How To Know What Your Auto Body Repair Estimate Means

When your automobile needs to be repaired, you'll need a facility that you can count on to keep you well-informed throughout the endeavor, offer extraordinary customer service, give your vehicle back to you quickly and get you back on the roadways with the best quality repair.  It is always imperative that you know how much out of pocket cost you can expect before the repairs start and make sure your auto body repair estimate is taking care of everything.

Your estimate has to include:

•   A detailed evaluation of the repairs to be done on the vehicle
•   An index of the repair parts to be used
•   What items your insurance will and will not take care of
•   The projected amount of the repair.

One reason an estimate might vary from another shop is the thoroughness of the assessment process. Many estimates keep important repairs from the initial estimate, making the total amount to be different from another facility. At Kurt's CARSTAR Collision Center we're very comprehensive to determine what is necessary for a high quality and safe repair for your car. If you live in Edwardsville, Troy, Glen Carbon, Highland, or Maryville and have any questions about car collision repair, contact them from their website at www.auto-body-maryville-il.com.

Vehicle vs. Repair Cost

When you do buy that new car, what is it really going to cost you?

Whenever you get a new car, the very last thing you're thinking about is what you're going to have to pay to get the thing repaired. Still, you're going to want to know the price of repairing the bumpers, door panels and hoods, which can vary widely by automobile model. Despite what you may think, the cost of the repair doesn’t always correspond to the value of the vehicle itself.

Kurt's CARSTAR Collision Center carefully tracks the price of vehicle repairs on every make and model. Keep in mind, these costs don't just contribute to the repair bill, they also drive up the cost to get your vehicle insured.

A couple of alarming numbers to start thinking about when you replace damaged parts with OEM equipment are:

•   The running board on a Lincoln Navigator costs $2200
•   The fender on a Chrysler 300 is less than $100 but the molding costs $90
•   The rear door lock on a 2008 Lexus 460 is over $900, the door trim panel costs more than $2,000 and the rear door belt molding costs more than $1,000.
•   The quarter panel on 2000-2007 Ford Taurus costs $1,397.45

With that being said, which four door passenger type automobiles are the most and least expensive to fix when it comes to the “collision” coverage loss experience, the overall cost paid out to repair or replace the damages sustained to the car?

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety loss data says that the Honda Accord is the top performer, and the Mitsubishi Galant is the very bottom of the list when considering four door passenger type cars. On a scale where one hundred is standard and lesser scores express less expensive repair works, the final results are listed below.

The Honda Accord has a relative loss experience rating of 78.The other nine of the top ten performers and their comparative scores were:

•   Saturn Aura (83)
•   Chevrolet Malibu (new model) (84)
•   Mercury Milan 4WD (90)
•   Hyundai Sonata (92)
•   Chrysler Sebring (93)
•   Ford Fusion (98)
•   Mercury Milan (100)
•   Toyota Camry Hybrid (101)
•   Subaru Legacy 4WD (102)

The worst vehicle was the Mitsubishi Galant at 132. The other nine of the bottom ten and their relative scores were:

•   Nissan Maxima (131)
•   Pontiac G6 (124)
•   Nissan Altima Hybrid (123)
•   Nissan Altima (123)
•   Volvo S40 (122)
•   Acura TSX (122)
•   Mazda 6 Hatchback (121)
•   Mazda 6 (119)
•   Chevrolet Malibu (old model) (117)

If an unpleasant auto accident does occur, we suggest having a collision plan set up so that you're not out on the side of the road just waiting around for assistance. Kurt's CARSTAR Collision Center offers the people of  Edwardsville, Troy, Glen Carbon, Highland, and Maryville, Illinois high-quality, reliable repair service. For information visit www.auto-body-maryville-il.com.

Saving Big Bucks On The Highway

Take a few moments to think about exactly what it would feel like for you to be travelling along on the interstate minding your own business, when suddenly you shout “Oh Deer!” while an impressive head of antlers crashes right into your front fender.

You do not need to give place to the risk of having a car accident with a buck – and spending lots of bucks on the repair – by merely using a couple of these driving tips whenever you hit the road this winter. Year in and year out, one and a half million drivers have a collision with a deer, and the cold weather months are the worst possible season for deer-vehicle crashes.

Deer crashes are responsible for over 1.1 billion dollars per year in automobile damage, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Typically, the accident costs around $2,800 for each insurance claim. However, they have the potential to cost upwards of $10,000 if the driver or a passenger become wounded, according to the Insurance Information Institute.

The Risks Aren't Only In Rural Areas

Deer danger is a real danger in every part of the country, rural or otherwise. The top 10 deer danger states are:

1.   Pennsylvania
2.   Michigan
3.   Illinois
4.   Ohio
5.   Georgia
6.   Minnesota
7.   Virginia
8.   Indiana
9.   Texas
10.   Wisconsin

Drive Defensively to Avoid Deer Dangers

Early morning and sundown are the worst times for deer accidents, as visibility is limited and deer are often on the move. It is important to drive defensively and anticipate the potential for deer in the road so you can safely stop and avoid the accident.

The professionals at Kurt's CARSTAR Collision Center in Maryville, Illinois repair vast quantities of automobiles each year from deer-related accidents. They want to help you stay safe from deer danger with the following tips:

1.At dawn and sunset, and around golf courses, fields and wooded areas use extra caution.
2. Though devices like deer whistles attempt to defend against deer with an ultrasonic sound, do not place an excessive amount of faith in them. They have never actually been proven to stop deer-vehicle collisions.
3.If a collision with a deer becomes imminent, do not swerve to prevent yourself from hitting it. Though this may seem reasonable, it actually just adds to the threat of colliding with some other vehicle or even losing complete control of your vehicle.
4.Once you've hit the animal, it might remain on the road afterwards. Should this be the situation, report the occurrence to the game commission or a local law enforcement agency immediately, as a deer carcass might be a hindrance to other drivers. If there's a chance that the deer may be living, don't approach it. A wounded deer with sharp hooves may be dangerous.
5.Keep in mind that deer will often travel as a pack. Do not think that simply because one deer has already safely traversed the road that you are okay.
6.Make good use of your brights at night. Unless, of course, there is oncoming traffic at the time.

Preparation is Smart Protection. Period.

It is a wise decision to be safeguarded in case a deer accident does take place. A lot of motorists don't appear to know that only having collision coverage usually does not encapsulate harm from a deer accident. This may leave people with a damaged vehicle and a big repair bill.

Drivers must have extensive insurance coverage that handles crashes with deer. If you've got an older automobile and you do not think that it is really worth the price of the insurance coverage, have an “accident fund” just in case something unforeseen takes place.

If you've gotten into a car accident or want your questions answered about having your car fixed after a crash, visit www.auto-body-maryville-il.com. Kurt's CARSTAR Collision Center in Maryville, Illinois offers high-quality and reliable repair in Edwardsville, Troy, Glen Carbon, and Highland.