1. Turn on the Hazard Lights

It wasn’t planned to have your vehicle break down unannounced, but you need to let others know if you don’t want to inconvenience them. The best way to tell other drivers that you are having issues with your car is to put your hazard light on to alert them. Other drivers will catch the signal and give you space to think of the next thing to do when you do that. Once you have done that, if your car can still move, try to pack it in a safe space on the road. If it won’t move, bring the vehicle to a stop and move to the next step.

2. Stay in the car

This is very simple to do, yet it can be challenging. You are safer if you stay in the car than trying to move to another place, especially if your car stopped on the highway. Just make sure you are not hidden from incoming vehicles. If you have to, turn on the dome light in the night to make your car seen clearly. Though you might feel scared, it is best to remain there until help comes than trying to go out of the scene and hit a vehicle.

3. Call a Tow Service

The next thing to do is let the towing service know your current situation. If you don’t have their number, you can look for it online and call the nearest one to you. But if you don’t have a smartphone, prepare ahead by putting the numbers of a towing company in your gloves box. When you have been able to reach them, they will help you move your car to the nearest repair shop to check what went wrong.

Bonus Tips

It is possible that your hazard light might be having issues at that exact point, and you can’t seem to switch it on. If that happens, still don’t panic but look for a flag in your car or a paper to help you signal to other drivers that you are stuck. You could even fix the flag on the window so it will keep doing the work of signalling while you take the next move. If you can’t get a tow number to call, call your mechanic. Also, when the tow service takes your car to a shop that you aren’t familiar with, you should have your own mechanic check the car for you instead.

If you are in a city where you don’t know any mechanic and you are not sure who to call, check for reputable auto repair shops around using your smartphone so you can direct the towing service to their shop.

Also, having a few snacks in your car will come in handy if you are in this situation. It might take a long time before your vehicle gets towed, and you need food and water to think straight. So, please keep them in your car when you leave for a long trip and change them when you get back home.

Do Dealerships Do Collision Repair?

The simple answer is Yes. More elaborately, dealerships usually have a sector that specializes in collision repair. It is more of an arm of the dealership that only does bodywork and can help get your car to its original state once it has been involved in a collision. But, dealerships often prefer to outsource this type of repair to a body repair shop as this takes lots of time. So, they can help but are more likely to outsource it and focus on other standard repair work.

Do Dealerships Do Body Work?

The number of dealerships that do bodywork outnumbers those that don’t do it. The majority that do bodywork only do it for the models they sell as they have the resources to get it done. While those that cant handle it outsource it to body workshops to take off the pressure of repair. Repairs with the dealership also come with the faster repair but with service fees to guarantee that.This service fee is why most dealerships pressure their service department to rush through their repairs, and as such, they would make more profit.

Are Dealership Mechanics Better?

The truth is, most technicians that have stayed in a dealership for a long time have had first-hand knowledge of a specific vehicle make and model. With this knowledge, they are expected to be better than those at an auto body shop, but that is not the case all the time. This is because those at the independent shops also have the same factory training given to dealership technicians. So, the independent shop technicians may be better and have more experience depending on the number of years in the industry.

One advantage that independent technicians have over dealership technicians is their exposure to different vehicles. They will not just be repairing the same make or model every day as customers with unique vehicles will come for repairs or maintenance. Plus, the body shop tends to get certified as a collision centre for a brand of automobile, which is also an advantage.

Collision Repair Shop vs Dealer

Three factors can help you decide the best place your vehicle will get a good repair service.

1. Price

The standard price at most dealership shops often surpasses that of the independent shop making the auto body shop an affordable option. Therefore if you go to the dealership, you shouldn’t expect to pay less as they have a standard non-negotiable price. So, if you want to save extra cash, going to an independent shop is your best option.

2. Experience

There is always an unending argument on the mechanics with more experience and knowledge. But as discussed already, the dealership mechanics are confined to working on a particular model or make while the independent mechanic has experience on different brands. So, no specific rule states that independent car repair mechanics will know less, which means they are not a lesser option. Also, most independent shops have taken several exams and passed, which makes them certified and knowledgeable.

3. Parts

Different car parts are available for both parties, but some specific parts are easy to get from the dealership than anywhere else. Since they focus on particular models of cars, they usually have some parts readily available than the independent shops. So, if there is a model that precisely needs to be repaired and the dealership is exclusive on it, then they are in the best position to have it fixed.

Car Warning Signs

These are the signs you should check for to know if it is time to hand the car over to an auto body shop or not.

