The Sky Is Falling: How To Handle The Danger Of Spring Hailstorms

Warmer weather is here, meaning hail storms are working their way across the nation, leaving dented, dinged and damaged vehicles in their path.

Is your car or truck ready to confront nature itself this spring?  Do you have the right insurance to recuperate from any problems?  And how can you make sure that your vehicle is restored to its pre-storm condition without making a huge dent in your pocketbook?

Steve's CARSTAR Auto Body Repair sees large amounts of vehicles that have been damaged by hail storms every year. Steve's CARSTAR Auto Body Repair in Arnold, Missouri offers these tips to help vehicle owners the damage left by any recent spring hail storms.

After getting hail damage, the first thing to do is speak to your insurance provider prior to consulting a repair center.  In many cases, if there's a very big storm, the insurance companies will call in what’s known as a Catastrophe Team.  If you are going around town and you are getting a lot of estimates, regrettably, it'll just be a lot of wasted time for you.  The insurance providers are going to want you to go and have their Catastrophe Team take a look at it, begin the claim process, and then you can bring it to Steve's CARSTAR Auto Body Repair or any body shop, and they’ll work with the insurance company from there to make sure that all the dents get fixed on your car.

Even if you do not think your vehicle was battered too badly, it is essential that you get it looked at as quickly as possible. There can be a lot of damage that you cannot see when you are just visually looking at it.  Once you get it under some of the right kind of light, and you really take a good look at it, there are a lot of dents that you will not see until you possibly go to trade your vehicle in, and then you’ll be stuck with a lot of hail damage.  Your best chance is to get a claim processed, and get it into a qualified shop, and have them really look over the vehicle carefully.  Once you get it under  florescent lights, what you thought was only ten or fifteen dents ends up being fifty or one hundred dents.

Check Your Coverage

The time to take a look at auto insurance isn't whenever you hear the hail smashing brutally into your car.  Read your policy now so that you can understand what is covered and what isn't, what the deductibles are, if you have rental coverage and what to do whenever the storm hits.

Comprehensive coverage shields against most harm from natural disasters.  Two other choices to consider are gap coverage – which pays the difference between what you owe on your loan and what your car is worth -- and rental reimbursement.

One thing that you should be aware of – if you filed a previous damage claim and received a check from your insurance company, but did not have the vehicle repaired – the insurance company will deduct that amount from your estimate for the storm damage, and charge you a second deductible, too.

Protect Your Vehicle

When you know that a hail storm is on the way, get your vehicle to some higher ground or under cover.  If you don't personally have a garage at home, find a covered parking garage to protect your car.  If you have to park your car outdoors, park it on the highest ground possible away from trees and phone poles.

For hail storms, cover your car in an old blanket and a car cover that you can get from your local automotive retailer – before the storm hits.  This will give some protection for your hood, roof and rear deck-lid. If a storm comes up without warning, look for an awning at a service station, the drive-through at the bank or self-serve car wash to get under for immediate protection. On the highway, try to find cover under a bridge or viaduct.

Get Your Car Repaired without Despair

Dealing with the aftermath of a big hail storm can be traumatic, particularly if you have had damage to your home, too.  Getting your car up and running again shouldn’t add to your stress, if you are ready for the repairs.  To help with this process, Steve's CARSTAR Auto Body Repair offers these tips:

•   Copy of your vehicle registration, title, insurance card and driver’s license and put those copies in a safe, dry place.
•   After the storm clears, record any damage with photos or video.
•   Know where you’d like to have your car fixed ahead of time so you do not have to make a sudden decision.

