What to do if your vehicle is damaged in a hurricane?

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RobertRobert Molina writes insanely useful guides about the auto body repair process and what you need to know to make the process less stressful.  With more than 25 years of experience as an independent auto body shop owner, he’s on a mission to stamp out gobbledygook and raise the bar for quality collision and auto […]

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Choose Your Parts Wisely

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Original Equipment parts can reduce time required for repairs

Everyone involved in the process—you the customer, the shop, and the insurer—wants you to get your car back as soon as possible.  Several factors determine how long your car will be in the body shop for repairs.  The two biggest factors are:

  1.      the severity, nature, and extent of the damage to your car; and,
  2.      the availability of replacement parts.

I have found that the use of OE or Original Equipment parts can help speed up repairs.  Here are a few reasons why:

  • OE Parts Fit Properly.

A factory-made OE part fits properly. The technician can install the part quickly and correctly, moving on to the next operation.  It is often hit-or-miss whether a non-OE part will fit properly. When a non-OE part does not fit, the technician must either take more time to attempt to make the part fit or order another part.  Making a part fit can possibly compromise the quality of the repair and the final appearance of the vehicle.  Ordering another part can cause a delay of a day or more.

  • Salvage Parts Must Be Prepped and Fitted.

Vehicle manufacturers do not recommend the use of salvage parts.  Sometimes, however, the insurer specifies a salvage part for the repair. When this happens, the salvage part may need to be prepped before it is ready to be fitted to your car.  In other words, this part may need to be reconditioned, have small dents removed, and have the paint completely sanded. This causes delays.

  • Multiple Suppliers Increases Parts Delivery Timeline.

The use of multiple non-OE parts suppliers may slow the repair process.  Repairs commence only when all ordered parts have been delivered to the body shop. Sometimes the insurer will specify non-OE parts that must be sourced from one or more of their approved after-market manufacturers or surplus suppliers.  Waiting on deliveries from multiple non-OE parts suppliers can cause delays.

Know, too, that you have the right to ask for OE parts.  Most auto policies provide that the insurer will return your crashed vehicle to its pre-accident state with parts of “like kind and quality.”  In the same fashion of keeping their profits as high as possible, insurers generally propose the use of less expensive non-OE parts.  However, auto policies generally don’t exclude the use of OE parts, so don’t be shy about insisting.

Lastly, it’s important to remember, dealers routinely check the crash history of a vehicle to see what kinds of parts were used in its repair.  Your resale or trade-in value might be hurt if non-OE parts are used.

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Accident Do’s and Don’ts

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Have You Been in an Accident?

Have you ever been in an auto accident? Most of us have – or will be. Statistically, it’s almost inevitable. The average person will be involved in an auto accident every seven to ten years.

If you are involved in an accident, here are some things you may want to consider doing. Keep in mind that many of these suggestions are required by state law:

Do

  • Check to ensure that you are not injured. If you are uninjured, check others in your car to make sure they are uninjured. Then, check with any other involved parties.
  • If anyone is injured, or the nature of the accident dictates it, immediately call 911. If required and appropriate, render first aid.
  • Move your vehicle to a safe location if possible.
  • Exchange information with other involved parties. This includes name, address, phone number, vehicle license plate number, driver’s license number and the name of the insurance company and contact.
  • Secure names and contact information from any witnesses.
  • If you have a camera handy (remember that your cell phone may include a camera), photograph the scene of the accident and the condition of all vehicles and property involved.
  • Make a record of the accident for yourself including time, location, weather conditions, traffic conditions and a brief description of the accident.
  • Describe the accident to proper authorities exactly as it occurred.
  • Contact your insurance company. They may be able to provide other valuable information and may ask for additional information from you such as a copy of the police report.

Don’t

  • Don’t leave the scene of an accident without first securing information from other parties involved.
  • Don’t discuss any personal information regarding your physical condition or mental frame of mind.

 

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What is “pre-accident” condition? Are you entitled to OEM parts?

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RobertRobert Molina writes insanely useful guides about the auto body repair process and what you need to know to make the process less stressful.  With more than 25 years of experience as an independent auto body shop owner, he’s on a mission to stamp out gobbledygook and raise the bar for quality collision and auto […]

Read more
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Is my insurance estimate too low?

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Is my insurance estimate too low?

You have received an insurance estimate for damages to your vehicle. After reading the estimate you think it’s too low. But don’t worry, it probably is.  99% of insurance estimates written are too low. Keep in mind that insurance estimates are preliminary. Insurance appraisers can only write estimates for damages that are visible – – “what they can see”.

When you bring your vehicle to a body shop, they will do a “tear down” and review your insurance estimate. A tear down means to remove parts damaged by the accident to expose any hidden damage.

If more damage is found a supplement will be sent to the insurance company.  I know that at Collision Care Xpress, they use a state-of-the-art computerized estimating system, as do many other body shops throughout the United States.  This type of estimating system uploads supplements, documents, and photos directly to your insurance company, saving time for you, the shop, and the insurance company.

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20 Fuel Saving Tips:

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Due to the high prices of fuel these days I have decided to share a few tips on how to save fuel without spending any more money than necessary:

1: Bring your tire pressure up to five pounds less than what is stated on the sidewall of the tire, for example, if the maximum tire pressure is 40 pounds fill the tires to 35 pounds and do this when the tires are cold.
2: Try and drive within the speed limit.
3: Use the proper fuel for your vehicle, because using the wrong octane will cause problems in the long run.
4: Use your cruise control if so equipped as much as possible.
5: Wash and wax your vehicle. A clean vehicle travels through the air with less friction.
6: Empty the trunk and car of any items not needed, weight kills fuel mileage.
7: If you drive a pickup truck leave your tailgate up, dropping the tailgate ruins the airflow and will actually cost you in fuel mileage.
8: Remove anything from the roof rack that doesn’t need to be up there.
9: If you haven’t had a fuel injection service in a few years, or ever, have one done.
10: Replace your fuel filter according to the manufacturer.
11: Stay away from gas stations that sell cheap fuel, you may save today but you will pay later by needing an earlier than scheduled fuel injection service.
12: Replace your air filter if it has been over 30,000 miles.
13: Do an oil and filter service according to the owner’s manual.
14: Avoid excessive acceleration from a dead stop or on the freeway.
15: Keep track of your fuel mileage at each fill up to avoid engine management problems which could cause loss of fuel mileage.
16: Do not top off your gas tank at fill ups, excessive clicking sends fuel back to the fuel tank and during the heat of the day fuel expands and any excess fuel runs up to the fuel canister and you lose that fuel.
17: Keeping your windows rolled up will allow the vehicle to travel through the air with less friction.
18: Avoid excess lane changing.
19: Avoid tailgating, that may cause quick stops and quick accelerations.
20: Last but not least, drive like you have an egg under your accelerations foot!

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