Certified Collision Center

From the moment you are involved in a collision, your nerves can be rattled. Here you are with damage to your vehicle and faced with the responsibility of finding the best auto body shop to make the repairs. Even though there are more than 229,000 registered auto body shops in the United States, not all of them are going to provide the same level of service.

Unfortunately, there are plenty of horror stories to go around from drivers who ended up with subpar repairs after an accident. To help ensure you get the auto body service, take a look at this list of professional tips on finding an honest place.

The Shop Is Certified

Quality and testing standards set forth by places like the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) and I-Car are updated frequently, and the best auto body shops make sure their operations and technicians are rightly certified. Look for shops that advertise that they are ASE or I-Car certified to make sure you’re working with a reliable place.

The Shop Openly Admits Their Limitations

The most honest auto body shop won’t be afraid to refer you to someone else if they are not staffed, qualified, or equipped to handle certain repairs. For instance, if you drive a luxury vehicle and the auto body shop has no experience with restoring luxury rides, they should be upfront with you and let you know they don’t have the experience to do the job.

The Shop Gladly Answers Questions

Are you concerned about how long the repairs will take or whether the new paint color will match the old after repairs? If you have questions about the repair process, make sure you ask any technician you work with during your initial visit. How open the shop employees are to answering your questions will tell you a great deal about what kind of place you’re working with overall.

The Shop Offers Written Service Estimates

When you’re shopping around to find the best place, written estimates are highly useful. You can use these written estimates to compare the different prices among different places and choose the best. Plus, written estimates are usually required for insurance purposes after you have filed a claim.

The Shop Offers a Warranty

The best auto body shops will have no qualms about warrantying their work because they are confident that the work was done properly. Therefore, look for a shop that offers a warranty for a certain amount of time after the repairs are made to your vehicle. You will definitely find a lot of peace of mind in knowing if anything is wrong once repairs are made, the shop will take care of the problem.

Working to find the most honest and trustworthy auto body shop after an auto accident can take some time, but it is well worth the extra effort in the end. Follow these guidelines to make sure you get to eventually drive away in a vehicle that has been repaired by truly skilled professionals you can trust.

According to the Association for Safe International Road Travel, more than 1.25 million people die in automobile crashes annually. This startling statistic is enough to make even the safest driver keep their own driving habits in check. If you are prepared to start the year off on a good foot, it may be time to start looking at a few ways you can drive a little safer in your car.

1. Be Alert to Dangers on the Road

When you climb behind the wheel of your car, it is important to be on the lookout for dangers that could be present. So many accidents are caused by drivers who are either being unsafe or not paying attention that you have to be a bit of a defensive driver yourself. You should always expect the unexpected and:

• Slow down when traffic is heavier
• Utilize your vehicle’s safety functions
• Anticipate the actions of other drivers

2. Stay Alert and Avoid Distracted Driving

Driving while distracted is the number one cause of serious motor vehicle crashes. Therefore, if there is one thing you change to drive safer, it should be to make sure there are no distractions while you drive. The most common driver distractions include:

• Cell phones and other devices
• Food and drinks
• Pets
• Dropped items
• Car radio

Even though distracted driving is a bigger problem among younger drivers, older drivers are just as at risk of getting distracted on the road. Turn off your cell phone, secure pets, leave the radio alone until you stop, and save eating for when you’re safely parked.

3. Avoid Driving While Impaired

Driving while impaired is usually thought of as driving under the influence. However, there are a lot of things that can impair your ability to use your best judgment and react properly while behind the wheel. For example, driving when you’ve not had enough sleep can be deemed as driving while impaired because your reaction times may be slowed and your judgment skewed.

4. Keep Your Vehicle Well-Maintained

Even a vehicle that is not properly maintained can be the root cause of an accident. Many drivers rely on their vehicle to function as it should but they don’t do the due diligence to ensure the vehicle can. You should keep your vehicle well-maintained by:

• Replacing or servicing brakes as needed
• Having the oil changed regularly
• Regularly checking safety equipment like blinkers and lights
• Adding fluids as needed
• Changing wiper blades when they become worn

5. Be Mindful of the Weather

Safe car driving has a lot to do with properly adjusting driving habits according to the weather. You should drive slower when visibility is slow or road conditions are questionable, keep your windows cleared of ice and snow, and make sure your tires have the proper air pressure.

Accidents will always be an understood risk when you drive a car, but safe car driving can help thwart many bad situations. Make sure you are doing your part to drive safer and keep yourself and others safe on the roadways.