When you choose a body shop for repairs, don't forget:

•   Check out the shop, their track record, business or trade associations they are a part of and if their technicians are I-CAR educated.
•   All reputable repair facilities will provide a warranty of some sort for the work that they complete…also make sure that it is written down and well explained to you.
•   Only trust your vehicle to a well-established body shop business operating before the storm. Beware of fly-by-night operators trying to make a fast buck off of the storm.  If they are set up in a location that isn't permanent, don’t trust them with your vehicle.
Once your car arrives at the body shop for repairs, there are a few things you should keep in mind to get that top-quality repair:

•   Review the estimate in detail, but keep in mind that it is for the visible damage and what it will take to return the vehicle to its pre-accident state. If the estimate does not cover the whole extent of the damage, a Supplement will be created, submitted to your insurance company for approval.
•   Get a detailed assessment of the parts to be changed and whether they are OEM, new or refurbished, and in what condition the car will be in whenever it is returned to you.  Most insurance policies specify pre-accident status, so your seven-year old minivan may not come back looking brand new.
•   Get a timeline of when the work is to be done and when the job is going to be completed.
•    Detail the payment terms and methods, with down-payment, final payment and costs for any follow-up work.
•   Ask the store manager for regular updates on the progress of the work, and require approval for any work done outside the original estimate.
•   Do not allow yourself to be pressured to accept the completed repair if you don’t think it is repaired properly.  Get in contact with your insurance agent for guidance.

While your car is in the body shop, it’s a good time to have other dents repaired in addition to ones from the hail storm.  It is often more cost-effective and your car will benefit in the end.
For more tips on dealing with an accident or having your car repaired after a collision, visit www.auto-body-arnold-mo.com. Steve's CARSTAR Auto Body Repair offers quality, reliable repair service.  Just call 636-464-6080 when you need a vehicle repair and they will send the tow truck, contact your insurance company, arrange for a rental car and repair your car.

Make Sure That Your Child's Safety Seat Is Installed Properly

If you find yourself bringing home a baby, shopping for a child safety seat for a child that has outgrown a previous one or finding a replacement child safety seat for one that has been damaged in a wreck, selecting the actual seat for your child is really just half the task.  The most confusing obstacle is still ahead – getting it mounted properly.

NHTSA, the National Safety Council and Steve's CARSTAR Auto Body in Arnold, Missouri offer these techniques to help moms and dads ensure that their child safety seat is put in as safely as is feasible.

•   Always ensure that the baby is rear-facing. While the view might seem boring to you, it ensures that the infant will be in the safest possible position if an accident occurs. The rear facing position decreases the probability of neck/spine trauma compared to that of a baby facing forward.  While some experts advocate keeping the child rear facing up until his or her 6 month mark and or twenty-two pounds, there is absolutely nothing wrong with waiting a bit longer.
•   Use the right seat for your kid's age, body weight and height. If your vehicle has leather seats, get a couple of non-slip rubber shelf liners or find yourself a "seat saver" to put under the car seat. It'll keep your vehicle seat clean and stop the car seat from sliding all about. Still, depending on your child safety seat, a seat saver may have the ability to interfere with the installation process, so hold on to the receipt.
•   Read the car and the child seat manuals with extreme care, and always adhere to the car seat manufacturer's advice. If you have questions for them, call them up and ask. Your local dealer might not be up to speed on your personal installation questions.
•   Rear-Facing, Infant-Only Seat — LATCH Install -- Many parents of newborns like the type of infant car seat that comes with a separating base component. The base stays installed in the car while the baby carrier itself can be taken out and snapped back in again at will.  Infant seat bases generally have flexible LATCH connectors — essentially belts with hooks at the ends.  Locate the lowest anchors in the second-row window seats. Be sure the child safety seat lays flat against the seat's bottom and back, in between the lower anchors.  Hook the LATCH attachment that is the farthest away from you onto the anchor. Then, if possible, climb on top of the seat, putting your knee on top of it. Using your weight to compress the vehicle seat to the greatest extent possible, hook the other attachment to the anchor and pull out any slack. If you cannot get on top of the seat, use all the strength that you have to push down on the seat while hooking on the second attachment.
•   Rear-Facing, Infant-Only Seat — Standard Shoulder and Lap Belt Install
What if your vehicle or the car seat in it is an older model and does not feature LATCH? Or what if the car's seat cushions or anchor placements make LATCH installation unlikely? You are able to still do a standard shoulder and lap belt installation that is very safe. First, thread the vehicle's lap and shoulder belt through the appropriate slots, called the "belt path." If you have a convertible car seat that goes from forward-facing to rear-facing, be careful to choose the proper path; it will be clearly marked.

