Making Your Car New Again

No one ever plans on getting into a car accident. It just happens. Afterwards, getting the vehicle repaired is priority. For those who live in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia, finding a reliable, affordable and trustworthy auto repair shop is the best plan of action. There are a few places that can accommodate the repairs, and a Gabriel Sports Car auto body shop can get the vehicle back on the road quickly and affordably. These are some of the services they offer.

Frame

One of the worst problems a vehicle can have after the accident is a bent frame. Many believe that a car is never the same after the frame is bent. With new technology, however, a Gabriel Sports Car collision repair shop can make it feel like new. Choose a business that uses an efficient pulling system that can handle pulling from 360 degrees and multiple directions all at once. This will help the vehicle look like it used to, before the wreck. It will also improve its drivability and make it safer.

Cosmetic Damage

Bumps and fender benders can make it embarrassing to drive around Hampton Roads. It may not make it impossible to drive the vehicle, but most people would prefer not to do that. Paintless fixes are an option for auto repair in New York. When a new paint job in unavoidable, the consumer should choose a body shop that has state-of-the-art painting facilities and can handle more than one job at a time. This prevents customers from going several days without their vehicles while they are waiting for the paint booth to be available for their vehicle’s needs. A skilled professional in the painting booth can make a vehicle look like new.

Mechanical Problems

Sometimes auto accidents involve more than external damage. Radiators are crushed, exhaust systems are bent and wheels are demolished upon force of impact. Alignment and transmission work are also frequent necessities to have fixed after a car accident. Hoses, brakes and light lenses may also need to be replaced. It is important to have a reliable and experienced professional to fix mechanical problems. It is also more convenient for the customer to have the vehicle completely fixed on both the outside and under the hood, rather than having to go to one place for external collision repair, then a mechanic to make the vehicle run properly.

The More You Know!

The fifth thing you want to keep in mind is something that not everyone thinks of in the heat of the moment. Even though you probably have a lot on your mind at the moment, make sure that the auto body shop is giving you a contract before they begin work. This contract should include the repairs they intend to do to your vehicle and the price for everything. This is to protect both you and the shop. You certainly would not want to come back in a few days with a bill that's hundreds of dollars more then you authorized.

The sixth thing that you should do, before paying for completed work, is to inspect your vehicle. Make sure that the work you are being billed for was actually done and done right. If there are flaws that need fixed, do not shy away from saying something about it. There is never a reason to pay for a poor job. The seventh thing to keep in mind is that you must keep all records of your accident. Keep receipts for the auto body repairs that were done to your car. This will help you later down the road when you want to sell your car.

When you follow these simple steps and keep them in mind before heading to the auto body repair shop you will be in good shape. You will know what to expect, you will know your rights, and most importantly, you will not be ripped off.

What to Know Before You Go to an Auto Body Shop!

When it comes to visiting a mechanic for repairs or service on your vehicle, it is very important that you are educated before taking it in. There are just too many companies and mechanics out there that are more than willing to take advantage of someone that does not know what to expect and what their rights are regarding service and repairs to their vehicle. It is important to make sure that you are at least somewhat knowledgeable about your vehicle and what should be expected from an auto body repair shop before you go in. By being an educated customer, you will have a much smaller chance of being ripped off.

The first thing you will want to do is to make sure that you are taking the time to fully research the auto body shop before taking your car there. This is the only way to make sure that you are going to get your monies worth. There is nothing worse than paying full price for a job that was done half right. Secondly, you need to make sure that you are getting a few free quotes before scheduling your vehicle to be repaired. This is important, as not all companies will charge the same. Make sure that you are getting the deal that you deserve.

The third thing that you will want to keep in mind is that you should always plan to be without a vehicle for longer then they say. Even if they claim it will only be a day that they will need your car, delays happen, even to the most experienced auto body shop. Plan ahead to make sure that you are going to have the transportation you need in order to get around. The forth thing that you will need to consider is how you are going to pay for all of the repairs and for a rental car, if you so happen to need one. Check your car insurance policy to see what all is covered before you start making your appointments.

Getting Your Quotes

Body damage to a car is never a pretty sight. Luckily, today it's much easier to get them fixed without much of a hassle. Some of the best ways to get good quotes for repairing body damage to a car are:

Asking friends for references: Your friends can prove to be the best source of information for finding out the best places for fixing car body damage. They would have either dealt with it themselves or would know someone who has. And if they already know a local body shop that does it, then it will make your job even easier.

Call local auto body shops: Before you take your vehicle to any local body shop, getting quotes from several other body shops should be your primary step. Getting a quote beforehand will keep you from paying more than necessary for repairs. Also, make sure that you make a detailed list of the problems that your car faces because that will help the auto mechanic to find the problem quicker and rectify it accordingly. Don't forget to include the vehicle make, engine size and model year of your car at the top of the symptom list.

Moreover, you can also provide a detailed list of your car's symptoms online and get a quote, thus saving you a lot of your precious time at the local body shop. Since you already have the information about the cost of repairs from such workshop, any fraud or excessive charges can be avoided from unscrupulous body shop owners.

Get multiple quotes: Get multiple auto repair quotes from several body shops. Ask friends and neighbors if they are aware of some reliable body shop dealers who will do a great job. Since quotes will differ from one shop to another, it is always feasible to look around for better deals. It's your car and naturally you will want the best for your vehicle.

Services Offered by Gabriel Sports Car!

Frame straightening and reconstruction is one service that is available at an auto repair shop. When you get into a bad accident, the impact of the collision is so strong it bends the whole frame of your vehicle. This is when you will need to have the frame of your vehicle straightened and reconstructed and an auto body repair shop can do this for you. By using high-tech tools, auto repair shops are able to guarantee that your frame is flawlessly straight without question.

Another service available for auto repair shops is their ability to pull out and fix dings and dents. The appearance of your car is greatly affected by dents; it actually decreases your car's good looks. Skilled auto body technicians are able to remove these dings and dents and make your car look like new again. High tech equipment is now available at auto repair shops, the laser measuring system. This system makes sure that the repair is done accurately all the time.

An auto body shop's most common auto repair job is painting or repainting a car. Even a simple scratch can make your car look unattractive. Some auto repair shops already make use of a computerized paint matching system that assures the new paint on your vehicle match up with your old paint perfectly.

With great auto body repair shops around, there's no need to worry where and how you will have your vehicle fixed after an accident. Armed with High tech equipments nowadays, you can guarantee that your vehicle will be repaired quickly and flawlessly. Because of the many services they offer, you only need to send your vehicle in one place for repair.

Where to Start After an Accident!

Accidents can happen fast and you'd never know what hit you. I am referring to what literally hit you. It will leave your head with a lot of questions, whether you need a full dent repair or just a quick repair for a minor scratch in the paint. It all boils down to one question, though - "Where do I start?"

The place to start is at the most reliable auto body repair shop near you. Auto body shops or collision repair shops are words almost synonymous to automobile damages, because it's the first place you go to after wrecking or damaging your automobile in an accident. However, auto body shops are more than this. Aside from fixing dents and scratches, there are other services that they can do. One such repair shop is Gabriel Sports Car!

Auto Body Shops for Custom Work!

When you think of auto body shops, the first thing that pops into your mind is usually a place where you bring your car to after you an accident that needs some sort of collision or damage repair done; you might also think that an auto body shop is a place where you would bring your car to for some minor touch up work for various scratches or dents that have mysterious migrated onto your car. Thinking these things is by no stretch wrong but another thing that auto body shops perform is custom car modifications.