1. Leaking Fluids

If you see signs of your car leaking transmission fluid or oil, it is best to take it for a checkup. You don’t need to bend to see it leak as it would be visible on the floor. Most people do not notice these leaks on time because they enter their car every morning without looking around. Be among the extra careful motorist and look for leaking signs often to avoid having an engine breakdown on the road. Plus, you will be preventing your car from overheating once you can address the issue quickly.

2. Loud Noises

As a driver, you will be sure of your vehicle’s sound because you use it frequently. Even if you don’t, you ought to be familiar with how the car sounds so you can know when it has problems that need fixing. If the sound of your car is different than usual, then it is time to go to the repair shop. You might not know why the engine has a different sound, but the auto body repair specialist will know, so let them check it.

3. Weird Smells

Your car’s cooling and heating system tends to expel a weird smell when faulty. If you notice the smell is unusual, you should take the car to an autobody shop as they will check to see if the smell can be hazardous and fix it completely. It is best not to manage such a situation if you want the best for yourself and everyone that uses your vehicle.

When is the perfect time to bring my vehicle in for repair?

If you use one of the modern cars with a dashboard, it will show signs that your car needs to be repaired urgently. Regardless, the three signs listed above should guide you when you need to bring your car for repairs.

The general checkup your car needs should be about twice a year to be well maintained. You don’t necessarily have to see the signs above before taking your car for a yearly routine check. Also, it would help if you were prompt to change your oil every year to get the best from your vehicle.

But if you use your car frequently, you shouldn’t wait till it is a year before you take it for servicing. Whether you know what the manual says about your vehicle or not, if your car goes through any of the following, then visit the auto body shop more often.

• Operates in cold, hot, snowy, and dusty weather conditions
• Drives more than 5miles often
• Used to transport heavy loads.
• Operates in traffic conditions

How Long Can My Car Go Without Maintenance?

If your car is newly purchased, it can go as far as 35,000 miles before needing its first service. This routine check will help you see if your car needs repair or not, and that is how best it can be maintained. If your vehicle is old, you should use the manual guide of your car to know when it is time for maintenance. Often, old cars need more monitoring as they have undergone years of depreciation. But, whatever years your car must have spent with you when an accident occurs, a repair should be done as quickly as possible.

You could also trust your service advisor to tell you when best to get your can checked.

How to Avoid a Car Accident

Accidents can happen anytime to anybody, and it is essential to know what steps to take when they happen. But, what if they can be prevented using some basic guidelines? Then it is best to know these procedures and follow them to help you stay above possible accidents.

Some of the things everyone driving on the road should take note of to prevent accidents include:

• Follow the road rules and don’t expect others will do the same
• Never pull into traffic at speed
• Do not drive without your hands on the wheels or one hand
• Always look out for pedestrians or bicyclists when driving
• Check to see if your car is in good condition before going into the road
• When reversing, look back and do not rely only on the side mirrors and cameras.
• Remember not to tailgate.

If you can follow these tips listed above, you will reduce the chances of getting involved in an accident and being a faulty driver.

Steps to Take After an Accident

Suppose you just experienced an accident; there are some steps you need to take whether you are at fault or not. These steps will protect your interests and also protect you.

1. Park and check to see if you or your passengers are great

It is standard procedure to stop to check if you or the people in your car are okay before driving. Driving away from the accident immediately it occurs is never a good move, no matter how minor the accident may be. The first best thing to do is to stop and be assured everyone in the car is fine before proceeding and contact the necessary quarters if someone is hurt.

2. Move to safety and keep the accident scene protected

If you can, move to a safe place at the roadside to monitor the accident scene and stay safe. But if there is no place to move to, keep the hazard light of your car on till the police show up so that you prevent any other accident. 

3. Contact the Police

There is never a too minor accident that shouldn’t involve the police. If you cannot reach the police, make sure you document what happened at the scene and file an accident report later at the police station. This is important if you need the insurance to take care of the bill, as some insurance companies only accept filing for a claim with a police report.

3. Create a record of the scene

The police will ask some questions about the accident, so you better be prepared to give them a good report. It will help if you note certain things as you will have to remember them.

• You need to be specific in your description of the police and only tell them the truth.
• You don’t have to force yourself to say something; if you don’t know, don’t guess or assume a number.
• You cannot be sure if you are hurt, but if you don’t feel any pain immediately, it is best to tell the police if you are asked how you feel.
• Take as many pictures as you can of the scene, whether or not the police have their records of it.

5. Exchange information with the other involved parties and keep a file

If you can reach the police and they come to the scene, they will get the information of everyone involved. Yet, you still need to get the information for yourself also. Plus, the police name and badge number should also be requested so you will be able to locate your accident report quickly.

