Certified Collision Center

If you find your automobile is dented as a result of a hail storm, don’t panic.  You can recoup all or some of the cost to repair these dents through your auto insurance’s hail damage coverage.  However, if you are like most people, you are not exactly sure of how to complete this process and the best way to go about doing so.  Let’s take a look at a couple of helpful tips that will expedite and ameliorate your hail damage claim.

Be Proactive!

Reach out to your auto insurer as soon as you find the hail damage.  Your insurance provider will guide you through the steps of the hail damage claim.  This is your opportunity to provide all the relevant details necessary for your claim to be processed as quickly as possible.  As long as you have comprehensive insurance coverage, it should include coverage for damage caused by hail as it falls under the umbrella of severe weather. 

An Inspection Might be Necessary

Now that you have contacted the insurance provider to start your claim, the next step is for an adjuster to take a look at the vehicle so the claim can be approved as quickly as possible.  Ideally, this inspection will be performed with the use of specialized lights that show the true extent of the dings and dents caused by hail.

Only let the Industry’s Best Repair Crew Work on Your Car

Your insurance company will likely let you select the repair shop for the hail damage to be rectified.  If you were to get the work done through one of the insurance provider’s preferred shops, you would relinquish control of pricing.  The shop you choose must be fully legitimate and professional in every sense of the word.  Do not fall into the trap of giving your business to a traveling repair team that drives into town following a nasty hail storm.  Furthermore, It is in your interest to get several quotes for the repair work.  However, price should not be a deal-breaker.  Above all, the quality of the work performed by the repair specialists matters more than anything else.  Find the right mix of quality work and affordable pricing before committing to a specific repair specialist.

Time is of the Essence

The worst thing you can do after hail damage is leave your vehicle in its currently compromised condition.  Those large dents will rust sooner than you expect.  Have the damage repaired sooner rather than later and you will have done your part to protect the vehicle’s body.  The little bit of money you pay for hail damage repair pales in comparison to what you would have to pay for an even larger repair stemming from failing to have the dings and dents removed in a timely manner.

Contact Certified Collision Center Today

Our autobody repair specialists are at your service.  If you have been involved in a collision, if your vehicle has endured hail damage or if your ride is damaged in another way, reach out to our autobody repair shop for assistance.  You can contact Certified Collision Center by dialing (209) 836-4893 or by filling out our convenient online contact form.

At some point in time, you are likely to find dents or scratches on your car. The door on another car may swing open and hit your car, a rogue shopping cart may hit your car, a flying rock or road debris may make contact with your car or hail may leave behind small dings or dents. If you have dings and dents on your vehicle, you may be curious to learn more about cosmetic dent repair. Here are some of the questions you may have about cosmetic dent repair. 

What is Cosmetic Damage on a Car? 

Cosmetic damage on a car is considered to be any type of damage to the vehicle that does not impact your ability to drive or safely operate your vehicle. You can see the damage on the car, but your car still operates in the same fashion. This can include everything from a scratch on your driver’s side door, a large dent in the bumper or small dings scattered on the body of the vehicle. 

Why Should You Have Cosmetic Scratch and Dent Repair Completed? 

There are a number of reasons why you should have cosmetic scratch and dent repair completed even if it is not impeding your ability to safely operate your vehicle. First off, many scratches and dents can actually begin to rust if they are not cared for. This happens when the clear coat or finish on your car is rubbed off or scratched, allowing water to sit on the metal of your car. Rust can be expensive to remove and cause major damage to your vehicle. Second, scratches, dings and dents can lower the value of your vehicle. This ultimately means that your car will be worth less when you go to trade it in or sell it. Finally, cosmetic scratches and dents can affect the overall look of your car. If you use your car to drive dates around or drive clients around, you want your car to look its best. Repairing dings and dents helps ensure that your car looks great. 

What Methods Are Used for Cosmetic Dent Repair? 

When it comes to cosmetic dent repair, one method does not work for all types of damage. A professional can take a look at the damage on your vehicle and come up with the best way to tackle the damage and restore the look of your car. Paintless dent repair is commonly used to remove small dings or dents. Touch-up painting or buffing may help to remove scratches. Larger dents may need to be pulled out or filled in. 

Many people think that an autobody repair shop handles major damage to a vehicle after an accident. While we can repair major damage, we can also help with minor repairs, including cosmetic dent repair. Whether you need repairs to ensure your vehicle operates properly or you just want repairs to help your car look its best, we are here to help. Schedule an appointment with Certified Collision Center Auto Body at one of our eight locations throughout the Central Valley, or call or email us for a free estimate. 