The realm of things that can fall into the category of custom automotive work are endless. Everything ranging from body kits to mufflers and even paint jobs can be perform by your local body shop providing they have the proper supplies and equipment for the job. As with all things, some auto body shops have a better reputation then others when it comes to do custom work. A good thing to keep in mind is the workload of the garage you are planning on visiting on any given time. If the body shop you are trying to use is full of customers, they might very well be able to do the work but the turn around time would be long. If the reputation of the shop is good enough then it is worth the wait and going through the hassle of making other plans while your car is being worked on.

After you have decided on the type of work you would like to have done to your car, you should specifically ask one of the auto body shops you have in mind if they can perform the job. If you have a fancy car that requires special tools of mechanical knowledge then it might be out of the realm of possibility for certain garages. It is also well worth it to research the auto body work shop you are planning on visiting in terms of any complaints filed against them before you bring your car in. The best way to do this is by looking on the Internet for reports filed against the shop you are interested in.

Get REAL Estimates for Auto Body Repair

If you car has recently been involved in a minor or major accident and needs auto body repair you will need to find a great auto body shop. Finding that auto body shop that will meet your expectations will require some effort on your part. If you vehicle does need repair, one of the biggest concerns car owners face is how much money will be coming out of their wallet. So, what you need to be doing is not only checking on the qualifications of the shop but also checking their prices by getting quotes to repair what you want and need repaired.

Getting auto body quotes can be challenging and time consuming. You will find yourself repeating your vehicles problems and the concerns you have about your vehicle. You may even want to do some additional enhancements to really get your vehicle to shine. It is important that you first make a list of what you think you need done or problem areas on your vehicle and also write down the additional things you are thinking of investing in. That way you will not leave anything out and you will get a more accurate quote. You may also get a notepad and write down information from each shop that you speak to, if they do not print the information for you. That way you will not forget which shop you already spoke to and what each shop has to offer and their prices.

One way that you can get quotes is by calling auto body shops in your area. This can help you to get around a bout idea of how much your repairs will cost. You can also speak to them about additional services they offer. It would be great if you could get all the work you want done in one place.

Is Expensive Auto Repair Really Worth It?

But could a customer perceive the difference between a $2000 and $1000 bumper job? No chance. If I could quantify the difference, it might be (an undetectable) 5%.

I'm not advocating that you choose the lowest bid every time (there are some bad shops out there), but as a former shop owner, I can tell you with confidence that it's seldom worthwhile to choose the highest bid.

You're going to want to choose the most affordable bid from a shop with a good reputation.

Here's how to find that "just right" auto body shop:

1. Get at least 4 bids.
2. Toss the high bid.
3. Do some research on the remaining 3 bids.
4. Check online reviews: Google, Yahoo, Yelp, etc.
5. Check with the Better Business Bureau.
6. Inspect the shop...is it clean and orderly?
7. What about the customer service? Do they answer the phone? Are they polite? Do they answer your questions? Does the manager/estimator create a good, knowledgeable impression?
8. Do they guarantee their work? You will want at least a 3 year guarantee from defects like peeling and discoloration.
9. Usually, the shop will have completed cars waiting for pick up. Inspect the work. Would you pay for that work?

After you've done your investigating, circle the auto body shops you felt comfortable with trusting your car. Trust your gut instinct! Then choose the one with the lowest bid. You'll get a repair that you will be very happy with yet spend hundreds if not thousands less.

Auto Body Shops Offer More Than Just Repair

Do you know everything that an auto body shop can do for your car? Most people think of these establishments after an automobile accident, when damage to the car needs to be repaired, but there are many more services that they offer.

Painting cars is one of the most common tasks an auto body shop will undertake. While vehicles that have been in accidents usually need to be painted, the service center will also paint vehicles for other reasons. Sometimes the vehicle's owner is looking for a new color, and other times they are looking to customize the car with stripes, flames, or other decorations. Computerized paint mixing systems allow repair centers to carefully match a customer's desired color, allowing the company to do small touch ups that perfectly match the vehicle's existing paint.

Most companies have detailing services as well, which help restore a car's finish and brighten up its look, both inside and out. If you are getting ready to sell your vehicle, consider having it detailed. This will help it to truly shine as people come to look at it.

Dent repair is another task that these repair centers will handle. Small dings and dents greatly diminish the look of an otherwise nice vehicle. Most centers can quickly and easily mend these without the need to paint, restoring the vehicle to its like-new look. Similarly, repairing small paint scratches also falls in the list of tasks performed by a repair center.

World Class Auto Body Repair Shops

1) Notice the appearance of the auto center-the outer appearance of the auto body shop can tell you a lot about their business. Is it clean and well-lit? Does the equipment look modern? You can tell you will get the best repairs with the most up-to-date equipment.

2) If possible take a tour-If they will let you, walk around the body shop and talk to the staff members. You can ask them about their experience, how many years they have been working in this field, and you can get a feel from the mechanics if they seem competent and knowledgeable about repairs.

3) Look for special awards-While you are on your tour, try to notice any special awards or plaques on the walls or in offices. This is a good sign that they are well qualified and have undergone the necessary training to properly maintain your vehicle. The awards show that they really do know what they are doing.

4) Find out their policy-ask them what their policy is in case you don't like their work. Ask them how long the repairs will take, if they will fix it at no charge or will there be additional fees? What is the warranty and how long is it good for?

5) Inspect the vehicle after its been repaired-once your vehicle has been repaired, notice if anything doesn't look right and notify the auto body shop. Even if you don't notice anything until you are home, notify the shop as soon as possible.

How to Deal With an Auto Body Shop

It happens to all of us at one point in time. We get into an automobile collision. Hopefully, it is not too bad and we are not seriously injured. But usually the car does not fare as well and comes away with significant damage.

What is the next step? Likely, after informing the insurance company you take your vehicle to one of their "approved" vendors.

Here is what happens next. You tell the insurance company what company you choose. By this time they have already taken phones of the car and know how extensive the damage is. They have a computer system that gives them a printed estimate stating what the replacement parts and labor will be based upon a set hourly rate.

This statement is given to the auto body shop. It comes with a break down of what the labor and parts "should" be and the company has to usually be able to totally fix the car for that price. Keep in mind that what is printed out represents the best case scenario and doesn't allow for items on the car that was missed or problems that come up.

Now here are some things to watch out for. Local body shops are operating under very, very thin margins and the incentive to "cut corners" is huge. Getting an extra $300 off a job can really add up over the course of the month when you are talking about doing at least 3-5 vehicles every week.

Replacement Parts

Make sure the parts being used on your car are OEM parts. These are replacement auto body parts are sent directly from the car manufacturers and are designed with the same specs as the vehicle came with. Aftermarket parts can be significantly cheaper yet are not the same quality and make not hold up the same in the event of another accident.

Need a Paint Job?

New York auto repair shops can do amazing things to fix up your vehicles. New York auto repair technicians are trained to do a lot of different services. One such service is touching up the paint of your automobile.

If you notice your car needing a paint job, your local New York auto repair technician can be the job done. There are different ways that the technician can touch up the paint of your car. Here are a few different ways that New York auto repair technicians can perform auto paint touch ups. If your car only has minor damage or chipping, it can be touched up easily. Technicians can repair small paint chips on your car with touch-up paint or a very small paint brush. You can usually buy paint spray in smaller quantities at most New York auto repair body supply shops.


Larger paint jobs usually are repaired by spray guns. They can also be used by spraying paint through an airbrush. Technicians make sure to match the existing original paint color of your car. They are able to match the exact color since most car paint have a specific pain code with it. This code is imprinted on a tag on your vehicle, or a decal somewhere that won't be seen from the outside of your car. This helps the auto body supply shop to get the exact color match.

