Under The Hood - Spare Tire

Don't forget to check the air in the spare tire and the mechanism that lowers it to the ground.

What to Do When Your Brakes Go Out | Allstate Insurance

If you're concerned you don't know what to do if your car's brakes fail, don't panic. Prepare yourself for such a situation by familiarizing yourself with some tips to help you stop as safely as possible.

Essential Winter Driving Tips | Consumer Reports

From snow and ice to sleet and rain; winter weather doesn’t hold back. Be prepared with advice from Consumer Reports experts on how to drive through whatever winter throws at you.

57 Models Clinch 2019 IIHS Safety Awards

Challenge accepted: 57 models meet tougher criteria to clinch 2019 IIHS safety awards

ARLINGTON, Va. — Nearly five dozen 2019 models meet stricter criteria to qualify for a 2019 TOP SAFETY PICK+ or TOP SAFETY PICK award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The 30 first-tier “plus” award winners earn the highest rating for passenger-side protection in a small overlap front crash and have good-rated available headlights, while the 27 winners of the second-tier award qualify with an acceptable or higher rating in the newest IIHS crash test and the nighttime headlight evaluation.

Collision Repair: How Much Damage Is Too Much?

From minor bumps to high-speed crashes, most car accidents result in damages that require the expertise of an auto body repair shop. Collision repair isn't always simple. Even minor accidents can cause auto body damage that is expensive and timely to repair. The type of impact and the style of the damaged car both play a role in determining how much damage has occurred.

Determining a Total Loss

Many drivers think that there's no hope if their insurance company says that their car is 'totaled.' A car that is totaled is not necessarily unrepairable though. The extent of the damage has very little to do with whether or not an insurance company declares a total loss. Instead, the decision is based on the cost of the collision repair in comparison to the fair market value of the car. If repairing the auto body damage will cost more than the car is worth, it is said to be totaled.

Structural Damage

Correcting damage to a vehicle's frame is one of the most expensive types of collision repair, but undoing structural damage is not impossible. A knowledgeable auto body repair shop will generally inspect a wrecked vehicle for misalignment before anything else. If the car doesn't meet the exact measurements of the manufacturer, advanced machines are used to pull the frame back to its original specifications.

Rear End Collisions

Depending on the speed, a car that is rear-ended can suffer quite a bit of damage. Structural damage is not uncommon after a powerful rear collision. The amount of damage will also depend on the car. In a recent IIHS study, a low-speed rear-end collision in a compact car with a poorly designed bumper can result in more than $3,500 in auto body damage. On the other hand, a car with dent-resistant plastic body panels can often be repaired for less than $200.

Frontal Impacts

Front-end collision repair is often more extensive than rear end damage. At higher speeds, a head-on collision can cause damage to the front bumper, the hood, the windshield, and the quarter panels. If the damage is minor, the auto body technician may choose to repair the panels rather than replace them. Unless the parts are pre-painted, the body shop will also have to match the paint color and re-spray each panel before reassembling the car.

Rollovers

A car that rolls over generally has much more auto body damage than a vehicle involved in a frontal or rear-end crash. Damage to the frame is usually inevitable in a rollover. There is a possibility that every piece of the car has suffered at least minor body damage. The decision to repair a vehicle that has rolled over should be made carefully. Extensive damage like this could require additional mechanical work, as well.

Whether auto body damage appears to be major or minor, an experienced collision repair specialist should examine the car for unseen damage. Accidents can cause cosmetic damage that is fairly easy to repair, as well as frame damage or mechanical troubles that are much more costly to fix. Almost any type of collision damage can be repaired, but sometimes it is more cost effective to scrap the vehicle.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Jami_Heiskanen/1147008

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6736670

Holiday Road Trip Safety Tips

Here are some quick tips for your holiday road trip!

10Best Cars of 2019 | Car and Driver

Traditional cars are no longer the mainstream choice, having lost ground to a growing field of higher-riding vehicles. But whereas trucks, crossovers, and SUVs used to express something special about their owners—that they were rugged, adventurous, or dog-owning—cars are increasingly powerful statements about the person behind the wheel. Most people would be better off in a crossover. But commit to driving a car and you stand firm against the great teeming tide of conformity.

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:

Keeping Your Car Sensors Clean Consumer Reports

Today's cars come with cutting-edge technology designed to help keep you safe. Consumer Reports' expert explains how these revolutionary innovations can stop working with one simple thing: dirt.

Headlights Improve, But Base Models Leave Drivers in the Dark - IIHS News

Headlights improve, but base models leave drivers in the dark

ARLINGTON, Va. — Just over half of 2018 model vehicles evaluated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety are available with headlights that do an adequate job of lighting the road at night and limiting glare for oncoming drivers, but most good-rated headlights are optional or bundled with other features that can raise the price of the vehicle.