Tuesday, November 28, 2017

How to Properly Transport a Christmas Tree


Poorly secured Christmas trees can result in vehicle damage that could cost drivers as much as $1,500 in repairs. Learn how to prevent unnecessary damage to your vehicle.

Sunday, November 26, 2017

How to Build a Winter Emergency Kit for Your Car | Allstate Insurance


Keeping a properly stocked winter car emergency kit may help you survive if you get stuck or stranded. Consider packing these helpful items:

Thursday, November 23, 2017

Happy Thanksgiving!


After a good dinner, one can forgive anybody, even one's own relations. 
-Oscar Wilde

Monday, November 20, 2017

Considerations When Looking for Body Shops


If you have been involved in a collision or just have some minor exterior damage to your car from wear and tear, you will need to look into the various body shops in your area that can make the necessary repairs.

Estimates: Most body shops will offer free estimates for their work, and getting several quotes is the best way to avoid overcharges. Get all of the details in writing. Even though it's just an estimate, you want to be able to compare apples to apples among different mechanics. In some cases, one mechanic may even try to match an estimate if they can.

Experience and reputation for repair work: Even in the digital age, nothing beats word-of-mouth recommendations. You can also check with your local consumer organizations to get a better understanding of their reputation. To narrow the field even further, you need to know the extent of the damage. If the damage is structural, make sure your choice has the experience needed to take care of all the repairs and not just the exterior issues.

Insurance company relationship: Most insurance companies have built up relationships with specific auto body shops. These contracts help the insurance provider save money because they have negotiated lower parts and labor rates. The business your insurance company recommends also meets certain training and certification requirements. This, however, is just a recommendation. If you do not feel completely comfortable and confident with their work, do not be afraid to tell the insurance representative that you want to go with another shop. In the end, they must respect your wishes. It's the law.

Warranty: A reputable business should have no problem standing behind their work. There may be separate metalwork, painting, decal, and mechanical repair warranties, providing comprehensive coverage. Choose a shop that will guarantee their parts and service. Some will even provide a lifetime guarantee for certain services.

Other services: Ask what other services are included or available for an additional fee. While some may focus their work to structural and exterior detailing, other shops may be able to take care of your car's inspection, oil change, or other maintenance measures.

Even though auto body shops are not needed until an accident happens, it pays to do a little research beforehand, so that when the time comes, you are prepared. Some auto body shops even offer 24/7 emergency towing services, which can be a lifesaver if your car is too damaged to drive. With some research, your car will be back in driving condition for a fair price.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Ace_Abbey/851844

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9329657

Friday, November 17, 2017

10 Ways to Spot a Flood-Damaged Car — Cars.com


Though hurricane floodwaters have receded, they left behind more than 600,000 vehicles swamped by the storms, and shoppers in the coming months need to beware: water-damaged cars from unscrupulous sellers will soon be flooding the market — so you need to know how to spot one. Matt Schmitz of Cars.com provides tips on how to spot a flood-damaged car in this week’s segment of Driving Smart.

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

Car Body Repair Common Result of an Accident


If you've ever been in an accident you will know that car body repair is usually the route to take if your car can be saved. If you haven't been in an accident before, however, you may feel panicked and at a loss about what to do. Here are some tips about the side effects of your accident and some things that you should consider.

It's scary to be in an accident. The shock of the impact is scary and jarring. The first thing you should do is make sure that you and your passengers are okay. If not then call 911 if you are able to. Some cars have OnStar devices that will check in to make sure you and your passengers are okay. If not then they will contact emergency services for you.

Once you confirm you and your passengers are okay check to make sure the people in the other car are okay too. Once you make sure everyone is healthy then you will want to evaluate the damage to your car and to the other car(s) in the accident. This is when you should exchange insurance information with the other people involved in the accident.

Depending on the severity of the accident you may have to wait for the police to come and make a report. If the accident is minor then you have a legal obligation to report the accident to the nearest accident reporting station as soon as possible. If you do not report the accident, however minor, you could get in trouble for a hit and run.

Once you have reported the accident and exchanged insurance information you will have to contact your insurance company. They will likely want you to get an estimate of the damage to your car before they decide whether they will fix it or if it will be a write off. Most insurance companies have a deductible that you'll have to pay.

Once you have the insurance payment figured out and the estimate done for your car then you can begin the process of getting it fixed. Depending on the severity of the damage this could take some time. Most insurance companies will provide you with a rental car in the meantime so you can still get around. Most accidents at the very minimum cause some sort of damage to the car's body. This usually means you will need some auto paint repair done. If you have bumper damage then you will likely need car body repair done as well.

It's important to go to a professional who you trust for your auto paint repair and car body repairs. Since the insurance company is paying the costs to fix your vehicle let them worry about the price. Your major concern should be that the job is done properly and in a timely fashion. Your insurance company might not let you pick the place that you get your car work done. However, if they do then you should do a little research first before you pick an auto body shop. It's always best to choose a shop that will guarantee their work with a warranty. Car body repairs that are not done well can cause you more automotive problems later on.

When it comes to being in an accident the main thing to do is stay calm and follow the tips above step-by-step to reduce the negative side effects you may experience.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Anna_O_Sullivan/1372434

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7146875

Saturday, November 11, 2017

2017 Three-Row SUV Comparison: Cargo and Third Row — Cars.com


Our 2017 Three-Row SUV Challenge compared the new 2018 Volkswagen Atlas, the redesigned 2018 Chevrolet Traverse, the refreshed 2017 Toyota Highlander and the 2017 Honda Pilot (winner of Cars.com's last Three-Row SUV Challenge), all priced less than $46,000 with destination fees. While doing that overall evaluation, we specifically put these SUVs' third rows and cargo space to the test to see which was best.

Sunday, November 5, 2017

2017 Three-Row SUV Comparison — Cars.com


Three-row SUVs have become the family vehicle of choice, and it's a segment that's seen a lot of change in the past year. So we thought it was time to bring back the winner from our last Challenge, the Honda Pilot, and stack its 2017 incarnation up against three new competitors: the updated-for-2017 Toyota Highlander, the redesigned-for-2018 Chevrolet Traverse and the all-new 2018 Volkswagen Atlas.

Thursday, November 2, 2017