What to expect from an estimate at C & A Auto Body Shop

Step one: send photos or stop by

Most estimates start with photos. Take two or three clear shots of the damage — one close, one from a few feet back — and send them through our online estimate form with your name and number. If you'd rather talk it through, call (773) 775-6163 or stop by 5349 N Northwest Hwy any weekday between 8 and 5.

For anything more than cosmetic damage — a car that drove in after a collision, panel gaps that changed, warning lights after a hit — bring the car in. Some things can't be judged from a photo, and we'll tell you honestly when that's the case.

Step two: a written estimate, the same business day

A technician looks at the photos or the car and writes up an itemised estimate: what needs repairing, what needs replacing, and what the work involves. You'll hear back the same business day. The estimate is free, in writing, and carries no obligation — you can take it home, think about it, or take it to your insurance company.

If teardown later reveals hidden damage, we call you before anything changes. The number you approve is the number you pay unless you've approved more.

Step three: booking the work

If you decide to go ahead, we schedule the repair and order any parts up front so your car spends its shop time being repaired, not waiting. Insurance job? We take it from there with your carrier — paperwork, photos and supplements included. You drop the car off; we handle the rest.

Need a tow to get here, or a rental while it's in? We coordinate both. One phone call covers the whole thing.

What we ask of you

Just the photos or the car, and a way to reach you. No commitment, no deposit for the estimate, no pressure to book. We've been on Northwest Highway since 1952 — the estimate is free because we'd rather earn the job than charge for the question.