Certified Collision Center

There are numerous benefits associated with tinting your auto windows. Tinting your windows can help to keep your car cooler in the summer months, can help reduce sunlight glare, can help to prevent thieves from seeing into your vehicle and can help to reduce fading and heat damage to the interior of your car caused by the sun’s heat. Both an autobody repair shop and window tinting shop can tint your windows, but you must first select the type of tint you want installed. Here are a few of the factors that you should consider when selecting auto window tint. 

The Type of Auto Tint

One of the factors that you need to consider when you are selecting auto window tint is the type of auto tint. Many people do not realize that there are different types of materials that can be used to tint your windows. Some of the most common materials for tinting automobile windows includes dyed window tint, metalized window tint, hybrid window tint, ceramic tint, and carbon tinting film. Each type of window tinting materials has its own unique benefits, so it is important to research the various options when deciding which one may be ideal for your automobile. 

The Features of the Auto Tint

Another important factor to consider as you go about selecting auto tint for your vehicle are the features of the specific auto tint you are looking at. Various types of auto tint have different features, including the color of the tint, the clarity of the tint, the solar control of the tint and the heat control of the tint. As you consider these features, also keep in mind any legal rules and laws in regards to window tint in the state that you reside in. California has rules that regulate how much light the tint must allow in. The percentage of light that is allowed in varies based on where the tint will be applied, such as the windshield, auto windows or back windows. 

The Lifespan and Warranty of the Window Tint

The last factor that you need to consider as you select window tint for your vehicle is the estimated lifespan of the window tint and any warranty that the window tint may come with. The brand of window tint can affect the estimated lifespan, as well as the length of the warranty that is offered with the tint. A knowledgeable installer can explain the lifespan of various window tints to you based on the driving and weather conditions where you frequently drive. 

At Certified Collision Center, with offices conveniently located throughout the Central Valley area, we offer many types of services beyond just autobody repair. One of the other services we offer is window tinting services. If you are looking to have your windows tinted, our experts can help you to select the right tint for your vehicle and then install it. Call us today to book your appointment. 

If you have been involved in an accident, you will want to bring your vehicle to an autobody repair shop. Once at the shop, a representative from the insurance company will likely meet with an auto body shop employee to complete an estimate for damages. This estimate is then used to determine if the repairs should be made or if the insurance company is better off totaling your car, based on the estimated costs for repair. If you have never had an estimate done before, you may be wondering what you can expect. Here is what you can expect when you are having an estimate completed at an auto body repair shop. 

Getting a Statement of the Accident Details

When you first bring your vehicle to an auto body repair shop for an estimate, an employee of the company will meet with you to discuss the details of the accident. They will want to hear your version of what happened. It is important to be detailed about what happened, as the details affect what part of the car may have been damaged in the accident and what type of damage may be pre-existing. The employee will then walk around your car with you and have you point out the damage that you feel was caused during the accident. 

An Exterior Inspection of Your Vehicle

After leaving your vehicle with an auto body repair shop, they will complete what is known as a shell estimate. They will take a look at the exterior of your vehicle and determine what types of damage they think may be present based on what they can see. They will not be able to see everything that is damaged until they begin to remove parts from the vehicle. They will then have the insurance company approve the work based on the shell estimate. 

A Thorough, More Complete Estimate

Once the insurance company, or you, if you are paying out of pocket, have approved the shell estimate, an auto body repair shop will complete a more in-depth estimate. They are know able to do this as they pull off panels or remove damaged parts from the car. A repair shop can then detail exactly what is damaged on the car that may have been hidden and exactly how much repairs to the vehicle will be to get the car back to its pre-existing accident state. 

If you have been involved in an accident, you are allowed to bring your vehicle for autobody repair to any auto body repair shop that is licensed in your area. At Certified Collision Center, with offices conveniently located throughout the Central Valley area, we are here to help you with everything from minor dings and dents to major auto body damage. Contact your insurance company to tell them you want to bring your vehicle to us, and then schedule an appointment with us to take a look at your car. 

If you are like most drivers, you have noticed people drive a bit erratically when the skies open up.  Complicating the challenge of driving in the rain is the fact that the moisture causes oils trapped within the road to move up onto the surface, making the conditions even slicker.  However, defensive drivers who proactively alter their driving strategy in accordance with the onslaught of rain will avoid accidents and arrive safely at their destination.  Here’s how to do it.