Quality Auto Glass Repair Right Here!

If you are in need of high quality auto glass repair for broken windshields in New York, after that you can definitely find the complete range of very affordable wind shield repair services, done with a smile. New York has a number of different auto glass stores that will happily fix your damaged, chipped or shattered wind shields and several other auto glass. Whether you have a simple chip, ding, crack, or hole in your windshield, there are plenty of auto glass repair facilities contending for your business who can give you a competitive price and accurate estimation for insurance claims.

New York is like any place in the country--or world, for that matter--in that we are not safe from damaged auto glass. The chief culprit in damaged or cracked windshields is other vehicles on the roadway--namely, big rigs that either trail or kick up rocks. This does not have to be a stressful experience for you, however. Numerous auto glass repair businesses will probably provide you a regular estimation--whether you are completely insured or not. The average auto glass claim is around $100-$200, but of course they can be less and more. Its essential to make a claim in as timely a manner as possible for a number of reasons, not just financial.

Choose a Reliable Repair Shop

People have become so dependent on our vehicles for everyday life and we expect them to work all the time. When they don't work, things can get stressful, especially when we donâ't have an honest car repair shop to turn to for advice. Looking for a decent auto repair facility that you can depend on, can be challenging. It's safe to bet that at one time or another when you've had to have your car serviced, that you've considered whether or not you are being overcharged or if the repairs being done are really necessary or if the mechanics actually know what they are doing.


1. Word Of Mouth Is Best: The best way to find a decent mechanic/technician is to ask your friends, family or co-workers for recommendations. It's important to find out what type of car they have, especially whether it's foreign or domestic, what type of repairs they had done and whether or not the service was done efficiently and at the same price that was on the estimate.


2. Are There Any Complaints With The Better Business Bureau: Check to see if there have been any complaints against the facility. Don't assume though that if there are no complaints that the shop is fine. This should be just one of the factors in helping you make your decision.

3. Google It: Google often compiles reviews of auto repair facilities from various websites and will show them when you search for the name of the shop. More and more people are turning to the internet to voice their opinions.

Auto Repair Shops Focus on Women

Courtesy of Daniel Dullum:

"More and more, auto repair garages are seeing the advantages of marketing to the female consumer.

Cruise the Internet, and a site for a garage like Auto Repair & Fuel Systems in West Fargo, N.D., will pop up, exclaiming, "Women love our professional service!"

They're not alone in that marketing approach. In Wilmington, Del., Christian Porter fixed his friends' cars as a hobby while he worked full time at MBNA as a project manager in the technology department. While working on the cars of his friends and acquaintances, women confided that they were uncomfortable going to "professional" garages.

"You hear this enough, and you recognize an opportunity," Porter told the The News Journal of Wilmington and New Castle.


When MBNA announced volunteer severance packages to trim its staff, Porter took the buyout, seized the opportunity and opened his own garage that would cater to women – Everest AutoWorks & Auto Spa – in July 2009. While Porter doesn't turn away male customers, he estimates that 80 percent of his business comes from women.

Douglas Lee, an official with AAA Mid-Atlantic, said Porter's strategy is smart because "despite the stereotypes, it's women who most often decide where a car gets serviced."

Porter's plans included car repair workshops for women, something already being done at shops like Ponder's Auto Repair in Johnson City, Tenn., where owner Brian Ponder presents his "Women on Wheels Seminar," and at Accurate Auto in Hillsboro, Ore.


Rick Kersey, owner of Accurate Auto, explained to the Hillsboro Argus newspaper that he wanted to "empower" female drivers, especially for encountering roadside emergencies, when finding a reputable mechanic can be a challenge.

"Our main goal is to help educate women in the local community about repairs on their cars and get them more prepared for that unexpected breakdown or emergency," said Kersey, who began his Women's Car Care Clinics in April 2010.

Aluminum or Steel Rims?

Now, if you're choosing between aluminum wheels or steel rims but can't tell the difference, then what you need to know is this-most steel wheels take full wheel covers or hubcaps. Aluminum wheels take a smaller center cap cover and are either a machined finish or painted finish with a hard clear coating. However, if you're interested in chrome wheels, then you should know that chrome can either be steel or aluminum. Your auto shop should help you tell which is which. Most auto repair shops sell new and used wheels so if you're on a tight budget, you still have this option.

Gabriel Sports Car has all types and size of custom, new, and used wheels. Choose from different designs of custom and factory original 20" wheels, 17" wheels, 22" rims, and 20" rims. They carry all original brands of hubcaps and wheels such as American Racing, BBS, Eagle, Boss, Enkei, Asanti, Centerline, TSW, Panther, and Beyern. Gabriel Sports Car also provides wheel repair services and car accessory installations.

Your Tires, Wheels, and Hubcaps

If you're thinking of changing or getting new wheels or hubcaps, you have to first know their "specs" i.e. size, capacity, etc. The true size of your wheels and hub caps is dependent on the measurements of your vehicle's tires. If you look at the side of a tire on any vehicle, there will be a series of numbers ending in R14, R15, R16, etc. This final number will tell you what size wheel or hubcap you need. For example, you have a 2001 Toyota Corolla and you need to replace the hubcap. You look on the side of the tire and find a number similar to this "P175/65/R14".

What this number tells you is that you need a 14" hubcap or wheel. This applies to all, even with custom wheels or custom rims. Once you've determined the size, then you're ready to choose. Custom hubcaps are the best way to go for a personalized look but if you're on a budget, you can also opt for factory rims and hubcaps.

Frame Damage

When I was just out of college, I rumaged through the local paper for an affordable passenger car that would take me accross cuntry to New York. I happened upon a model that was labeled as salvage. Not knowing anything, and not getting help from my Grandma who was the only person around at the moment - I thought "Why not"? Well, after 2 terrible years with that car, I have learned why not.

After getting into another accident with it and finding that they would not repair it because of the previous damage,I defintely learned my lesson. It turns out the the frame of the car is the most important safety feature it has. In an auto collision, your frame is what ultimatey protects you during a crash.

In modern cars and other vehicles, the frame is a highly engineered crash-absorption component that can help to protect you and your family in a car collision New York by dispersing impact forces more predictably. Every year, hundreds of thousands of used vehicles with hidden frame damage to that very component are bought and sold, usually for one of two reasons:

1. Typical visual frame inspection procedures for new or pre owned vehicles used by even the most reputable car dealers can actually fail to detect hidden auto frame damage from a car collision.


2. Unscrupulous individuals are "passing off" a salvaged car that has been totalled and refurbished, but not repaired correctly or to vehicle safety specifications.


When I learned these things, I sold my little sports car or a song - and felt good about it.

A Lesson In Restoration

A father-daughter project turns a passion for cars into a family tradition.

Bill Miller has made a career out of restoring old vehicles—a passion that started at age seven when he built his own spray booth in his bedroom to put custom paint jobs on his model cars.

Since then, Miller has restored and sold more than 50 cars. And he’s done far more than that since opening Livermore Collision Center Inc. in 1993. The 6,000-square-foot shop in Livermore, Calif., does 75 percent collision repair and 25 percent restoration work.

Miller’s most valuable project was one he completed with his daughter, Rachel. She’d fallen in love with cars at age 16, after watching Disney’s 2006 movie, “Cars.”

“She was hooked,” Miller says, noting that he was delighted when his daughter expressed interest in his lifelong hobby. Miller jumped at the opportunity to introduce her to vehicle restoration. He searched for a project the pair could share, scouring the Internet until he came across the perfect job: a 1963 Fiat for just $1,500.