There are a number of benefits associated with tinting the windows on your car. Window tint can help to reduce glare when driving and help to keep your car cool. If you are looking to have your windows tinted, one of the questions you may have is whether you should tint them yourself or hire an expert to do it for you. While you can purchase all the supplies to tint windows yourself, there are many reasons you should leave this task to an expert. 

A Professional Knows Local Window Tinting Ordinances and Laws

One of the reasons why you should have window tinting completed by an expert is because an expert knows what the local and state laws are in regard to window tinting. There are laws that restrict what windows can and cannot be tinted, and how dark those windows can be made. If you tint your windows too dark, you can be pulled over, receive a ticket and be required to remove the tint. This can be a costly mistake that a professional can help you to avoid making. 

A Professional Can Explain the Pros and Cons Of Different Types of Tint

The second reason why you want to leave window tinting to an expert is that a professional can explain to you the pros and cons associated with different types of window tint, ultimately helping you to decide which offers the most benefits to you. Some of the different types of tint available include ceramic, metallic and carbon tints. Some of the differences include the amount of light the tint can filter, how cool the tint can keep your car, how much the tint costs and how long the tint lasts. A professional can listen to what you want in a window tint and what your budget is and help you select the best tint for your automobile. 

A Professional Can Properly Tint Your Windows

The final reason why you should leave window tinting to an expert is that professional can properly tint your windows. Installing window tint is not as easy as it looks. Many people who tint their own windows end up with bubbles on their tint that not only look bad, but also shorten the lifespan of the tint. Poorly tinted windows reduce the efficiency of the tint and can negatively affect the value of your car. A professional can ensure the tint fits your window properly, does not have air bubbles and lasts. 

Here at Certified Collision Center Auto Body, we can help with more than just autobody repair. We also offer services additional services, including window tinting. Summer is almost here, and in the Central Valley, temperatures can easily exceed 100 degrees. Now is the perfect time to get your car ready for the summer by installing window tint. Call us now and schedule an appointment at one of our eight convenient locations throughout the Central Valley or visit our website to request a free estimate. 

There are a number of different things that can be damaging to the paint and body of your vehicle. Using the wrong type of cleansing soap, abrasive sponges and brushes, and weather elements, such as hail, can all be damaging to your car. While you may be aware of many types of elements that can damage your car, one of the items that often flies under the radar is bird droppings. Bird droppings, or bird poop, contains uric acid, which is corrosive. Here is more information about bird feces and your automobile. 

The Type of Damage Bird Droppings Can Do to Your Vehicle

The acid that is present in bird feces can be damaging to your vehicle in a few different ways. First, the acid can eat away at the wax and finishes that are present on the body of your car. Once the finish has been eaten or worn, the acid in the droppings can then start to attack the paint on your car. This can lead to fading or it can eat away at the paint entirely, depending on how long the droppings sit on your car. Once the finish is worn away and the paint is being affected, water can begin to sit on the body of your car as well, leading to rusting. So while bird droppings cannot directly lead to auto body rust, it can indirectly cause this major problem as well. 

How to Protect Your Car Against Acidic Bird Droppings

While bird droppings can cause significant damage to your car, there are things you can do to prevent the damage from occurring. One of the best things you can do is to avoid parking under a tree, minimizing the droppings that get on your car. If you must frequently park under a tree, invest in a car cover to prevent the droppings from landing directly on your car. If your car has been pooped on by birds, wash the vehicle as quickly as possible. The longer the droppings sit, the more damage they can cause. Finally, routinely waxing your car or using a clear coat on your car can help to minimize damage from the occasional bird dropping falling on your car. 

What to Do If Bird Droppings Have Already Affected the Paint on Your Car

If bird droppings have affected the paint on your car, you have two choices. You can live with the damaged or faded paint, or you can have your vehicle repaired. Having touch-up paintwork completed or having the vehicle entirely repainted can be beneficial if you want your car to look its best and/or if you plan on reselling the car in the future. An auto body repair shop can help you with paint damage and repairs. 

Bird droppings are corrosive and can damage the paint of your automobile. This can affect the overall aesthetic of your car and lower its resale value. If your car has been damaged by birds, an autobody repair shop can help to touch-up the affected area or repaint your vehicle if multiple areas of your car have been affected. Here at Certified Collision Center Autobody Repair, with locations in Tracy, Manteca, Stockton, Oakdale, Modesto, South Sacramento, Lodi, and Galt, we use paint-matching technology to help with touch-up painting and repairs. Schedule an appointment with us now. 

