of structural integrity for the car.

American National Safety Institute (ANSI)

ANSI is a nonprofit organization that handles a lot of the general standards for the United States. They do work within the glass repair industry as well.

National Glass Association

An association that works within the general glass industry holding conferences, offering information to consumers and businesses, and offering exams that can be taken to exhibit certain standards of quality.

Auto Glass Replacement Safety Standards (AGRSS)

Founded by auto glass companies, this is a more specific standards issuing body.

The most important thing to know is that anyone can claim some form of standard or seal of approval. In the case of some companies, they will simply have their own standards that they, of course, adhere to. This sort of standard does not really have much objective or standard comparable value industry-wide.

What kinds of guarantees do they offer

You should be able to get a guarantee on the quality of work done by whichever company you use. Some companies will offer you a lifetime guarantee on their work. This is not to say that your windshield is now impervious to anything and everything that can be thrown at or dropped on it, but that the specific cracks or chips they have fixed should not widen or reappear once they have been repaired. At the very least there should be a guarantee that the crack will not reappear or worsen within a certain time frame.

Price

This is perhaps one of the easiest comparisons to make. However, not all cracks will cost the same. Most companies will charge a flat rate. Some other companies though will charge more if there are, say, three cracks as opposed to just one. Know that the cost of supplies for the difference between 1-3 chips is around one or two dollars. The only price difference to be justified by the company would be the time spent by the technician. The price should not be more than $50 no matter how many certifications and justifications a company may have. On the other hand, the cheapest company with no guarantees might end up costing more in the long run.

Expediency

Waiting two or three days to have your windshield fixed might not be realistic. Ask how long it will take to get to your repair. Also, inquire how long the job will take. Although there will be variances depending on how many chips and how long the cracks are. The fastest you should hope for is one hour while the longest wait time should not be longer than three. Keep in mind that allowing the resin, used to bond the glass, should not be rushed. Rushing can cause the repair to not last.

These are some of the basic comparisons that can be made when shopping around for the best service at the best price. It is by no means all inclusive but relatively thorough considering the level of financial investment for an auto glass repair service. The good news is that since the likelihood of encountering another chip or crack down the road is pretty good, the next time you get a chip or crack in your windshield you will already know what to do.

Choosing the best company to do your windshield repairs is important, since you do not want to spend more money and time then it is necessary.