Plug the latch plate into the buckle, then, employing your weight as above, tighten up the belt. Be sure that all of the slack is taken out of both the lap and the shoulder. Generally, using a locking clip will give you a more secure installation. A locking clip is an H-shaped bit of metal that comes with all new car seats or can be ordered from the manufacturer. To use one, plug in the seatbelt, make it as tight you can, then unplug it again while you also hold the belt tightly. Wind the locking clip around the belt very close to the latch plate, then plug it back in. You may have to jump down on the seat a couple of times to get it closed. This will not be easy, but it'll give you a rock-solid installation.

Keep in mind that a rear-facing infant car seat needs to sit at a 45-degree angle to prevent the baby from slouching and to keep their respiratory tract open. Check your instructions to see if your seat has an angle adjuster; if so, use that. If not, a small piece of a swimming pool "noodle" placed under the seat is the best way to get the same angle. Why a noodle? Well, you could use a tightly rolled towel, but towels seem to compress over time, whereas the material in pool noodles does not. If you do end up using a towel, check it from time to time to see that the angle has been kept.

The experts at Steve's CARSTAR Auto Body in Arnold, Missouri, who also serve the people of Oakville, Imperial, Jeffco, and Jefferson County, make every effort to give you a high-quality, reliable repair for every customer and want to extend that dedication to the youngest passengers in our customers’ cars. Anyone who's ever placed their bundle of joy in a car seat know what trust you place in that seat.  They want to help empower parents to protect their kids, whether during daily driving or after an accident.
For more information on the CARSTAR Child Safety Seat program, visit www.auto-body-arnold-mo.com.

There’s Snow Time To Waste!

Winter weather may have a big impact on the well-being of your vehicle, even once the snow, ice, rain and challenging traveling conditions turn into a thing of yesterday. These easy guidelines from Steve's CARSTAR Auto Body in Arnold, Missouri can cure wintertime problems and help people protect and preserve their second-largest investment. CARSTAR is America’s trusted accident center and specialist in car exteriors.
From the salt, sludge and road debris that feeds on your paint and exterior to the scratches and marks that accompany driving your car on tricky roadways, Ol’ Man Winter is hard on your automobile. Just some straight forward techniques from Steve's CARSTAR Auto Body professionals can really help motorists beat wintertime scratches quicker than they set aside their winter coats and get their ride prepared for spring, whilst helping the visual appeal, performance and enduring value of their automobile.

The trick is having your automobile meticulously cleaned out and fixed, getting rid of saltiness and fine sand that may cause decay and hurt a car’s finish, then assessing minor denting that will develop into major headaches if kept in disrepair. Steve's CARSTAR Auto Body in Arnold, Missouri, which also serves Oakville, Imperial, Jeffco, and everywhere in Jefferson County, offers the following tips for removing winter grime.

1.    Give your vehicle a good scrub-down with car wash soap to clear away winter salt, sand, dirt and grime without worrying about stripping wax protection.
2.    Thoroughly clean the engine bay to eliminate any harmful residue. Turn on the motor for several minutes, then squirt water through the entire engine compartment with a hose and nozzle. Spray the underbody of the vehicle and all the wheel wells to eliminate salt and sand.
3.    Get rid of the tar and debris with an adhesive and wax remover. Simply rub it on with a microfiber cloth, leave it there for several minutes to weaken dirt, old wax and tar, then wipe off.
4.    Wash the wheels and tires to eliminate brake dust, saltiness and highway grime.
5.    Restore tires to brand-new finish with a tire restorer. All you have to do is spray it on and wipe it off for a deeply black shine.
6.    Give the car a very good protective coating of synthetic polish that chemically ties with the clear coat finish which keeps the car’s finish looking great.
7.    Lube the door, hood and trunk hinges, locks and other moving parts with a spray lubricant that lubricates, permeates, displaces liquid and resists deterioration.
8.    Get the glass clean in and out for gleaming car windows.
9.    Clean up and preserve the upholstery with a leather and vinyl restorer, that revitalizes the natural gloss and supple feel of the factory finish.
10.    Clean the car’s carpet to get rid of wintertime salt and dirt.