The father-daughter duo worked together on the tiny Fiat for a year. And now, the medium yellow-colored coupe with suicide doors is quite the attraction in Livermore Collision Center’s parking lot.

The Restoration
Miller says the Fiat was in decent shape when he picked it up, but there was still enough work to be done to give his daughter a sense of the entire restoration process. The car had been driven for only eight years—from 1963 to 1971. With just 46,000 miles on it, the car sat untouched for 36 years until Miller bought it in 2007.

The Fiat needed both mechanical and body work. It was filled with rust, dents and a ripped up interior. Mechanically, the suspension needed work, and the transmission and engine had to be replaced.

Miller put out $7,500 to fully restore the Fiat. The investment, he says, was well worth everything the process taught his daughter about cars. She learned how to strip a car to bare metal, repair rust and dents, replace chrome, repolish aluminum, fix the suspension and replace the transmission. She learned how to install new parts: a water pump, carburetor and hoses.

The big challenge was in finding an engine to drop in the car. Ironically, a replacement engine sat just next door—in their neighbor’s backyard. Miller’s neighbor just happened to have a similar Fiat sitting under cover.

The neighbor’s Fiat was in rough shape, Miller says. He thought about restoring that one, too, but the body was too rusted out to safely repair. There were, however, parts that could be salvaged from the car, Miller says, most notably a well-running 650 cc, 35 horsepower engine.

Finally, the Millers added a few aesthetics to the car. They installed a modern gray cloth interior and added 12-inch rims to the tiny wheels. Miller’s daughter wanted the Fiat to have a race car feel, so they installed a roll bar and racing seat belts inside as novelties.

Miller also taught his daughter that every restored classic should be given a name. She got into the spirit of it, dubbing the restored two-door, four-seater “Luigi” in honor of her favorite “Cars” character. “It was great for her to see the restoration process from beginning to end,” Miller says.

The Talk of the Town
The Fiat has become something of an icon in Livermore, and a staple in Livermore’s downtown parades.

Rachel doesn’t drive it much—the car has only 4,000 more miles on it than it did when they picked it up—but Miller says it does get recognized every time she takes it out for a spin.

And the car is an eye-catcher even when it’s just sitting in Livermore Collision Center’s parking lot. Miller says his shop has become known as “the shop with the little yellow car in the parking lot.”

“People stop to take pictures of the car,” Miller says. “We even had some people from Italy ask to buy the car so they could export it back home.”

In fact, Miller’s obvious talent for restoration earns him a second income selling his works for profit. But the Fiat is one job that’s not for sale.
The sentimental value of the time spent with his daughter, he says, is priceless.

Sourche: http://www.fenderbender.com/FenderBender/September-2010/A-Lesson-In-Restoration/

National Two-Second Turn-off Day

National Two-Second Turn-off Day is sponsored by AAA, Seventeen magazine and the U.S. Department of Transportation. Almost nine out of 10 teens admit to driving distracted and almost as many admit they know it is dangerous, according to an AAA survey.

Car accidents are the leading cause of death for teens and 36 percent of teen drivers admit they have almost been in an car collision due to cell phone use while driving.

“Taking your eyes off of the road for two seconds doubles your risk of a crash or near-crash and National Two-Second Turnoff Day is an opportunity for young drivers nationwide to take control of their own safety behind the wheel by making the wise and responsible decision not to drive while distracted," said Kathleen Marvaso, AAA vice president of public affairs. "National Two-Second Turnoff Day is a reminder to drivers of all ages that they should keep their eyes and attention on the road while driving at all times."

For more information, go to TeenDriving.AAA.com.

State Farm about texting while driving

New State Farm survey results show that teens do not believe texting and driving is as dangerous as drunken driving, despite academic research that shows it is.

The majority of teens, 55 percent, said drunken driving could be fatal, where as only 36 percent said texting and driving could be fatal, according to the State Farm survey. Of teens that do not text and drive, 73 percent believe that, if they did, they would get into an accident; however, of teens that admit to texting and driving, only 52 percent believe they could get into an accident.

The United Kingdom’s Transport Research Library (TRL) said, in a 2008 study, that reaction time of 17- to 24-year-old drivers was reduced by 35 percent when typing a text message, compared to 12 percent when driving after drinking to the legal limit.

"Some teens still think the consequences of reaching for a cell phone are less severe than reaching for a beer bottle," said Laurette Stiles, vice president of strategic resources at State Farm. "We have a lot of catching up to do when it comes to helping teens understand that texting while driving can be every bit as dangerous as drinking while driving. It's an awareness gap that must be addressed."

Tips for Car Seat Safety

Sept. 20-24 is Child Passenger Safety Week (CPSW) sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

CPSW’s goal is to educate parents about proper car seat installation and use. On average four kids younger than age 14 die in car accidents every day and more than 500 are injured. The proper use of car seats and seat belts decreases that risk, according to NHTSA, but more than 75 percent of car seats are improperly installed.

Dorel Juvenile Group, one of the sponsors of CPSW gives the following suggestions for proper car seat use:

1. Face children to the rear;
2. Use car seats that fit the child’s weight and height;
3. Do not buy used or expired car seats;
4. Replace car seats that were involved in an accident;
5. Consult the experts, such as fire fighters or local police officers.

Additional car seat tips can be found at safety1st.com. For more information about CPSW, go to nhtsa.gov.

Fender Benders

Every time I'm in a Walmart parking lot I have several opportunities for a fender bender - or worse. There are so many people swerving wildly around the parking lot looking for who knows what and fewer people who are really doing thier best and most aware driving. It's situations like this that make me nervous that I might need to call my auto insurance company or visit a New York Collision repair shop rather than doing the fun things I had planned.

Fortunately, things usually go fine. However, there are many close calls and I think it's important to have a plan in mind in case a car collision really happens. So, what to do? Do you solve the problem with the other party without the police? Should you call the insurance? Will it rack up your premiums? Will the other driver change their story tomorrow?

If your local police force will handle this type of minor accident, then it's best to consultant the police. It's been my experience that police in more rural areas like the rural parts of Westchester County will handle the situation. However, I have lived in urban areas where the police are too busy to deal with fender benders - in this case, it's important to document the situation and exchange contact information. Write the driver's license down and license plate and have a disposable camera on hand to document the damage to both cars.

If you plan to involve your insurance company - you'll need to involve the police most likely.Insurance companies usually require that any and all accidents, regardless of their magnitude, have to be reported and this means that a police officer has to come to the scene of a reported accident and document his or her observations about the accident and the drivers. Even though an insurance company will eventually cover the repair costs and medical claims, sometimes there are other legal issues which could arise from a minor thing such as a fender bender and we'll talk about them later in the article.

If the damage is minimal to both cars and this is a no fault situation, it's probably best to leave the insurance company out of it. For one thing, the deductible might be too high to cover the collision damage. Or, you might increase your premiums. If this is the case, talk to the other driver and agree upon the total cost of damage and what the other person will pay, or if itis your fault, what you will pay.

If the other driver involved in the car collision is combatitive, you should definitely call the police because this person may change their mind later on and request further damage claims.

In any case, figure out how you're going to handle this type of situation if it arises and keep whatever you need on hand, such as a pencle, paper and camera, if you need it.

New York Auto Body Collision Repair

Gabriel Sports Car will restore your vehicle to pre-accident condition. Here at Gabriel Sports Car we will expertly rebuild crash design into your car so that your car functions with the original crash design standards for your model. We restore your the steering, handling and operation of your car to it's pre-accident condition. Part of our services include welding techniques and equipment that protects your car's structural integrity. We will carefuly align the exterior panels to ensure that the seams are true to facotory specifications. When the body of the vehicle meets original vehicle manufacture specifications, we will apply our advanced color matching technology to meet your every need.

