Chicago's auto body shops are experiencing a surge in business as early snow hits the city, causing a spike in flat tires, dead batteries and car accidents. Meanwhile, prices for car repairs have risen by 7.7% over the past year, according to government data.
With the harsh weather conditions, many drivers find themselves stranded on the side of the road with no spare tire or functioning vehicle. For those who are lucky enough to have a working vehicle, the snow and ice can still cause significant damage, leading to costly repairs at body shops like River North Collision Repair and Paul Ries and Sons.
"It's business as usual for us," said Bill DeMaio, co-owner of River North Collision Repair. "We've seen everything from minor fender-benders to very large accidents. With the ice, cars are sliding, people are hitting things, hitting other cars. Everyone forgets how to drive in the weather."
The shop has been so busy that it is looking to hire more workers to keep up with the demand.
Montserrat Gomez, manager at Paul Ries and Sons, echoed DeMaio's sentiments, stating that his business has seen an increase in cars being brought in by tow trucks due to accidents. The shop claims to be Chicago's oldest body shop, having been in business since 1913.
Shadi Qattawi, owner of Gateway Auto Service and Collision, also reported a surge in business, with winter tune-ups increasing by 30% this month from last year. However, he noted that the cold weather has increased his operational costs, including higher heat and electric bills.
The recent tariff increases have also made it more expensive to source parts, which can take longer to arrive at body shops. As a result, Qattawi is passing these costs on to customers.
"We have no choice but to raise our prices," he said. "We have to pass the costs on to our customers, we have no choice, and it takes longer to fix their cars because the availability of a lot of parts has decreased."
The Chicago AAA has seen an increase in calls for dead batteries over the past two weeks, according to spokesperson Molly Hart. Jesus Muro, manager at Auto Zone, also reported that car batteries are flying off the shelves, along with snow brushes.
Consumers have faced higher prices all year on more than just car batteries, according to government metrics. The cost of auto repairs was up 7.7% in September from the year before, while auto insurance increased by 3.1% over the same period.
Despite the challenges, body shops are doing their best to make customers' experiences as smooth as possible. "I tell customers that we know a body shop is not somewhere where they want to be, kind of like going to a hospital, but we try to make their experience the best considering the circumstances," said Gomez.
As for whether body shops may be rooting for bad weather because of the uptick in business, Gomez laughed and said, "No, we never root for bad weather but we know when it comes, we'll be busy."
With the harsh weather conditions, many drivers find themselves stranded on the side of the road with no spare tire or functioning vehicle. For those who are lucky enough to have a working vehicle, the snow and ice can still cause significant damage, leading to costly repairs at body shops like River North Collision Repair and Paul Ries and Sons.
"It's business as usual for us," said Bill DeMaio, co-owner of River North Collision Repair. "We've seen everything from minor fender-benders to very large accidents. With the ice, cars are sliding, people are hitting things, hitting other cars. Everyone forgets how to drive in the weather."
The shop has been so busy that it is looking to hire more workers to keep up with the demand.
Montserrat Gomez, manager at Paul Ries and Sons, echoed DeMaio's sentiments, stating that his business has seen an increase in cars being brought in by tow trucks due to accidents. The shop claims to be Chicago's oldest body shop, having been in business since 1913.
Shadi Qattawi, owner of Gateway Auto Service and Collision, also reported a surge in business, with winter tune-ups increasing by 30% this month from last year. However, he noted that the cold weather has increased his operational costs, including higher heat and electric bills.
The recent tariff increases have also made it more expensive to source parts, which can take longer to arrive at body shops. As a result, Qattawi is passing these costs on to customers.
"We have no choice but to raise our prices," he said. "We have to pass the costs on to our customers, we have no choice, and it takes longer to fix their cars because the availability of a lot of parts has decreased."
The Chicago AAA has seen an increase in calls for dead batteries over the past two weeks, according to spokesperson Molly Hart. Jesus Muro, manager at Auto Zone, also reported that car batteries are flying off the shelves, along with snow brushes.
Consumers have faced higher prices all year on more than just car batteries, according to government metrics. The cost of auto repairs was up 7.7% in September from the year before, while auto insurance increased by 3.1% over the same period.
Despite the challenges, body shops are doing their best to make customers' experiences as smooth as possible. "I tell customers that we know a body shop is not somewhere where they want to be, kind of like going to a hospital, but we try to make their experience the best considering the circumstances," said Gomez.
As for whether body shops may be rooting for bad weather because of the uptick in business, Gomez laughed and said, "No, we never root for bad weather but we know when it comes, we'll be busy."
. It's like they're saying, "Hey, we know you hate coming in here, but we'll try to make it as painless as possible" 
. And honestly, I feel for them - no one wants to deal with car repairs when it's cold and snowy outside. But at the same time, 30% increase on winter tune-ups? That's some extra cash right there 
snow days are bad enough without worrying about breaking down on your way to work. and yeah its not just the breakdowns that are killing it, the repair prices are outta control too! 7.7% is crazy 
I'm not surprised to hear that body shops are super busy with all the accidents and flat tires. But, come on, 7.7% increase in car repair prices? That's crazy talk! 
And don't even get me started on the tariff increases and parts shortage... it's like they're all trying to rob us blind! 
. The fact that prices for car repairs have risen by 7.7% over the past year is a clear indication that drivers need to be more prepared when it comes to winter driving 
.
. The increasing cost of parts can be a real challenge for businesses, especially when customers are already feeling the pinch from higher auto insurance premiums 
. By acknowledging that going to a body shop is not an ideal experience and making efforts to make it as smooth as possible, they're showing that they care about their customers' needs 
.
the 7.7% increase is crazy i mean i get it weather affects everyone but still, can't we just be prepared for this kind of thing instead of having to pay through the nose? 
. and now my car's heating system is on the fritz... great, just what I needed, more money to spend on repairs 
. 7.7% increase in car repair prices? yikes 
. just peachy.
you guys, i think its pretty wild that chicago's auto body shops are killing it right now. like, 7.7% increase in car repairs over the past year? thats a big deal. and with all this snow and ice around, its no surprise that they're super busy. but what really gets me is how prices have gone up for parts too... like, i get that tariffs are a thing, but 30% more winter tune-ups from last year at gateway auto service and collision? thats some serious cash.
. I mean, who needs that stress? 
, but it's just crazy how much business they're getting 
. Maybe they should offer some kinda winter driving courses or somethin' 
?
. And then there's the cost - 30% more for winter tune-ups this month?! That's just ridiculous 
and I'm thinking how crazy is that people are already dealing with car accidents in the snow 
like a real bummer 
. And now they're saying prices for repairs went up 7.7%? That's wild, dude! 
7.7% increase in auto repair costs over the past year? that's not even a big deal for body shops like river north collision repair, they're probably just gonna pass it on to us customers anyway 
. I do wish we could avoid all this bad weather, though 
! Can't wait to see what new gadgets come out next year to make our winter commutes easier 
since 1913... like that's a thing we care about right now. Can't they just focus on fixing cars without being so extra with their marketing?
. Just hope everyone stays safe on the roads! 
. Maybe they could look into exploring cheaper alternatives or partnerships with suppliers to reduce costs? Just saying, not really sure if more workers would solve the problem, might just lead to longer wait times 
.
. Its like, they're already doing a tough job trying to fix cars, and now they have to deal with parts shortages too? It sounds like a nightmare 
.
. And yeah, it sounds like they're always looking forward to bad weather because its a good excuse for them to be busy 
.
ugh, winter is already killing me 
. i mean, who doesn't love driving around in snow and ice all day?