The National Safety Council estimates that one in every five car accidents actually take place in parking lots or garages. That’s an astounding number, considering that over 60,000 people are also injured in those accidents; some of the fatally. What can be done about it? More importantly, how can you protect your car from parking lot accidents?

How Parking Lot Accidents Happen

There are many chances for a parking lot accident to happen. The problem is that so many cars are vying for the same small space, and there are typically no traffic signs or lights to help drivers navigate the parking lot. Here are some common causes:

• a stray shopping cart rams into a car
• a car backs up into a person or another car
• two cars accidentally back into one another
• a car drives forward out of a parking space and over a cement curb
• two cars collide at high speed
• a driver mistakes the gas for the brake and rams out of control into the store, a person or another car
• a light pole falls on top of a car
• and more….

What Can You Do To Protect Your Car?

If it sounds like total mayhem in the parking lots of the world, that’s because it can be. But many people go their whole lives without a parking lot accident. You can, too. Here’s how.

1. Park next to the shopping cart rack. When you do this, one entire side of your car is protected against things ramming into it. If there are no spots next to the shopping cart rack, park next to a tree in the lot.

2. Use your backup camera. New car models are equipped with backup cameras. Use this all the time to avoid backing into pedestrians and other cars.

3. Notice other pedestrians when you’re returning to your car. Especially be on the lookout for small children, and note where they are when you start to pull out of your space. Being aware of the pedestrian traffic around you will help you to avoid accidents.

4. Follow the directional arrows. Avoid going against the traffic, even in a nearly empty parking lot. Drivers that are backing out won’t think to look in the opposite direction and they may back right into you as you drive past.

5. Don’t cut across lanes horizontally. This is akin to driving through a busy intersection against the lights and hoping no one’s coming. It’s one of the most frequent causes of parking lot accidents.

6. Park under the light pole at night. Your car is more visible here which minimizes the odds that someone will hit it.

So there you have it; all the ways you can protect your car in parking lots. If you just do these simple things, chances are you won’t become a part of those statistics.

Accidents happen and when they do, it is important to know just what to do when one happens to you. No two accidents are the same, but surrounding all the differing circumstances, one thing is for sure. If you are rear-ended your vehicle will have some damage from the collision. Even if you can’t see any damage, it is imperative you have your vehicle inspected by an auto body mechanic to ensure it is safe for you to drive. Here are 5 reasons you should have your car checked and inspected after being rear-ended.

1. Hidden Body Damage: After a rear-end collision, even if you can’t see any problems with your vehicle, there might be some critical parts that were damaged. For example, underneath the plastic bumpers, there are a variety of instrumental parts essential for your vehicle to safely operate. An experienced, trained mechanic wiil find and correct these problems so you can drive safely.

2. Transmission Troubles: Since the transmission is located toward the rear of the vehicle, the probability of the transmission system being damaged after a rear-end collision is high, especially for rear-wheel and all-wheel vehicles. A professional mechanic will look for leaking transmission fluid, slipping transmission issues, problems shifting gears and other instrumental components. If you drive your vehicle and some of these issues occur, it could damage your transmission and other parts causing unnecessary expensive repair.

3. Wheel Alignment Damage: Alignment, also referred to as breaking or tracking is the system that connects a vehicle to its wheels. Poor alignment will cause brakes, tires, and suspension to experience damage. The key to maintaining your vehicle’s proper alignment is getting a professional wheel alignment. If the vehicle drives unevenly on the road, the steering wheel seems loose or wobbly, there are unusual vibrations that reduce the car’s comfort, then the alignment is probably affected.

4. Trunk Issues: The trunk of your vehicle usually, more often than not, is damaged in a rear end collision. If it doesn’t open and close easily, the latch should definitely be checked by a professional mechanic to prevent it from swinging open while driving, blocking visibility, or sending the contents of the trunk flying out into the road causing more accidents. You also want to make sure that it is sealed tight so water cannot leak inside and cause rusting.

5. Tail Light Failure: Tail lights should be inspected to make sure they work correctly after a rear-end collision. The same goes for the brake lights and blinkers. Not having these essential lights working correctly could cause even more serious accidents and damage.

It’s always a good idea to immediately contact your insurance company right after an accident and explain what happened. It also a good idea to contact 911 so a police officer can come to the accident site, prepare an detailed report. Input both contact numbers into your mobile device or write them on the owners manual of the car so they can easily be accessed during the stress of the incident. Exchange personal contact information and insurance policy information so if there is future damage, the insurance company will have it on file.