New York Car Surface Repair

Are you thinking about repainting your car? Before you take this step, don't forget to consider the need for surface repair. This may be included in your paint estimate. The new paint finish may include an estimate for surface preparation. Sometimes, your cars's existing finish is in fair condition and does not require any special reatment. Other times, your car may require refinishing part or all of your existing finish. So, don't be surprised to find this as an addition to your estimate or bill.

One example of propert auto paint surface preparatinon includes the removal of chips and scratches. Auto paint technitions can't paint over these issues becasuse they will show up on the final paint coat and destroy the finish. Instead, the damaged area needs to be sanded and featheredged so that it is invisible on the new paint coat.

The worst case scenario is that you will need the old paint job removed because of clear coat delamination, peeling and chipping. Cracks will require stripping as well.

If your paint has chipped, causing large areas to be free of paint on a panel of your car such as the hood, you may need to strip the entire panel of paint.

If your see these kind of issues popping up - such as clear coat delamination or excessive chipping - have your car evaluated right away. Waiting for further damage will result in a bigger problem - and a bigger bill.

Do you Need Your Car Repainted?

Why do you want your car painted? Is it because snow and rain have aged your car? Have you, like my husband, overendulged in your favorite hobby? My husband misapplied surfboard wax to various parts of his paint job until the combo of sun and wax destroyed the paint job Due to the various hobbies my husband enjoys, I find myself considering a full paint job for my Westchester County car. I'm not inclined to replace our old car until the engine has taken it's last breath - but at the same time I find myself a little embarrased by the shameful appearance of cracking paint, missing paint and an aged, marred appearance. So, the obvious solution to this problem is to get it completely repainted so we can put another 100k miles on it. OK - maybe I am dreaming, but we are getting it repainted in any case.

When repainting a vehicle, there are so many choices. There are over 10,000 auto paint colors. Paint options include high-grade enamel, single-stage urethane to clearcoat urethane. While I'm at it, I may get a few of the dents and dings out as well. Gabriel Sports Car can do all this for you as well as restore your car to pristine condition if it has been in an accident. Check out their website or call them for estimates or more detailed information on what they can do for you.

Paintless Dent Removal

Depending upon the degree of damage to your car, you may or may not be eligible for paintless dent removal for your Westchester County accident. The great thing about paintless dent removal is that it is fast, inexpensive and involves no major body work . It does not require painting (hence the title of this article) or drilling into your car's body. Instead, it uses suction devices to straighten out the dents. The best thing about paintless dent removal White Plains is that it saves you money because you don't end up having an entire panel of your car replaced.Since the auto repair technition works from the behind the car's panel, the damaged area is pushed forward into place to align with the surrounding areas.

How to Get a Collision Repair Estimate

Obtaining a collision repair estimate is the first step in getting your car repaired. How and where you get the estimate depends on many factors, but it basically has to do with what your insurance policy accepts or dictates. There are, however, some basic steps that are common to every policy.

Instructions

.1

Talk to your insurance company first. It may have experts specially designated to give a collision repair estimate to clients, or it may have a list of approved repair shops you can contact. Even if you think you can get a better or cheaper repair estimate on your own, you need to first find out what your company requirements are.

2
Get a list of approved repair shops if your company has one, and contact several of them to get several collision repair estimates. You can then decide which one is better or more appropriate, or simply choose the shop that you find most convenient.
.


•Get the repair shop to specify what, if anything, will not be covered under the collision repair agreement. Most insurance companies will not pay for certain repairs, such as removing fuel, wheeling alignment, belt adjustment or replacing nameplates. When getting a collision repair estimate, ask the repair shop to exclude those items from the receipt.

•4
Ask for a collision repair estimate that includes extras or incidentals that may come up during the inspection of the vehicle. Shoot for a higher number, and then have the bill adjusted if necessary. This is usually easier than having to ask for more money later.

•5
Have the repair estimate approved by your insurance company before you give the go-ahead for the repair shop to get started. This may require additional forms and inspections, but it is essential if you want to be reimbursed or paid for the work.

•6
Get a quick collision repair estimate online by filling out some basic information, such as the year/make/model of your car, color and finish (metallic or flat) and type of damage suffered. While online estimates may not be an exact number (since nobody is actually looking at the car), they will still give you a general idea of what to expect in terms of expenses.



Read more: How to Get a Collision Repair Estimate eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_2175955_get-collision-repair-estimate.html#ixzz0xsFyAklG

Choosing a New York State Collision Repair Facility

So, you're probably reading this if you just wrecked your car and are looking for an auto repair shop in Westchester County or nearby New York counties. Chances are you're trying to find a good compromise between quality, the requirementsof your insurance company and, of course, cost. Start your search for a good New York Collision repair shop by searching for shops that have a high CSI (Customer Satisfaction). Your insurance company or AAA may be able to make some recommendations. You can also look at technical training of different shops - many shops display certification of training on their shop window or website.

Make sure the auto repair shop you choose offers a warrantee on their auto repair workmanship. Look for shops that participate in Paint supplier value added programs and offer a paint warrantee from the manufacturer that includes their workmanship. Sometimes, your insurance company wil make recommendations through a direct repair program, othertimes you may choose to take their estimate and find your own Body Repair Shop White Plains.

Sometimes, the positive thing about going to a direct repair shop is that they may offer a warranty that is backed by the insurer. Be sure to ask about this though, because it is not a given. You should also ask if they are ASE certified and have I-CAR training.
Many insurers today are requiring that shops chosen for their programs both meet the Collision Industry Conference definition of a Class A Shop, and have I-CAR Gold certification.

You don't always get the best outcome by going through your insurance company. My personal experience with an Allstate direct repair facility resulted in a refusal to do the needed repairs to my car based on the fact that my car had been in a previous accident. Later, I took my car directly to Saturn, where they were more than happy to do the repairs I needed.

Many great auto collision shops Mount Vernon are small shops found by simple word of mouth. These shops may not have had the opportunity to negotiate with big insurance companies but their workmanship is nevertheless steller. Talk to your friends and family about their experiences and you are sure to get quality repair work for your fender bender or major accident. You can also look into their affiliations such as the BBB and membership in trade associations and local business groups.

Keeping Your Shop Honest

Okay, so the above two things are things to watch out for if you haven't picked an auto collision repair shop. What, you say your vehicle is already at a repair shop that the insurance company referred you to? Don't panic, here are some things that you can do that will help you keep the shop honest:

1. Ask the shop manager to provide you with a copy of all the invoices for parts they had to purchase to fix your car, and then compare the parts list with the cost listed on the insurance company estimate.

2. Ask the shop for a written repair guarantee.

3. Ask the shop if they are a direct repair facility for more than one insurance company (just asking this will make them think twice about cutting a corner at your expense). If they are, ask them for the list.

4. Bluntly ask if they have used new Original Equipment Manufacturer Parts (OEM), used OEM parts, or aftermarket parts.

5. Ask the shop to explain "betterment" to you, just because you are curious. This is just to show them that you are reading up on the repair process.

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Trust or Not Trust Your Auto Body Shop?

If you are cool with trusting a collision repair facility, then fine, go find another article to read. But if you are like me, you want to learn how to avoid having to trust a body shop (the concept could apply to doctors and lawyers, too). Try to avoid using a shop if:

1. You were referred to the shop by an insurance company . . . here's why:

a. The shop has an agreement with the insurance company, and if you are able to get a copy of the agreement between the shop and the insurance company, you are impressive.
b. The insurance company has a vested interest in making sure repairs are as cheap as possible.
c. Questions that would normally be directed to the vehicle owner, like "should we fix this wiring while we're at it?", or "hey, did this happen in the accident?" will be directed to the insurance company and not the customer. The owner is left out of the loop.

