Sponsor answer. This answer comes from Maaco Rockwall, an AskRockwall sponsor. The editor reviews every answer before it's published.
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What does "certified" mean for an auto body shop?
It usually means one of two things. Either the shop's technicians keep up with ongoing collision repair training through an industry program, or a carmaker has approved the shop to repair its vehicles. They're different, so ask a shop which one it means.
Training certifications
The best-known training program in the collision industry is run by I-CAR. Its Gold Class recognition goes to shops that invest in continuous collision repair training for their teams. Cars change every model year, with new materials, new safety systems and new repair procedures, so ongoing training matters.
Learn more: What is I-CAR Gold Class? · Find an I-CAR Gold Class shop
Carmaker certifications
Some carmakers certify body shops to repair their vehicles. That typically means the shop has met the carmaker's requirements for equipment, training and following its repair procedures. A shop can be certified for one brand and not another, so if you drive a particular make, ask about that make specifically.
How to check a shop's claims
- Ask exactly which certification the shop holds, and from whom.
- Look the shop up in the certifying program's own directory, like I-CAR's Gold Class search.
- For a carmaker certification, check the carmaker's certified collision network or ask your dealer.
- Ask whether the shop follows the carmaker's published repair procedures for your vehicle.
At Maaco Rockwall
Maaco Rockwall is certified by several carmakers to repair their vehicles. If you drive a particular make, ask the shop whether it holds that brand's certification.
Does it matter for your insurance claim?
In Texas, you choose where your car is repaired, and your insurer can't require a particular shop. Here's how that works. A shop's certifications are one good way to make that choice with confidence.