“What’s the best auto body shop near me?”

We’re pretty sure that’s one of the first things that come into your mind after an accident. Whether it’s a minor fender bender or a serious collision, you’re bound to get auto body repair at some point.

But you can’t just go to the first shop you see. You need a reliable and trustworthy company that can provide you with everything you need. For this matter, taking a look at an auto body shop’s reviews can help. However, there are lots of fake reviews out there—don’t be fooled!

Here are ways to check if an auto body shop’s reviews are from REAL people.

Go to trusted review websites.

Tips to Know if an Auto Body Shop Has Real Customer ReviewsThere are many helpful review websites online, but all of them are not the same. Some generic websites allow anyone to post a review without verifying if they are legit customers or not.

We suggest visiting verified customer testimonial platforms. Examples are Auto Body Review and Carwise. These websites only publish feedback from customers who can prove they’ve had auto body repair from that shop. On top of this, since only real clients are allowed to publish reviews, the information is unbiased and accurate.

Look for poorly written posts.

Analyze the comments on the website—are they poorly written? Check if the posts use a lot of exclamation points and capitalized letters. Unfortunately, there will always be dissatisfied customers using this format of text to express their frustration. Their rants won’t help you in making an informed decision, but learning to examine comments goes a long way.

Skip the short responses.

Those incredibly short comments are of no use to you. Why? These reviews don’t go into much detail about the shop’s services. They don’t really give other customers an idea of the services provided and how the shop solved their problem.

Brief opinions, whether positive or negative, won’t help you determine if the shop truly offers great service.

Focus on the longer and well-written comments.

Tips to Know if an Auto Body Shop Has Real Customer Reviews

Try to find lengthy comments on the auto body shop’s website. These reviews let you understand what kinds of services the shop specializes in. Authentic customers are more likely to explain why they would recommend (or not recommend) a business, especially if the review will be published for everyone to see.

Analyze the timing of reviews.

See if there’s a huge spike in the total number of reviews within a short timeframe. This can be a sign of a shop’s targeted campaign to add new (but fake) reviews.

Look for repetition of phrases.

Fraud reviews often follow a wording pattern. Look through various reviews and check if words or phrases are being used repeatedly. Reviewers who use the same phrases may have been instructed to do so by the party writing fake reviews.

Related Content: 5 Tips in Choosing an Auto Body Repair Shop

Select an Auto Body Shop Wisely

No one wants to transact with a dishonest company. You want an auto body shop you can trust, starting from the information presented on their website.

It pays to do your research before going to an auto shop and requesting an estimate.

Don’t settle for less—only go for a collision repair expert who values integrity in their work.

By doing so, you won’t have to deal with shoddy work, hidden costs, and unprofessional technicians ever again.