2. The shop is dirty or unorganized . . . . I know that sounds obvious, but a lot of people just overlook that aspect because they think repairing vehicle damages is a dirty job. It's not, a good shop will be clean and organized. Dirty and unorganized implies to me that the auto repair shop is used to cutting corners to save money.

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Collision Repair and Things You Should Know

Worried about your car repair? You ought to be. In nearly 15 years as an adjuster I have seen some doozies when it comes to collision repair. As a short example, let me tell you this . . . When I was an adjuster, I caught an auto body shop and a rental car company conspiring to defraud the insurance company. What they did was that the rental company would file a claim for undercarriage damage, and we would inspect the vehicle, find the damages, write the estimate and pay the body shop. What I figured out is that instead of the damages happening like the rental company said (like a renter hit a curb, or hit some debris in the road), it was being caused by the body shop. The shop would have their technician put the car on a lift and then he would get under it with a sledge hammer and damage the oil pan or some other component, then they would give the car back to the rental company and they would file the claim.

We would pay the shop to replace the damaged component, but they would just go in an repair the component and pocket the money for the parts that we paid them. They sometimes made $400.00 or $500.00 on one scam by just faking invoices for parts that they had damaged to begin with, and then repairing the part (or replacing it with one they had lying around) and pocketing the insurance money.

Not all shops are crooks, but body shops, like any other business, are in business to make money. Most people are not experts on collision repair, and body shops know this. Taking your car to a body shop is sort of like going to the doctor or hiring an attorney. You kind of have to trust what the doctor or lawyer says because they are specially trained. It is the same for a body shop, you kind of have to trust what they tell you because they are specially trained.

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Demanding Experience and Expertise

Auto collisions are one of the leading causes of vehicle damage. They are unfortunate incidents that damage outer auto body the most and also cause technical problems in automobiles. However you cannot stop all those unfortunate incidents to be happened, you can actually get your vehicle back in its shape and working condition with the help of some experts automobile collision repair services that are dedicated to help those who are seeking a professional help to take care of their damaged vehicles.

Collision body repair is not an easy task to do as it sounds; it is a complicated process that needs expert hands and a long experience to be done right. Automobiles are complex machines that are made up of various parts with every single part performing its own unique task making a machine fully functional to serve you in its best condition. There is also a big role of the outer body of the machine that has its own importance in making a machine successful on the roads. So, experience and expertise is all that is required to repair a vehicle after an incident of collision.

When it comes to repair a damaged vehicle after a collision, a professional Automobile collision repair service can help you to get your vehicle back in its full working condition. They help you fix auto body damage of all kinds ranging from door dings, fender benders, unibody and frame repair, bumper repairs, paint less dent repairs, hail damage repairs to all paint color matching and custom painting repair services. With the help of their latest tool and technology, they help you a lot to fix your vehicle the way it should be fixed and to your satisfaction. With the expertise to do auto body repair on foreign as well as domestic vehicles, they also offer you expert assistance in claiming insurance for your damages.

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Employ Only the Best!

As roads and highways become more populated with vehicles, the results are more auto accidents. But getting involved in a car accident is virtually the last thing anybody would want or think of. Having one's own vehicle disastrously dented and damaged can leave the person psychologically and financially stressed specially if its required to be run on a daily basis. All the same, it does happen to everyone if not today then tomorrow and when it does the only thing one wants is to be able to get their vehicle repaired to its original condition in a timely manner. For this you would actually need a "car restorer" that is a collision repair specialist who can restore your car as closely as possible to its original condition following an accident. Accidental repair is one of the most difficult, highly-involved types of car repair tasks in the industry, so it is better to choose an experienced professional help that can yield out the best results in repairing your vehicle.

With the rapid advancement in technology, the auto collision repair specialist job has evolved from being purely mechanical to including electronic technology. Because vehicles today hold complex computer and electronic systems, mechanics have to have a broader base of knowledge about internal systems than in the past. This can be achieved with the aid of computer diagnostic tools with the help of which a collision repair specialist can accurately pin point the problem areas of the vehicle and implement best methods and techniques to restore the vehicle to a condition that is as good as new. He has to know what to look for when it comes to damaged internal systems.

Over all this he must be able to determine how to best restore a body's external structure which includes paint and auto body repair. A collision repair service employs a variety of experts who work together to restore a car's exterior using a broad range of state-of-the-art techniques and parts. They will completely transform the damage making it look like nothing ever happened at all. Hopefully, you will find the right and the best collision repair shop in your area that will not just repair and restore your vehicle back to itself but will also make the entire process easy for you so go along and make the most for your bucks.

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Choosing the Right Repair Shop

Your Car - Your Choice
In New York, it is the vehicle owner that decides where they want their vehicle repaired. Don't let anybody tell you that you have to go to a certain auto repair shop - it just isn't true.

Get a Personal Referral
Do you have a friend or relative that has had collision repairs performed recently? Ask them if they were happy with the shop they chose. If they were, this is a good place to start. If not, at least you know which shop to avoid.

Ask Your Agent
Insurance agents are usually very familiar with the reputation of the auto body shops in their area. They will often times tell you where they or their clients have had their vehicles repaired in the past.

I-CAR Gold Class
The I-CAR foundation is the main training and certification organization in the collision repair industry. A shop that is rated "Gold Class" puts a lot of emphasis on education. More information about ICAR can be found at http://www.i-car.com.

Equipment
Specialized equipment is needed to repair today's damaged vehicles. Make sure you are only considering shops that have made the necessary investment in this area.

Better Business Bureau
Your local Better Business Bureau can tell you if the shop you have chosen has received any unresolved complaints.

Experience Counts
Choosing a repair facility that has been open under the same management for a number of years may be to your advantage. A lifetime warranty is worthless from a body shop that has gone out of business.

Facility Should Be Neat
From the waiting area to the back shop, the building should be neat. As a rule, a sloppy facility performs sloppy repairs.

Meet the Customer Service Representative
Your Customer Service Representative should answer your questions directly and honestly and be very knowledgeable about the entire repair process. This is where you will have to trust your instincts. Watch out for fast talking salesman types.

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Repairing Your Headlights

How do we repair or restore the headlights on our cars? According to the New York Police Traffic Division's Traffic Safety Team:

Clean the headlights or have them professionally restored and repaired (our department uses the MDWholesale headlight restoration kit on all our police cruisers and department vehicles for maximum light output and safety. Dirty headlights can and will decrease visibility by as much as 90%.)

Up until now the only solutions were to either replace the cloudy lenses with expensive OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) parts at your local dealer (headlights can easily cost over $300 each) or to just take the risk and drive with the bad headlights. Now there is an alternative, headlight restoration. You can restore these cloudy headlights to like new condition and be safe again. Restored headlights look new and have the same light output and safety of new headlights for a fraction of the cost. There is a patented headlight restoration system manufactured by MDWholesale which has been determined very effective in increasing night time safety by numerous government agencies and police departments throughout the nation. Please see below link for more information on this headlight restoration system.

So it is a proven fact that worn and cloudy headlights will have a great effect on night time driving and safety. Therefore, headlight restoration is a economic and very effective alternative to headlight replacement.

Drive Safer With Headlight Restoration

If you have cloudy or worn and yellow headlights you are taking a big and unnecessary risk when you drive at night. According to the AAA Foundation For Traffic Safety: An average of 9 out of every 10 cars on the road today has dirty or yellowed headlights that greatly reduce vision and need to be replaced, repaired or restored.