Steve's CARSTAR Auto Body professionals remind drivers there is just one other component of the spring cleaning process. That is examining for external damage, as a result of winter road debris, potholes and icy conditions, which could leave dents, dings and scratches hiding beneath your car’s cold weather coat of gunk. They encourage carrying out a complete review of the vehicle from fender to fender and that you pay attention to any new problems. Never forget – ordinary scratching and modest dents can quickly become rust spots and even bigger problems if not dealt with.

The certified technicians at Steve's CARSTAR Auto Body in Arnold, Missouri can provide a detailed “spring cleaning” plan for your vehicle, including paint touch-up, dent and scratch repair and more, all at a reasonable cost.

How To Know What Your Auto Body Repair Estimate Means

If your car or truck has to be fixed, you will want a repair facility you can depend on to keep you up to date through the entire procedure, give outstanding customer support, deliver your car or truck punctually and allow you to get back on the road with the very best quality repair.  It's also crucial that you understand before the work starts out just how much upfront cost you might experience and to make certain your auto body repair estimate is addressing every little thing.

The estimate ought to include:

•   An in-depth inspection of the repair to be performed on your automobile
•   An explanation of the repair parts to be used
•   What things your insurance policy does and does not include
•   The anticipated cost of the service.

One reason why estimates may vary from a different shop is thoroughness of the appraisal process. Some quotes might leave essential expenses out of the original estimate, causing the amount to differ from another facility. At Steve's CARSTAR Auto Body Repair we're detailed to determine the actions needed for an excellent and safe repair for your motor vehicle. Should you have questions about car collision repair, give us a call at 636-464-6080.

Vehicle vs. Repair Cost

Whenever you buy a brand new car or truck, the very last thing you're thinking about is what it'll cost you to repair. But the price of fixing bumpers, door panels and hoods can vary extensively by automobile model, and usually the expense of the repair does not correspond to the value.

Steve's CARSTAR Auto Body Repair in Arnold, MO thoroughly monitors the price of vehicle repairs on all models of automobiles. These costs don't just contribute to the repair bill, it also drives the price to insure the automobile.

A couple of worrying figures to take into consideration when replacing damaged parts with OEM equipment are:
•   The running board on a Lincoln Navigator is twenty-two hundred bucks
•   The fender on a Chrysler 300 costs under a hundred bucks but the molding is 90 bucks
•   The rear door lock on a Lexus 460 is more than nine hundred dollars, the door trim panel is over $2,000 and the rear door belt molding is over a thousand dollars.
•   The quarter panel on Ford Taurus is almost one thousand four hundred dollars

So what four door passenger type automobiles are the most cost effective and most expensive to fix when it comes to the “collision” coverage loss experience, which is the total price paid out to repair or replace the harm suffered by the car?

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety loss data reveals the Honda Accord as the number one performer, while Mitsubishi Galant is the bottom of the list when examining 4 door passenger cars. Gauged on a scale where one hundred is typical and lower scores describe less expensive repairs, the results are:
The Honda Accord has a comparative loss experience rating of seventy-eight, which is twenty-three percent superior to the average result of one hundred. The remaining top nine contenders and their comparative ratings 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 performing vehicle model was the Mitsubishi Galant at one hundred thirty-two. Rounding out the highest priced automobiles to repair (from a lost cost standpoint) 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 automobile crash does happen, we recommend possessing a collision plan so you are not stuck on the wayside waiting around for help. Steve's CARSTAR Auto Body Repair offers high-quality, reliable repair service in Oakville, Imperial, Jeffco, Arnold, and Jefferson County. For information visit www.auto-body-arnold-mo.com.

