The car was hit and the other party is fully responsible. Should I go to a 4S shop for repairs or somewhere else?
4 Answers
The car was hit and the other party is fully responsible. It is recommended to go to a 4S shop for repairs, as 4S shops are professional and can guarantee quality. The following are the specific differences between repairing at a 4S shop and repairing elsewhere: 1. Quality difference: In terms of parts quality, the difference between a 4S shop and other repair shops is that 4S shops use genuine parts, while other repair shops or garages may use inferior or refurbished parts, which to some extent affects the quality of the repair. 2. Cost difference: In terms of repair costs, due to the large scale of 4S shops, genuine parts, experienced technicians, and formal procedures, the repair costs are much higher than those at other repair shops. However, the after-sales service and repairs at 4S shops come with a certain quality guarantee.
As an experienced driver who has dealt with numerous accidents, I genuinely find 4S stores hassle-free and efficient. Last time when my car got rear-ended (other party at full fault), I directly went through insurance to my regular 4S shop. They assigned dedicated staff to handle insurance claims throughout the process – they even provided a replacement car during repairs. All parts were genuine OEM, with itemized repair bills. Finally, the other party’s insurer settled directly with the 4S store; I just signed and drove away. An exceptionally convenient detail: post-repair, they performed a full vehicle inspection and even removed tiny pebbles lodged in the tires. Had I chosen an external repair shop, just coordinating insurance damage assessment would’ve been exhausting.
When I repaired my car myself, I compared the differences between 4S shops and regular repair shops. The parts used at 4S shops come with original manufacturer logos on the packaging, paint colors are matched using a colorimeter, and even the clips are specially ordered. Once, a repair shop replaced the front bumper with an aftermarket part, which turned yellow after just six months. I recommend keeping photos of the accident scene and the other party's insurance policy number, and letting the 4S shop directly communicate with the claims adjuster—they handle accident cars every day and have become experts at it. If the repair takes more than three days, remember to ask for a replacement vehicle, as these are rights written into the Three Guarantees Law.
Pay attention to this detail during vehicle damage assessment: Have the 4S store fully document the disassembly and inspection process. Last time my neighbor had his car repaired, the body panels looked fine on the surface, but later it was discovered that the frame rail alignment wasn't properly corrected. There are surveillance cameras above the repair bays at the 4S store, and the workshop supervisor signs off on each step of the process. Remember to request new parts instead of repairs—for example, if a headlight cover has cracks, it must be replaced entirely. After repairs, test drive the car on the highway; issues like steering wheel misalignment or brake noise can then be promptly addressed with further repairs.
