Looking at damage done to your car can leave you feeling deflated. Car body repair, though, may be an option. Here are three things to consider before you make a decision.

Insurance

To be blunt, presuming you're not paying out of pocket, a lot of the decision is going to boil down to what your insurance carrier is willing to pay for. Advances in modern automotive technologies have created more things that have to be fixed on today's cars, and means there are more ways your vehicle might be totaled. One recent study showed that vehicles with newer sensors can end up tacking on $3,000 worth of expenses versus repair bills for similar ones without those features.

Even without those big-ticket items in the equation, the decision still boils down to basic math for the insurance company. Most insurers will happily take pictures and estimates from car body repair services providers, though, and that at least offers a starting point. Be aware, however, that your insurer is almost certain to total the car if repair costs exceed the book value, less your deductible. On the bright side, however, you may be able to sell the vehicle as salvage.

It's also worth considering not using your insurance policy for some jobs. Someone who has a $250 deductible, for example, might not want to take the hit on their insurance for replacing a mirror that's going to cost $350 to replace.

More Serious Damage

Another question worth pondering is whether there's bigger damage than just cosmetic issues. A hit to the corner, for example, might do damage to the suspension and steering systems. In a worse scenario, the frame might end up cracked or bent. Regardless of how minor you think the damage might be, the vehicle should be closely inspected before starting auto body repairs.

Not all these situations are lost causes. Replacing components, doing welding, and even simple realigning may correct such issues.

Matching Parts and Paints

Especially with cars that are either older or went through short production runs, matching parts and paintwork may present some challenges. Most car body repair pros can match the paint job as long as the codes for it are still on the car. These are usually hidden on labels inside the doors or the trunk.

In some cases, drivers may have to settle for parts from a salvage yard. Cleaned up and repainted, though, these components will work like new.

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