Your Trusted Auto Body Shop
and Collision Repair

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Q5: Do you perform required calibrations for safety systems like ADAS — cameras, sensors, braking systems? 🔧

This one's tricky. Anybody can say "yes," but do they actually understand what's involved? Calibration requirements vary vehicle to vehicle, and they change often — there's no simple rattled-off answer that applies across the board.

Our advice: ask this question to more than one shop and compare the responses. Listen for specifics, not just a quick "yes." If you have questions about your vehicle's requirements, reach out to us at 821 Collision — we're happy to share our best guidance.

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Q4: Will you use OEM, aftermarket, or recycled parts — and why? 🔧

The "why" is the part that matters most. At our shop, we only use OEM parts (parts manufactured by your vehicle's maker) — and manufacturer documentation consistently backs this up, often warning against imitation or salvage parts.

Here's our why: OEM parts were engineered specifically for your vehicle. The manufacturer's engineers know exactly how that part performs in a crash, how it responds structurally, and how it holds up to corrosion. You bought your car for a reason — maybe that five-star crash rating. Following manufacturer procedures and using OEM parts means your car performs the way it was designed to, even after a repair.

Ask your shop this question, and ask for their why. Drop your answer in the comments.

#821collision #massachusettsautobodyassociation #autobodyrepair #oemparts #collisionrepair #choosewisely ... See MoreSee Less

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Q3: Do they have OEM certifications or I-CAR Gold Class status? 🔧

Great starting point when vetting a body shop — but don't stop there. OEM certification means the manufacturer has verified proper equipment, training, and facility standards for repairing your specific vehicle. I-CAR Gold Class is the industry training standard many of those OEM programs are built on.

Here's the honest part: as association president, I've seen cases where that training isn't always being delivered the way it should be, or where the system gets gamed. So use these credentials as a starting point, not the whole picture — pair them with the rest of our question series to get the full picture on a shop.

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