A large percentage of accidents that happen occur due to a driver being distracted. Ideally, a driver should be focused on what is happening on the road, and only what is happening on the road, while driving. However, there are many distractions that can pull the driver’s attention away from the road, which can ultimately lead to an accident. Here are three common driving distractions that can lead to accidents and what you can do to avoid them. 

Texting or Talking on the Phone While Driving

One of the most common driving distractions that drivers on the road today encounter is texting or talking while driving. Cellphones are a major distraction to a vehicle operator, and studies have shown that texting while driving can impair a driver in the same way alcohol does. There are apps or settings on your phone that can be used to ensure you do not get any incoming phone call or text notifications while you are driving, which helps you to focus on the road. If you are getting ready to head out on a long drive, wrap up all of your text conversations prior to hitting the road to minimize your distractions. 

Zoning Out While Driving

Another common driving distraction that can lead to accidents is zoning out while driving. Maybe you are listening to the radio and a song takes your mind back to an old date, maybe you are preparing for a meeting in your office and playing out scenarios in your mind, or maybe you are just daydreaming about a date you have planned for the evening. Zoning out while driving can be dangerous, as it takes your attention off of the road. If you notice you frequently zone out while listening to the radio, try to listen to a podcast or shut off the radio altogether. If you notice you zone out while thinking about other things while driving, you may have to train your mind to focus solely on the road and shut everything else out. 

Completing Other Tasks While Driving

The final common distraction that can lead to accidents while you are driving is completing other tasks while driving. Many people eat their lunch or dinner while driving to or from meetings, apply make-up when they are running late for work, or mediate fights between their children in the back seat. Driving is not the time for a vehicle operator to multi-task. As a driver, your full and undivided attention should be on the road. Make time for other activities and avoid other tasks while you are driving. 

Avoiding common driving distractions can reduce your risk of being involved in an accident. Unfortunately, though, there is no way to eliminate the risk of an accident altogether. If you have been in an accident, you need an autobody repair shop that you can trust and rely on to get your vehicle back to pre-accident condition. Certified Collision Center Auto Body is a trusted and dependable auto body shop with several locations throughout the Central Valley. Call us today to inspect your damaged vehicle and to obtain an estimate for repairs. 

There is a common misconception that the only option following an auto accident is to make a beeline to the collision center recommended by the auto insurance provider.  Though this course of action certainly seems sensible, it is only one of many different options.   Let’s take a closer look at the best approach to this important decision.

The Insurance Provider Does not Make Decisions on Your Behalf

Auto insurance providers typically request that drivers bring their damaged vehicle to an approved mechanic.  However, relying on the insurer’s choice of collision centers might backfire.  Even a reliance on the insurer’s network of approved body shops or mechanics has the potential to cause problems.  The bottom line is the mere fact that your auto insurer has established a business relationship with several preferred collision centers does not mean you are restricted to bringing your vehicle to those specific businesses.  It is certainly easier and cheaper for the insurance provider when you bring your vehicle to one of these approved collision centers yet the insurance company is more concerned with its bottom line than your happiness. 

Take Your Pick of Collision Centers

Even if your auto insurer strongly suggests taking your vehicle to a specific body shop, you are perfectly free to bring your ride to the collision center you prefer.  This decision is yours and yours alone.  Perform research, read reviews, ask for recommendations and do some additional digging into the backgrounds of local collision centers before selecting one for your repair project.  If the collision center selected by your insurer is not up to your standards, is too far away or has bad reviews, do not give them your business!  The last thing you need is a flawed repair job resulting from taking your vehicle to the collision center recommended by your auto insurer. 

Furthermore, it must be noted that the repair shops favored by auto insurers go out of their way to save that insurer as much money as possible when performing car repairs.  This relationship creates a clear conflict of interest.  It is quite possible the repair shop selected by your auto insurer will use inferior replacement parts and other materials when performing the repairs.

Visit the Shop In-person and Follow Your Instincts

There is no harm in visiting the collision center you have in mind for your repair project.  Visit the repair shop on your own, get a sense of the team’s professionalism, gauge the shop’s cleanliness and you will feel more/less confident moving forward with that specific group.  The collision center you select should be clean, well-organized, have modern equipment and a track record of success.  When in doubt, go with your gut.  Follow your instincts, choose a collision shop you are comfortable with and you will feel confident relying on the team for your automotive repairs.

Contact Certified Collision Center Today

Have you been involved in a car collision?  If so, you should know help is available.  Our autobody repair team is here to determine the true extent of your vehicle’s damage and perform the necessary repairs.  You can contact our autobody repair shop for assistance by filling out our convenient online contact form.