To ensure prompt delivery of your completed vehicle please make sure your insurance payment check is endorsed by all parties on the check. If the check does not include Southard’s Autobody as a payee then you will need to deposit the check and pay us via personal check, cash or credit card. Our bank will not allow us to deposit third party checks.

 

• Deductibles are due in full at the time the repaired vehicle is picked up.
• Personal and Business checks accepted with valid photo identification
• We accept Visa, Mastercard, and Discover credit cards
• Cash or Cashier’s check are also accepted for payment
• If repairs are being paid for by a third party, the repair bill must be paid in full before the vehicle is released.

No, you can stop in any time during our normal business hours for an estimate.

Estimates normally take approximately 15-20 minutes to prepare depending on the extent on the damage.

Sometimes the insurance adjuster has limited vehicle access and cannot see all of the damage when they write their estimate or their estimate may utilize alternative parts such as recycled or aftermarket. Please bring in your insurance estimate and we will go over any differences with you. If there are significant differences we may have to contact the adjuster to go over the required repairs that were not included in their original estimate. We will work with the insurance company to get all repairs completed properly. The estimate will be paid for by the insurer; you will incur no out of pocket expenses for related damages.

Absolutely! We would be glad to give you a ride back to your home or work when bringing your vehicle in for repairs. We can also pick you up when your car is completed.

Under normal work loads, most jobs can be completed in 2 to 6 days. Some repairs which require major panel replacement such as welded on quarter panels, pickup box sides, or roofs may take additional time. Smaller tasks such as door adjustments, windshield or glass replacement, etc. take 1 business day or less. Sometimes hidden damage that is found once repairs are started can delay completion time due to parts being ordered or supplement approval by your insurance company. We will contact you if your vehicle will be delayed in any way.

Absolutely! We use high quality products with accurate matching tools and an on-site paint mixing system.

We want our repairs to last the lifetime of your vehicle. At Southard’s we only use top of the line products to complete the repairs to your vehicle.

All of our auto body technicians have attended Southeast Community College in Milford, Auto Body Technology Program. We also continue our education by attending I-Car, ASE and Axalta training courses.

We would be glad to assist you in finding a rental car. We have relationships with Hertz and Enterprise and can arrange for a rental car to be delivered to our shop for you and once your repairs are completed, you can drop off your rental car at our shop. Just let us know before you bring the car in for repair if you need rental assistance.

Yes. Just let us know and we will come write you an estimate if your car is not able to be driven to the shop or if you can’t come during normal business hours, we can come write an estimate for you.

Yes. Let us know and we can arrange to have your vehicle towed to our shop.

Yes, it is recommended to wash the vehicle by hand with cool water and a very mild car wash solution (not liquid dish soap) using a soft cloth or sponge. Always use clean, fresh water. Wash your vehicle in the shade and dry completely to avoid hard water spots.

Do not wash or polish the vehicle for 90 days to prevent a “sealing” of the paint which traps evaporating solvents and hinders the curing process. Special polish may be used that is made especially for freshly painted vehicles but it is recommended to wait the 90 days.

The main thing is to keep the paint clean, taking care to remove any bugs or bird droppings that can etch the paint, especially in the first 90 days. Avoid spilling fuel on any freshly painted surface. Our high quality paints have excellent resistance to fuel spills, but can be easily damaged the first few weeks after being applied. The same applies for windshield washing fluid. Try to avoid using your windshield fluid for at least a couple of weeks after refinishing.