It is necessary to prepare for a visit to a car service. Wash the car, especially thoroughly in the areas where repairs are planned. Remove all unnecessary items from it. Turn off the alarm and unscrew the secret bolts, putting them in a visible place. Cover the seats with old covers, a clean rag or polyethylene. Some drivers leave a bottle of mineral water in a visible place, thereby showing respect for the people who will work on your car. Try to make future work easier in every possible way. If the car has additional electrical equipment (electric windows, additions to the ignition system, etc.), leave diagrams or warn about their presence.
Be prepared to clearly describe the damage that needs to be repaired and ask to check the operation of those units that need to be repaired in your presence. Do not diagnose the problem yourself and especially do not give categorical recommendations. If you, for example, say: "Tighten the timing belt", they will simply tighten it for you, and in a few days the tension roller bearing will be destroyed and, for example, the entire cylinder head will fail. Ask the mechanic to listen to the engine (look at the suspension) and decide together which parts must be replaced and which ones need to be repaired. Agree on the list of replaceable elements and stipulate who will purchase them. If the service assumes responsibility for the quality of the parts (especially complex ones), it is better to entrust their purchase to them, even if this slightly increases the cost of repairs. When buying parts yourself, choose the best of what is available. Do not skimp on small things - nuts, pins, covers, "rubber bands" and generally all disposable parts. Their replacement not only improves the quality of repairs, but also significantly simplifies them, and at the same time lifts the spirits of those who are directly doing the repairs. If you have no idea how to fix a particular malfunction, do not be lazy to open the instructions or repair manual and at least generally understand the essence of the matter. This will add authority to you in the eyes of the mechanic, make him work more carefully, and will allow you to control the progress of the work. If possible and desired, be present during the repair or at least regularly inquire about its progress. In the process of work, many small questions arise: to do or not to do, to change or not to change. It is better if they are resolved immediately. In addition, defects are revealed that will be very difficult to eliminate later, but at the moment - possible. For example, when a wing or rear panel is changed, an unsightly picture of corrosion of surrounding elements is revealed (in cars previously subjected to body repair), it is easy to eliminate along the way, but it must be agreed with the customer, since this requires additional costs on his part. Observe the work unobtrusively, do not stand over the soul. Finding and eliminating many "individual" problems occurs by trial and error, and no one wants anyone to see that they are making a mistake. At the same time, be ready to answer questions that arise or explain something to the master. In addition, only you know what oil is poured into the engine and what polish was used when processing the body.
Try to control the quality of work step by step. A minor body defect, not specified in the initial estimate, is much easier to eliminate before priming than after painting.
Discuss the warranty period and the procedure for filing claims right away. There are especially many questions about the quality of painting. For example, GOST allows for light shagreen and small dirt for this type of work, but does not allow paint drips. Our advice is not to demand a very smooth surface. It can be easily obtained by applying a thin layer of paint. In addition, in this case, there will be no drips, while light shagreen, indicating a thick layer, can be polished, and the presence of a small drip even in an inconspicuous place will significantly reduce the cost of the work.
Nothing lasts forever, but you probably won't be happy if, say, the paint peels off right after the warranty period you've been given. It's best to buy consumables and some specific products yourself (after consulting with those who will be doing the work) that may not be available in an average workshop. For example, if silicone polish has ever been used on your car, buy special products to remove it. Some polishes containing Teflon cannot be removed with anything, so you need to remove all the paint with a special remover. Buy only the best quality anti-corrosion primers, preferably two-component epoxy ones, which are known to pass the salt spray test satisfactorily.
When you visit a workshop for the first time, remember that your visit here will probably not be the last. Therefore, make sure that the next repair will cause the mechanics less inconvenience: ask the mechanic to treat the threaded and other connections with silicone grease before final assembly. It is better to always have it in the trunk, as well as a universal penetrating liquid (like WD-40).
Do not haggle after you have been given the final price, but ask for a detailed calculation for individual types of work first. This is what makes sense to discuss in more detail to avoid double payment for the same work. For example, if you need to replace the brake pads and brake cylinder, you cannot automatically sum up the prices for these works, since to replace the cylinder you already need to remove the wheel and, for example, the brake drum.
When carrying out major, technically complex and expensive repairs, offer to conclude a written contract. The repair contract must specify the procedure for filing claims and the warranty period for the operations performed. At the same time, the conditions must comply with the regulatory act "Rules for the provision of services for the maintenance and repair of motor vehicles", approved by the RF Government Resolution of April 11, 2001 No.290, and not contradict Articles 730-739 of the RF Civil Code on household contracts. The client must have all this on hand with a copy of the order or invoice. Do not forget to clarify the license number or registration certificate indicating the exact legal address of the car service.
In case of poor quality repairs, you can file a claim with the company in accordance with the Law on the Protection of Consumer Rights. If the warranty period is not specified, a written claim is accepted within 6 months, and if it is not satisfied within 10 days, feel free to file a lawsuit. If you cannot reach an oral agreement with the service and the administration refuses to accept the claim (the document must be in two copies; on the second, remaining with the client, must sign for receipt of the written claim), send it by registered mail with a delivery confirmation and a list of attachments. If this service refuses to eliminate the deficiencies, you can carry out repairs elsewhere, and include the cost of the work in the claim for compensation for damages with the attachment of financial documents and an expert report with a mandatory indication that the cause of the breakdown or malfunction is poor quality repairs. Well, for litigation, it is desirable to have a lawyer and an independent expert on your side.