The appearance of your car’s body is one major factor that affects its overall value, so if the paint is chipping, peeling, or otherwise not looking good, it can be a major concern. As obvious as a problem like peeling paint may be, it is a problem that sometimes leaves an owner scratching their head, wondering how in the world this problem started. Take a look at some of the usual culprits that are to blame for peeling paint on the exterior of a vehicle.

1. Environmental Factors Could Be at Play

There are a lot of things in the environment that can cause problems with your car paint. From rain and snow to road dust and wind, things that can damage your car’s paint are lurking everywhere. Parking under a tree where leaves and berries will fall onto it, your car being exposed to bird droppings, and even something as simple as a splattered bug can cause problems.

2. You Could Be Cleaning Your Car with the Wrong Stuff

Everything that you find in the store that can be used to clean your car’s exterior is not always the safest bed. A lot of low-quality car wash supplies have chemicals in them that are capable of breaking down a car’s paint over time. Therefore, even if you think you are doing something good by washing your vehicle, you could be damaging the paint by using the wrong product. Stick with higher quality car soaps and detergents that are safe enough to use.

3. Fluctuations in the Temperature Could Be to Blame

Car paint expands with higher temperatures, but it also contracts in colder temperatures. If you spend a lot of time traveling between the variant temperatures, it could very well have an effect on your paint job. Over time, the expansion and contraction of the painted layers can cause it to start peeling or cracking.

4. The Paint Itself Can Be Less Resilient

Paints that are used on some vehicles are not as resilient as they could be. A lot of auto manufacturers have been forced to switch over to more eco-friendly paint product choices, which is good for the environment. On the downside, however, some of these paints break down faster than other types.

5. Recent Trauma Can Cause Car Paint Problems

If you have had an accident in recent months and maybe even had some auto body repair, paint problems can show up later on. This is especially the case if you had a dent that was pulled out during repairs. When a painted surface is moved and manipulated, it can compromise the quality of the paint itself even if the underlying surface is back as good as new.

Takeaways: Protecting your Car’s Paint

• Park your car in a protected place, whether it is in a garage or under a carport, as much as possible
• Avoid parking under trees
• Clean your car regularly with a good quality detergent
• Be careful who you trust for auto body repairs
• Avoid parking your car in direct sunlight
• Use a UV-protectant wax product on your car’s exterior
• Protecting the value of your car is all about protecting its outer appearance. If you see problems with your car’s paint, whether it is fading, chipping, peeling, or otherwise, reach out to a professional for advice.

If you’ve been in a car accident, your first goal should always be to ensure you and any other driver are safe. You’ll need to file a police report to document the incident. If you have auto insurance, you may be able to file a claim for coverage for damage to your vehicle. Should you do so? Can you fix your car on your own? Do you legally have to fix the car with the insurance money you receive? Let’s take a closer look at these areas of concern.

Do You Have to File an Auto Insurance Claim?
In some situations, you may not want to file an auto insurance claim. You may not be legally required to do so. If you are in any type of moving violation, your insurance company will learn about it down the road, due to your driver’s history. However, it is not likely that you’ll be forced to file an insurance claim for the damage.

That means that if you do not want to have the auto insurance company pay for the repairs on your car, you do not have to. For example, perhaps you’ve struck a tree backing up. You may not want to file a claim with your comprehensive auto insurance as this could cause your rates to rise. You can make the repairs on your own and not have to worry about the process, though.

If You File a Claim, Can You Use the Funds for Anything?
Let’s say the damage is significant and you want to file an auto insurance claim to get some help paying for the damage repairs. If you have the right type of auto insurance, you can file a claim. Your ability to do this depends on the type of car insurance you have as well as the cause of the accident. If you file a claim for the damage, do you have to use the funds to make the repair?

When you have an auto loan
If you have a car loan on the vehicle and are still making payments on it, then you may be required to make the repairs to the vehicle. Your lender wants to make sure the vehicle stays in good condition so that its value is maintained.

When you own the car free and clear
If there is no loan and you are the only party listed on the vehicle’s title as an owner, you may have the option of using the funds to repair your vehicle or not. For example, if the damage is significant, the lender may write you a check for the value of the vehicle before the accident. You can decide to get the repairs done or use the funds to buy a new car.

Keep in mind that every insurance company has specific restrictions in their policy regarding claims. It is up to you, then, to make sure you are following these rules when it comes time to file a claim for coverage. Most often, your auto insurance agent can help you make this decision. Discuss your options with them.