Steer in a Strategic Manner

There is no reason to drive at or beyond the posted speed limit amidst a downpour.  Reduce your speed and you will decrease the chances of hydroplaning.  However, if your vehicle ends up hydroplaning, turn the steering wheel in the direction you would like to drive toward.  Continue to steer out of the dangerous hydroplaning until your vehicle is straightened out.  Your first attempt to steer out of the slide might not work so keep at it and you will eventually return to the straight and narrow. 

Do not Fall Into the Trap of Cruise Control

Cruise control has its perks yet it also has the potential to make the road more dangerous than it should be, especially when it is raining.  You will put your vehicle, yourself and your passengers in harm’s way if you end up hydroplaning when cruise control is on.  Such a scenario will actually increase your vehicle’s rate of speed, making the situation that much more dangerous in all regards.

Reduce Your Speed

As mentioned above, there is no reason to drive at or above the posted speed limit when the rain is falling.  Do not drive faster than the conditions warrant.  There is no shame in driving 10 miles per hour less than the speed limit if it keeps you and your vehicle out of harm’s way.  Though reducing your speed will extend your driving time, it is better to make it safely to your destination rather than endure a potentially painful and costly accident.  Do the smart thing by leaving 10 minutes early and drive at a safe rate of speed.  However, if you get into an accident, our autobody repair shop will be here to get your vehicle back to its normal condition as quickly as possible.

Use Your Headlights, not Your Brights

Plenty of drivers make the mistake of forgetting to turn on their headlights when the rain falls.  Some drivers go to the opposite extreme and immediately turn on their brights.  The better approach is the happy medium of turning on your headlights to maximize visibility during the downpour.  Do not turn on your brights unless you are on the backroads and no vehicles are ahead of you.  Furthermore, there is even a chance your brights will reflect off the water-soaked road, bouncing right back up to your eyes, creating an even more dangerous situation resulting from temporary blindness.

Certified Collision Center has Your Autobody Repair Needs Covered

If you end up in an accident, we’ve got you covered.  Certified Collision Center will repair your vehicle so you can get back on the road as soon as possible.  Give us a call at (209) 836-4893 or fill out our convenient online contact form to schedule an appointment.

Summer is a couple months away yet the temperatures are already rising.  This is the time of the year to start planning your summer road trip.  However, it is a mistake to embark on a road trip without planning ahead.  Spend the little bit of money and time necessary for preventative car maintenance and you will enjoy an invaluable peace of mind during your trip.  Without further adieu, here are the top reasons to have your car, truck or SUV maintained before your summer road trip.

Identify Problems Today Rather Than Mid-trip

Use your mind’s eye to envision yourself departing on your summer road trip only to spot smoke coming out of the engine.  Alternatively, if your engine does not pose problems, your muffler, wheels or another component of your vehicle might prove troublesome during the trip.  There is no reason to tend to these problems at the last minute or in the middle of your trip when you can address them well ahead of your departure date.  This way, your focus will be squarely on having fun as opposed to automotive repairs.

Consider the Unknown

No one can predict the future.  Even if you had completely safe and fun summer road trips in the past, there is no guarantee your upcoming road trip will prove just as safe.  After all, anything can happen on a road trip as you traverse the highway and backroads on the way to your destination.  You might drive over a nail.  A wayward stone or rock might crack your windshield glass.  Maybe your engine will malfunction mid-trip.  Furthermore, there is always the potential of a flat tire due to improper air pressure or crossing over a sharp object in the road.  Lose track of your oil level and you might end up driving well beyond the next scheduled oil change mileage interval during your road trip.  In other words, it is better to be safe rather than sorry by preparing for your road trip ahead of time.

An Invaluable Peace of Mind

Wouldn’t it be nice to square your focus on the actual road trip as opposed to worrying about how your vehicle will perform during the drive?  Spend the time and money necessary for preventative maintenance prior to the trip and you will rest easy knowing your car, truck or SUV is in tip-top shape.  Every component of the vehicle should be thoroughly inspected ahead of the trip, ranging from the windshield wiper blades to the fluid levels, brakes, tires, engine and beyond.

Prevent an Accident

Your vehicle’s brakes are its primary line of defense to prevent an accident.  Whether you are traveling across the state or across the country, a situation will arise when you need to press hard on the brakes to stop your vehicle and avoid a collision.  Have your brakes rotors, pads, hoses, brake fluid and drums inspected prior to departure and your vehicle will prove that much more capable of stopping before contacting another vehicle or stationary object.

Certified Collision Center’s Autobody Repair Shop is at Your Service

If you end up in an accident during your road trip or daily commute, don’t panic.  Our collision repair specialists are on your side.  Let us get to work on your vehicle and we will return it as close as possible to its former condition in surprisingly little time.  Reach out to us today at (209) 836-4893 to schedule an appointment.  Alternatively, if you prefer to contact us online, enter your information into our online contact form to schedule autobody repair.

