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 costof 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 efficient to scrap the vehicle.

There are many things to consider before choosing a body shop to handle your collision repair, painting, detailing, and restoration needs. Before you choose, download your FREE copy of the “12 Essential Questions To Ask Before Choosing A Body Shop” provided by A1 Body Shop.

The problem that new car detailing businesses face is that they don’t have a good resource for new customers. What they don’t realize is they have access to most of the people selling their cars in their city, for free, instantly. Where is this place? Craigslist.

Craigslist is now the busiest marketplace for selling used cars in the world. It’s free, easy to search, and there is a massive inventory of cars for sale by owners and dealers there. Also on Craigslist is an automotive services section that receives a lot of traffic.

If you can post a professional looking advertisement they’re introducing yourself, your services, and your prices, you’re guaranteed to get some phone calls and e-mails. What’s important is that you provide specific reasons why your car detailing service is better than the others on Craigslist. Most detailers there emphasize their low prices, but this approach is flawed. The problem with selling on price alone is that the customer perceives your work to be of lesser quality.

Instead, emphasize the quality of your service. Describe your detailing process in detail. Write a short biography about your professional car detailing experience. Specifically name the equipment that you own and the products that you use.

And, if you have photos of your work, displaying these photos is extremely influential. Don’t just show photos of your finished work. Instead, show before and after photos of the common issues like dirty interiors and oxidized paint that someone selling their car is looking for professional help with.

Car dealers will contact you to, as they spend a lot of time each day on Craigslist. Although you may not want all of their business, there are some very good car dealers that pay good rates and give steady business. It’s always good to have some reliable business that you can count on to cover your costs each month.

So if you are a new car detailing business and looking for more work, post an ad on Craigslist as often as possible. First look at your competition’s ads on Craigslist, and see how you can improve on their message and get more business. Often it’s just a matter of producing a more professional presentation with more details and more photos of your services. You will find that a lot of customers are looking for a more trustworthy car detailer and not just the cheapest option on Craigslist.

Are you concerned about the environment and the effect of pollution to the earth’s eco system? There are many ways in which you can help. You can take big steps by driving an electric car or even a small one such as by adjusting your driving habits. Even small steps can make a big difference.

One easy way that you can conserve gas is by monitoring your driving habits. Driving fast and accelerating often burns and wastes a lot of gas. Drive at a steady speed whenever possible in order to conserve fuel. Avoid accelerating really fast and aggressively. Try to anticipate the flow of traffic and slow down or speed up accordingly.

If you want to make a huge step towards saving the environment, why not consider an electric car? An EV is completely clean meaning that it emits zero emissions period. If you live in a very urban area and drive occasionally you may want to consider an electric car. EV’s are more suitable for those who have short commutes due to their limited mileage range which hovers around 100 miles per charge. The most popular EV on the market currently is the Nissan Leaf.

A more low maintenance car that is more practical for most people is a hybrid vehicle. These cars are propelled by the dual use of a traditional and electric motor. One advantage with hybrid cars is that they don’t have the same range limitations that electric cars do. The most popular hybrid on the market currently is the Toyota Prius. Efficiency for the Prius stands at around 50 mpg.

If you want a traditional car; that’s fine too. Just pick one that has good mileage. Many of Ford’s cars come with Ecoboost engines which are designed to perform well while still being efficient. Ford Motor Company has a few cars in their lineup that near the 40 mpg mark.

Another idea to incorporate is that of carpooling. Why not carpool with a few of your office friends if you happen to live in nearby? You will also save on gas costs since the bill is generally split. You also get to drive in the fast lane which means you will get to work even faster.

Another option is to take public transportation once in a while. Some urban cities such as NY and L.A offer great transit systems. Another option is to walk if you are just running errands around your house. An added bonus is that you won’t have to battle traffic or look for a parking spot. Plus walking is great.