Most people do not know that not only do worn or cloudy headlights look bad, but they also reduce light output by as much as 95 percent. That is a huge difference in whether you can effectively see or be seen when driving at night.

In a recent search on Google and Yahoo search engines, it was found that thousands of accidents were linked to ineffective light output due to worn and cloudy headlights. The majority of headlight lenses produced today are made of plastic and are very susceptible to road and weather conditions. Harsh UV rays in hot climates, chemicals from the engine and fumes, smog, etc. all take a toll on the plastic and cause it to breakdown from the outside in. The resulting cloudiness is like cancer and quickly gets worse. Soon reducing visibility and making your vehicle unsafe at night.

Accidents caused by reduced light output and bad or cloudy headlights tend to also be much more severe. According to the National Institute For Highway Safety: Accidents at night due to a more limited visibility are usually of a more severe nature, but when equipped with ineffective headlights the chances for a more severe accident are far greater.

Save Money on Auto Repair!

Getting an auto repaired is nothing less than a headache. With costly replacement and repair of the auto parts, one tends to search a cheaper alternative as a part of an affordable auto repair and replacement service that provides quality repair job at competitive price.

Most of the auto repair firms advertise for repairing and replacing auto vehicle at very less rates, nevertheless they do this through employing the unskilled workers and making use of inferior quality parts. Usually, the specialized shops including the old car replacement and transmission repair shops, provide, cheaper auto replacement and repairs in comparison to the general repair shops.

It is inspiring that you talk about the exact and correct nature of the repair job and spend some time with the auto mechanic prior really starting on the replacement or repair. Many of the modern auto vehicles have the computerized monitoring system that assists the mechanics in identifying the problems simply and easily. The auto repair guides and manuals tell you all the details of every repair job as well as the normal time involved in each repair. These guides and manuals can be purchased from the auto parts shops accessible in your neighborhood.

Windshield Repair

Proper windshield repair is very important for any vehicle to ensure the integrity of the car glass and to prevent untimely and costly windshield replacement.

The car glass used for windshield repair is laminated glass. Two sheets of special composite car glass are fused together by a laminate of vinyl plastic between them. The laminate is very strong and not only holds the two sheets of car glass together while they are intact but also keeps them stuck even upon shattering. The fragments of car glass remain held together like a web instead of dangerously flying toward the car driver and passengers.

The windshield is held in place by the urethane molding, which glues it to the car, and the frit, which is the black frame that protects the urethane molding from being melted by ultraviolet rays.

The most obvious role of the windshield is to protect the car’s occupants from the wind, rain and airborne debris, thereby allowing a clear and unencumbered view of the road. Less obvious is the role of the windshield in providing safety during accidents. In head on collisions, the windshield ensures that the airbag works properly by preventing it being inflated outwards. In case the car rolls over, the windshield provides the necessary support to prevent the roof from collapsing.

Do a Frame Off or a Frame On?

A Frame Off restoration is a full "Factory New" restoration while a Frame On restoration is one that leaves the body on the car and selectively restores the components needed to bring the car into good working conditions. There are benefits and drawbacks to each option.
A Frame Off restoration takes the longest amount of time to do and costs the most. On the other hand, while a Frame On project allows you to take some shortcuts that will save you time and money, you could also end up overlooking areas of the car that need to be repaired and are only discovered after the car has been restored. However, despite this, unless you want a Show Car or want to spend the time doing a complete overhaul, a Frame On restoration will most probably serve you best.

Purity vs Safety

An issue that we have already mentioned a few times is the upgrading of the safety features of a classic car. Driving conditions were much different back when the car was first put on the market and many of the mechanical systems those cars came with cannot adequately cope with today's current driving conditions. However, updating the safety systems in your classic car will detract from its purity. It may seem like something of a conundrum, but in actuality, it is very simple. If you plan on taking the car out on the road, especially a busy city street, then upgrading the car's brakes and adding seat belts will not only keep you safe, but also helps keep others safe.

While brakes are easy to manage, seat belts might be more of a challenge. Up until the sixties, very few cars came equipped with seat belts as standard. Therefore, if your car did not come with seatbelts, you'll need to install them. If you car did come with seatbelts, then it goes without saying that if they're in disrepair you'll need to replace them with an authentic factory original.

Modern Techniques in Auto Body Repair

100% Auto Paint Match

Whether your car needs whole auto body painting, spot painting for covering dents, graphics removal, or others, the new paint should match the original car paint 100%. To achieve this, photo spectrometer is used to analyze the original paint of your vehicle. Then, a computerized auto paint color match system is employed to find the true color that will match the original color of your car. After this, the painting is done carefully to achieve a seamless finish. Once the paint has dried, your car will surely look like it's just freshly taken from a showroom.

Paintless Dent Repair (PDR)

Dents are commonly caused by impacts when your vehicle comes in contact with other cars or other hard surfaces. And the problem is, dents can sometimes occur at or near the angular or curve surfaces of the car, in which case they are very noticeable and harder to repair. Today, paintless dent removal method is already in use to solve these problems. Special tools are used to press, knead, or rub down on the affected part until it is back to its normal shape. This should be done while ensuring that the paint does not get damaged. And for those dents on hard-to-reach areas such as the edge of the car's floor, fill and spray methods are used.

Body Frame Straightening

For cars that experienced collision with another vehicle or object big enough to cause a longitudinal or lateral damage on the car's frame, body frame straightening is required. A computerized tool is used in this process. An ultrasound technology measures the discrepancy of the frame alignment and then a laser is used to accurately align the frame back to its original shape.

Can You Repair Your Bumper?

You can say you have had a bad day if you get rear ended, in a car accident, or if you accidently run or bump into something. However the day you take it to get repaired could be an even worse day. Most times people are discouraged by taking their vehicle to be repaired not only due to the high costs involved, but the fact that they may be out of a vehicle for days or weeks. Finding an honest mechanic can be a challenge as well.

Things to consider: Every 17 seconds a reported rear end collision occurs, and every 8.5 seconds an unreported rear end collision occurs. The most frequent accident on the road is the rear end collision, at almost 29.7%, and 75% of these accidents occur at less than 10 mph. Something else to consider is that 36% of all minor auto body damage is to the front or rear bumper.

More than a third!

One in three people with auto body damage have plastic bumper damage.

So if you unfortunately find yourself in a situation where your bumper needs repair know that you are not alone.

There are some practical solutions for you so, read on about what can be done.

Some mechanics or auto body shops will tell you that your bumper will need to be completely replaced. Well that will involve an average of two days to repair depending on how busy the shop is at that time. Also it will cost you at a minimum 500 dollars and up from there. This is an option for you, however it is not the only or most cost effective option you have.

The fact is that bumpers have changed as does everything else in time. They used to be made of sheet metal, now the metal bumper is covered by a plastic fascia in hopes that minor abrasions might pop out more easily. However the plastic can bend, break or rip.

Choosing the Right Repair Shop

Choosing a collision repair centre is not an easy decision to make and one most people hope to avoid. When you or a family member need to decide on the repair centre best suited to your needs, perhaps these tips would be helpful.

Remember, a vehicle that is unsafe due to an accident should not be driven.

It is very common to see differences in auto repair estimates from one centre to another. Ensure that the lower repair estimate covers all the required work.

Ask if the auto repair centre works well with insurance companies to ensure your vehicle is repaired and back on the road as quickly as possible.

Save yourself time and make sure upfront that the shop can do all the necessary work including collision related mechanical and frame repairs and custom painting for complete restoration.

Check the body shop to see if it is clean and has good lighting.

Licenses, and training certifications should be posted. Signs of training indicate that the facility is keeping up with changing technology.