The impact caused by an automobile accident can do damage to more than just the frame or body of your automobile. The accident can also cause damage to your windshield. In some cases, the damage is obvious. You may see that the glass has large cracks in it or it may be shattered. In other cases, the damage may not be as obvious. Here are a few of the less obvious signs that your windshield may need to be replaced after you were involved in an automobile accident. 

The Front Airbags Were Deployed

In some vehicles, the pressure that is created when the front airbags deploy in an accident can be enough to weaken or loosen the seal that holds your windshield in place. This tends to more commonly be the case with smaller vehicles, rather than larger vehicles. A great auto body repair shop knows which vehicles need to have their windshields replaced following the air bags being deployed. 

You Hear a Rattling Noise While Driving

Another sign that your windshield may need to be replaced after an auto accident is hearing a rattling sound while you are driving. You are more likely to hear this rattling sound when you are driving on a rough or uneven road, or when you hit things such as potholes. The rattling will be light and will sound like it is coming from the windshield area or front of your vehicle. This can be caused due to the seal surrounding the windshield being broken or because there are cracks or breaks along the edges of the windshield that are not visible. 

You Hear a Whistling Noise While Driving

Another sound you may hear if your windshield needs to be replaced after an auto accident is a whistling noise. Think about the sound you hear when you leave your window cracked and start to drive. If the seal that holds your windshield in place was damaged in the accident, air is entering your vehicle through that seal damage, creating the whistling or whooshing sound you may hear. 

There is a White or Foggy Haze Around the Edges of the Windshield

The last sign that your windshield may need to be replaced after an auto accident is seeing a white or foggy haze around the edges of your windshield. This haze is more common in the mornings or following a rainy evening. This white or foggy haze is created by moisture, which indicates the seal that holds your windshield in place is damage. 

Following an automobile accident, an autobody repair shop can take a look at your entire vehicle, including your windshield, and help you determine if the windshield should be replaced after an accident. You have the right to take your vehicle to any licensed autobody repair center following an accident. At Certified Collision Center, we have eight convenient locations across the Central Valley and Northern California region ready to help you get your car back to its pre-accident state. Call us now to schedule an inspection appointment. 

When most people think of an automobile accident, they envision dents or dings on the body or bumpers of a vehicle. While this is the most common type of damage to emerge from an accident, an accident can cause damage to your vehicle that allows water to seep in when it is raining. When this occurs, you may smell or find mold or mildew growing on the upholstery of your car. In many cases, mold or mildew can be removed and the damage can be repaired. Here are the steps an autobody shop will take to clean and restore your car if mold or mildew is growing in the car. 

Determine Where the Leak or Water Source is Coming From

Prior to removing mold or mildew, an auto body shop will first have to determine where the water is leaking into your car and seal up or repair that spot. In some cases, you may have a cracked or damage window, while in other cases, a leaky seal may be allowing water in. 

Dehumidify the Vehicle

After determining where the water is coming from and repairing that issue, your vehicle will be dehumidified. Large fans or dehumidifiers will be used to essentially dry out the inside of your car. This helps to remove all of the moisture in your car that allows mold and mildew to form and continue to grow. This process is typically completed in a day, but may take longer if there are large amounts of water present in your car or if it is humid where you live. 

Use Cleaners to Kill the Mold and Mildew

Once the vehicle is cleaned, a professional will use commercial products to clean and kill the mold and mildew that is present. The type of products that are used will vary based on the type and color of upholstery you have. Depending on how long the mold or mildew has sat, stain removers may also need to be used to remove any staining or discoloration the mold has left behind. 

Reupholster the Affected Area

In some cases, cleaning alone will not remove the stains or spots left behind by mold or mildew. If a large portion of your upholstery has been affected and the stain or spots cannot be lifted, the seat or floor may need to be reupholstered. 

If you know or suspect that water may be able to leak into your vehicle after an auto accident, it is important to bring your car to an autobody repair shop as soon as possible. While waiting on insurance to inspect your car or give you the go-ahead to repair the vehicle, an auto body shop can seal up your car and protect it from water damage that may occur. If it is too late and you smell or see mold or mildew, an auto body center can properly clean the upholstery, ensuring you and your family remain safe while operating the vehicle. Here at Certified Collision Center, we can help you repair all of the damage that an accident may have done to your vehicle. Book an appointment with us today at one of our convenient locations across the Central Valley and Northern California region.