The company launched in June 2011 to make the process of getting cars repaired easier for consumers. Since then, BodyShopBids has partnered with more than 160 body shops in Chicago and claims to have saved its customers an average of 60 percent on each car repaired.

Accessible for free via iPhone, Android and the Web, BodyShopBids is the first of its kind to connect consumers with body shops through a bidding system. Consumers upload a photo of their damaged vehicles and receive custom quotes from nearby body shops within 24 hours. A personal concierge also educates consumers on the repair process. From there, the consumer chooses an estimate and books an appointment with the body shop.

"We're excited to experience such tremendous growth in a short period of time, and our goal is to continue to build on that success," said Brad Weisberg, founder and president of BodyShopBids. "We've seen that there's a demand for a service like ours – people want to be able to find reputable body shops nearby, choose the fairest price, understand what's actually wrong with their car and book an appointment, all from the comfort of their own home. We want to expand what we've started in Chicago to other cities in the very near future."

Unlike other companies that provide auto repair estimates, BodyShopBids does not require detailed information on damage to the car. The company works with local body shops to ensure they honor estimates and provide reputable service.

BodyShopBids is currently active in Chicago, with plans to expand to Los Angeles and other U.S. cities in the upcoming months. 

More information:

BodyShopBids