Your vehicle is an investment in your lifestyle. The vehicle collision centre you choose to repair your car should be professionally interested in returning your investment to you in a restored condition that preserves its value and keeps you on the road safely.

Collision Repair Center Etiquette

Vehicle collision is an everyday, worldwide occurrence. When automobile accidents happen, most people are not prepared for the initial impact, nor for the subsequent impact on their daily life and the inconvenience that usually follows.

For most people the second largest investment you will make is the purchase of a vehicle. The aftermath of an auto accident is a very stressful time. Getting back on the road after an experience of shattering glass, crunching steel and squealing brakes can be an overwhelming task to take on in an already busy day.

Collision repair centres are found in every town or city. Repair centres offer a diverse range of services from the actual repair of your vehicle (to manufacturers’ standards) to the management of the claims paperwork for insurance, arranging the use of a loaner car, and perhaps transportation to and from the repair centre. Some repair centres offer 24-hour accident assistance and towing, and nationwide warranties.

Taking Your Car In for Repairs

It is important to care for our vehicles properly. You should maintain the regular scheduled maintenance and take care of repairs promptly. If you got sick or broke a bone you would go to a doctor or specialist to get you feeling better. So, if your vehicle is in need of repair you should take it to a Thronwood repair specialist. A specialist of your vehicles auto body repairs should specialize in auto reconditioning. Find out why you should take your vehicle to an auto body repair specialist and what to expect from them!

Simply taking your vehicle to just anyone or trying to repair it yourself is not the best solution. Sure you can try to complete auto body repairs yourself and they may come out looking o.k. but it will not be the best quality work. It is important that the repair is done right and that a quality job is done to preserve the car and keep it looking great for a long time. There are many auto body repairs that if not repaired will lead to more auto body damages, which will be more money out of your pocket. Also, if they are not completed correctly they can also lead to more damage.

Qualified specialist in the auto body repair shops should have received classroom and on the job training before actually working in a repair shop. In most cases they are still receiving ongoing training from there company and/or an outside source. They are professionals in their field. They are continually improving upon their skills and technique. Also it is their job to repair vehicles auto body, so they have had plenty of opportunities to perform the repairs and become masters of the trade. They also know and use the latest technology and skills of the trade when completing the auto body repairs. They know what will work best for each auto body repair and can fully complete the job.

Getting Started With Auto Repair

Below are some helpful tips you can follow to get you started with your auto body repair and get your car to look its best.

1. First you need to find whether your insurance policy covers your vehicle damages and if they do, then to what extent does it cover.

2. Once this is done, you need to know the expense you will have to incur from your pocket for the repairs based on the extent of insurance coverage.

3. The next step is to find a highly trained and well qualified technician who offers quality repairs, competitive rates, and an extraordinary service. It is also important that your Thornwood auto body specialist handles your insurance claims in a superior and professional manner ensuring quick and efficient work.

4. Additionally, if multiple repairs are required, make sure the auto body shop offers all the services your vehicle needs and ensures high quality work. Also make sure you get a quote before you get any work started on your vehicle. This will ensure that you do not get any surprise bills.

5. Once you have received an estimate for the work, you can schedule a time to have your vehicle repaired.

There are a lot of things that one needs to look into while planning on having the vehicle repaired. It is important to take your vehicle to the right place because simply taking your car to anyone or trying to do the repairs yourself is not an ideal option. Therefore, make sure you give your vehicle the required maintenance and take care of it to ensure a longer life.

Auto Body Repairs for Your Priceless Vehicle

A car could be a priceless possession for many and any kind of dent or damage to the auto body can take away its overall look. If you have neglected your vehicle care or have been recently involved in an accident, your car needs attention and you may have to get the auto body repaired through Thornwood auto reconditioning specialists.

A lot of breakthroughs have been happening in the auto body collision repair field, one of the most popular being paintless dent repair. This quick technique involves removing all the minor dents without having to repaint the damaged portion. This is widely used to repair minor body creases, hail damage, minor bumper indentations and door dings. However, if there is paint damage on the vehicle, then this technique may not be suitable.

Today you can quickly have your car repaired of its dents, broken glass, peeled off paint or any other damage caused due to collision. It is important to find a Thornwood collision repair facility with well qualified and trained technicians who can repair your vehicle and restore it to its original shape and make it looking new.

There may be times when you may not know what to do when repairs are required for your vehicle as a result of which the auto body repair may get neglected and even put off for a long time resulting in more damages leading to more expenses out of your pocket.

The Critical Repairs You Need

Vehicles are prone to accidents that can happen anytime, either while moving on the road or even when the vehicle stands in a sedentary state. Accidents happens everyday and there's really no way to completely avoid them. Sometimes simply parking your car at the mall or trying to back into a space at the office can result in an accident.

Either minor or severe accidents always cause damages to exterior body of the vehicle, from simple scratches to more structural damage, anything can be happen to a auto body which ultimately results in an ugly looking and unsafe vehicle. Strong Fleetwood frontal collisions not only damage the integrity of the vehicle body but also they affect performance of the vehicle. There is always a possibility that as a result of an accident the vehicle will develop some mechanical problems later such as wheel alignment problems, noisy wheel bearings, etc. Well, the only way to get your car back on its shape is by getting a reliable shop to do the collision damage repair for you.

To fix any structural damage is the first step in the whole process of collision body repair. This not only ensures that the vehicle is as strong as it was before the accident occurred but it also helps the vehicle to get back to its original beauty. Fleetwood Auto body repair technicians are responsible for removing dents in vehicles, straightening bent car parts and replacing parts that are beyond repair. They also refinish car bodies and sometimes replace glass components. It is important to find a collision repair facility with well qualified and trained technicians who can repair your vehicle and restore it to its original shape and make it looking new.

The proper repair of collision damage is critical to the safety and performance of your vehicle. Poorly performed collision repairs can diminish your vehicle’s resale value, and safety performance can be compromised in subsequent collisions. Do a little research before deciding which is the right auto body shop Fleetwood is for you and your car. Make sure you are not only getting a good deal but also a great quality work.

Choosing Your Repair Shop

Say your Mazda car experienced a collision and your Mazda body kits were damaged, what is the remedy that comes to your mind? To look for a collision repair shop, right? But the question is: How do you choose the right Fleetwood collision repair center?

With over 35,000 auto body repair shops all over the United States, choosing the repair shop can make a car owner dizzy.

The Vice President of the Council of Better Business Bureaus (CBBB), Steve Cox, agreed that an insurance company may make some recommendations on the right repair shop but he asserted that the ultimate responsibility in selecting a trustworthy and quality-oriented repair shop is in the hands of the drivers themselves. According to him, choosing the right one is a must in order to achieve the desired results.

With the aim of helping the consumers to better manage the collision repair experience, the CBBB and the National Auto Body Council (NABC) have teamed up. Together, they give tips on how to save money on a replacement rental car and on how to arrange any arguments between the shop and the car owner.

The CBBB and the NABC recommend opting for a trustworthy collision repair shop. According to them, a car owner must check out the shop's qualifications. This can be done through asking about advanced technician training from a national organization. It is also a must to look for a shop committed to customer satisfaction.

According to them, everything must be in a black and white form. This means the transaction must be in written form. The car owner must get a written repair and price estimate of the work to be performed. Before the job begins, explanation of why specific recommendations are necessary to fix the collision damage is also important. They further said warranty is another must.

Meanwhile, when buying a brand new car, it will come with an auto insurance policy. Those small prints in that written policy can make a big difference if you need to have Fleetwood collision repairs made to your car. This is especially important if parts need to be substituted.