Some of the other information to obtain is the names, addresses, phone numbers, driver’s license, vehicle models, insurance companies numbers of the concerned parties. Don’t also forget to note the accident’s location, date, and time.

6. Seek Medical Attention, If Necessary

The next major step is to go to the nearest hospital for treatment. If it is not a severe injury, you can go alone, but if not, ask the police to follow you, so you won’t have to drive alone. Just make sure you don’t allow any pain to go untreated.

7. Inform Your Insurance Company

Don’t wait till you get home before you notify your insurance providers. They should be aware of the accident scene to instruct you on what to do next to file a claim. It is important not to do this regardless of who caused the accident if you want to quickly get the help you need.

8. Get Your Vehicle Repaired

In places like Oregon and Washington, no particular law binds the insurance company to provide repair shops for their clients. However, some still recommend mechanics that they have worked with to help their clients make a good choice. But the recommendation is not a compulsory selection as you can choose to go with them or not.

Your best bet every time is to go for an auto body shop that understands you and is reliable. Some of the things to consider if you want a trustworthy shop are:

• Detailed written warranties
• Certified technicians
• Adequate accident resources and reporting
• Detailed estimates
• A rental car program
• Good customer feedback

Getting a Quality Estimate

If you want to get a fair and quality estimate for your car repairs, going to a qualified auto body shop is your best bet. The expertise of the specialist in the shop will readily check your car for all the obvious and hidden damages and give you the estimate that will be needed to fix the car back to its original state.

You can bank on your insurance company to get a good auto body shop for you as they usually have affiliations. But, you are also advised to do your research to find out the best specialist that can help fix your car.

Any shop you research on should have certified technicians who have experience working on cars similar to yours. They should also have well-written warranties and estimates that the client would understand. Plus, their services should include a rental program to lend a car till yours is fixed.

The best way to get shops like this is to check online reviews. By looking through the reviews, you can catch a glimpse of what the company is about and be familiar with how they treat customers. If you have questions, you can also reach out to them to answer them.

The Estimation Process: What to Expect

This is not usually a long process as most qualified auto body shops are prompt in attending to clients. The primary thing required in this estimation process is the assessment. Once the car can be accessed, the estimate will take roughly 15 to 30 minutes to get penned and shown to the client.

Some of the things that a written car estimate contains are:

• A detailed description of the work that would be done on your vehicle to bring it back to its original state.
• A thorough breakdown of how much it would cost you on the repairs involved and other fees included.
• The total estimate of the repairs and a concluding statement that disapproves any additional charges not already stated and would only be added when you approve it.

A written estimate is always a good way to monitor your repairs’ progress and see if the company gave what was promised. It might not be lawfully necessary to do, but credible auto body shops offer written estimates because they want their client to feel involved and confident in them. They will also be ready to answer any question that could be asked. Getting a written estimate is your go-to strategy if you want a smooth repair process.

How does the insurance come into the picture?

After getting to safety in an accident, the first response should be to contact your insurance company. Once you have them involved, they will help protect you and get you the best needed. Your insurance company can come into any accident situation, no matter how small or significant it could be. So, contacting them is never a wrong move after an accident.

Depending on the state you are in, your insurance provider might foot the bill of the other vehicle if you were at fault. But in some states, it is not the insurance company cross to bear, and that means you wouldn’t have anything to worry about the repairs. However, whether you are at fault or not, your insurance company needs to know as they would have the answers you need about the repairs and other things.

Also, you must bear in mind that your insurance company is not the owner of your vehicle. If they recommend a repair shop and you don’t feel like using their services, you are free to make your decisions and choose another shop. There is no pressure whatsoever to choose what your insurance provider chooses.

8 Things to Do After a Rear-End Collision

Some of the primary causes of rear-end collisions are speeding, reckless driving, traffic congestion, mechanical failure, alcohol influenced driving and distraction.

If you have ever gotten involved in a rear-end collision, it will be expected that everyone involved in the crash will explain the situation as it is, but that is not always the case. Therefore, the best thing to do is not to rely on other drivers in such a situation but do the following. These steps listed below are practicable and would help you limit any legal or financial risk in the long run.

1. 1. Access yourself to see if you have incurred any injury

If you have been rear-ended, the first thing to do is to make sure you are fine. You might have to stop the car if it is still in motion and park to get yourself together to access that properly. But if it is a hit on a parked car, whether you are in it or not, it is best to stay where you are and exchange details with the other involved driver.

