When you bring your car to a repair shop, you may believe the work was done correctly, and your vehicle will run adequately going forward. It is crucial to test drive your car after it is repaired. Because, if the incorrect car repairs were completed or vehicle repairs were not performed to your specifications, you'll want to address these issues right away.

Does an Auto Body Shop Test Drive Your Car After Repairs?

An auto body shop generally tests drive your car after repairs are completed. The length and distance of the test drive usually vary based on the nature of the car repairs. Generally, a test drive gives a certified auto technician a good idea about whether a vehicle is running at its normal levels and if the repairs were successful. In the event that a technician identifies any car issues during the drive, additional repairs may be required. Along with a test drive, advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) testing may be completed. ADAS testing may require several hours to perform, and it helps an auto body shop ensure that your ADAS system is properly calibrated.

How to Spot Problems When You Test Drive Your Car After Repairs

You may trust your auto body shop, but you should still test drive your vehicle after repairs. In fact, there are many things you can do to spot problems before, during, and after a test drive following car repairs, such as:

• Conduct a visual inspection of your car. Examine your car's exterior both up-close and from a distance. Ensure that the paint job looks consistent across your car and verify that your car is clean.
• Evaluate your car's alignment. Find out if your car pulls to one side of the road when you're driving your vehicle after repairs. In this instance, your car's tires may be out of alignment, or your vehicle's frame may be bent or damaged.
• Check the warning lights. Look at your car's dashboards to see if any warning lights have been activated. If any of these lights are on, look at your car owner's manual to find out what issue is present.
• Listen for strange or loud noises. Keep an ear out for any strange noises coming from the engine or other parts of your car. If some noises seem louder than usual, you should get your car checked out once again.

Diligence is paramount when it comes to spotting problems when you assess your car after repairs. When in doubt about whether a problem is present, discuss your concerns with your auto body shop, so these concerns can be immediately addressed.

What to Do When a Body Shop Messed Up

Before you go to your body shop to request that it repair your car a second time, document your vehicle’s issue(s). It often helps to list any car concerns and questions, so you can share them with the body shop. Finally, if you are not satisfied with a body shop due to the fact that it did not fully repair your car, remain patient and persistent. Remember, both you and the body shop share the same goal: to get your car fixed as quickly and efficiently as possible. To accomplish this goal, you should avoid the blame game; instead, give your body shop the opportunity to correct its mistakes and show it can do the right thing. Get Your Car Repaired with Help from Fix Auto At Fix Auto, we have a simple mission: to provide you with exceptional auto body repair services and support. We aim to perform auto body repairs to the best of our ability, every time. That way, we can effectively repair any damage to your car, so you can quickly get your vehicle back on the road. To learn more about our auto body repair services or to request an appointment, please contact us online or call us today at 800.INFO.FIX.   This blog post was contributed by Fix Auto Redlands, a leading industry expert and collision repair shop servicing San Bernardino County.