But if you are not static but on a major road or the highway, gently pull off the car in a safe place and not on the road. Once you have done that, ask the passengers in the vehicle if they are all okay. If you are the only one, check yourself to see if you have any injury caused by the collision. It is normal to feel scared at that point because of the sudden impact, especially if the crash was at high speed. But, take a moment to breathe and confirm if everyone is okay before considering who is at fault and who isn’t. In fact, regardless of who is at fault, you should not leave the scene until everything is settled.

1. 2. Take the necessary step to move to safety

It is one thing to be involved in one rear-end collision situation; it is another thing to be opened for further accidents. If you have had the situation once, don’t stay at that spot, especially on the highway. The best safe option at that point is to move to the side of the road. Although not all highway crashes permits side of the road as a safe spot, but mostly, that is what you should do. If there is no side of the road option, turn on your hazard light and move the car till you arrive at a safe place. Don’t even talk to the other driver until you are sure you are safe to interact and exchange details.

1. 3. Don’t be tempted to admit any fault

Most times, when a rear-end situation occurs, the car at the back is at fault. This is common but not the case every time. This isn’t true every time because the lead car can propel the collision on a few occasions. If the lead car reverses or doesn’t use the brake correctly, the rear car will have no choice but to barge in unknowingly. Therefore it is not advisable to take responsibility for a crash because you might be innocent. But once you have admitted the fault at the scene, you cannot go back on your words, and your insurance company will have to pay for the damages. The best call of action is to exchange details and leave the scene.

1. 4. Call the police and report the crash.

After making sure you are safe, it is expedient; you contact the police. Even if the situation is trivial and seems too small to disturb the police, you should still call. If you can, call the police to the scene and let them do their investigation. They will document the event of the accident and can adequately file the report to the right quota.

1. 5. Take as many pictures of the damaged car and the scene.

Many people believe their memory will do justice to holding vital information about the incident. That might be true to a certain time frame, but it is prone to be distorted over time. The best form of evidence you can use is to take photos of different scene angles. Yes, you might remember the model of the car that caused the accident, but would you know the way it hit the vehicle? Since photos still carry more reliable value, you should use them.

When taking photos, there are some things to look for such that it will be valuable to anyone trying to get info from it later. So, this is what you check for when taking pictures of the car and the scene.

• • The damage on the trunk
  • Electrical and transmission damage
  • Bumper and frame damage
  • Alignment problems

1. 6. Get the information of other involved drivers and give them yours

If you call the police to an accident scene, they will know what to do and the contact to collect. But if they don’t show up, or they do, you still need to get the info yourself and file it for yourself so that you can access it anytime.

Here’s the information you should obtain:

• • The names, phone numbers and addresses of all the parties involved.
  • The insurance providers of the involved parties, including the passengers.
  • The license information of the driver and the passengers
  • The model and make of the vehicles involved
  • The plate number and the involved vehicles
  • The time, date and location of the accident.

1. 7. Locate the nearest doctor that can provide you with the health care you need.

No matter how minor an accident can be, bodily injury can occur. You might not note the damage immediately because of the anxiety most accidents causes. When the shock has reduced, and you notice injuries, it is best to seek medical attention promptly.

Suppose you can reach your regular doctor, great if not try to visit the nearest doctor and get treated on time. Never assume an accident is too small to get you injured as Whiplash occurs even with a low speed rear-end collision. So, take care of yourself as quickly as you can. Some symptoms that show you already have Whiplash include headaches, dizziness, fatigue, neck pain, numbness in the fingers, shoulders or arms. So, get help when you notice any.

1. 8. Contact your insurance agent and keep them updated.

Once you encounter an accident, you might not have to think about your insurance provider immediately, which is normal. In fact, many people believe there is a stipulated time to wait before you call your insurance company after an accident. That is not the case because the time for each insurance company differs from another.

Some insurance providers will want such situations reported within 24 hours as they would like to do a proper follow-up. So, once you have filed the report with the police, let your insurance company become aware of the case at hand.

Well, regardless of when you speak to the insurance company according to the stated date on their policy, there are some things to note. If you want to communicate effectively with the company, consider these tips when you make a report.

• • Considering all factors of an accident scene, don’t assume you are to be blamed. It might bounce back on you more than you expect if you do that.
  • When they suggest that they want to record the call, allow them to; it shows you don’t have anything to hide.
  • During the accident, you might have incurred Whiplash; skip mentioning it as they might not believe you if you tell them you have it.
  • Don’t conclude quickly that you are not hurt as some injuries do not show up immediately, and when you raise it later, you might not be believed.