Look Out For the Bucks to Save Big Bucks On Collision Repairs

Imagine that you're traveling down the road at the conclusion of your day, when suddenly you say “Oh Dear?” as a huge head of antlers smashes into your front fender.

You can easily prevent a vehicle collision with a buck – and shelling out plenty of bucks on the damage – by adhering to a couple practical driving tips this winter. On a yearly basis, one and a half million motorists smash a deer, and the winter weather months are peak season for deer-vehicle accidents.

Deer crashes lead to no less than $1.1 billion annually in automobile damage, as reported by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Typically, the accidents cost $2,800 for every claim, and as high as $10,000 when there is injury to the motorist or a passenger, as reported by the Insurance Information Institute.

The Dangers Are Not Only in Remote Areas

The main states for deer-related accidents range through the entire nation, and no longer are these accidents consigned to agricultural areas. The top ten 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 In Order To Avoid Deer Perils

Morning hours and sundown are the very worst times for deer accidents, since visibility is restricted and deer are usually moving around. It is very important to drive defensively and anticipate the potential for deer in the road so you're able to safely stop and steer clear of the crash.

The auto experts at Steve's CARSTAR Auto Body Repair in Arnold, MO, who repair many vehicles every year from deer-related mishaps, provide the tips below to lessen the deer danger:

1.   Use extreme care at dawn and sunset, and near golf courses, fields and wooded places.
2.   Try not to rely on equipment such as deer whistles, which are connected to the exterior of an automobile, in order to scare off deer with an ultrasonic or high-frequency sound. They haven't been proven to reduce deer-vehicle crashes.
3.   Do not swerve to prevent yourself from hitting a deer, since that increases the possibility of hitting another vehicle or losing control over your car.
4.   If a deer remains on the road whenever you strike it, report the accident to the game commission or a local police agency, as the deer poses a risk to other motorists. If the deer may still be alive, do not get close to it as a wild animal with sharp hooves has the potential to cause injuries.
5.   Understand that deer generally move about in packs – if you identify one, you'll find more behind it.
6.   If there's no oncoming traffic, use high beams at night to better light up deer.

Preparation is Sensible Defense

If the car accident with a deer really does take place, it's smart to be protected. Many drivers don't understand that holding only collision coverage doesn't address damage from a deer collision, resulting in a damaged vehicle and a large repair bill.

To completely cover any potential damage, drivers ought to possess thorough insurance coverage that extends to that sort of crash. For those taking an older vehicle who think their vehicles are not really worth the price of the insurance policy, it's wise to keep an “accident fund” if anything does occur.

For more great tips on dealing with an auto accident or getting your vehicle fixed following a collision, visit www.auto-body-arnold-mo.com. Steve's CARSTAR Auto Body Repair offers high-quality and reliable repair in Arnold, Missouri, as well as Imperial, Oakville, and Jeffco.

Driving Safety For The Elderly

The senior citizens of today have grown alongside their cars.  They came of age in the 1940s and 1950s as the automobile culture really started to explode.  The automobile defined many aspects of their lives - where they chose to live, how they chose to vacation, where  they chose to work.  
The number of senior drivers is ever-increasing within the US. In the year 2008, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that there was thirty two million drivers – or fifteen percent of all licensed drivers – that were over the age of 65.

However, the automobile of today defines these seniors’ safety on the road. A lot of seniors on the road today are driving older vehicles, and others still are in vehicles that aren't fully adjusted to their height and driving skills.

According to NHTSA, the dangers to American drivers is very real.  In the year 2009, one hundred eighty-seven thousand seniors were hurt in car accidents, accounting for eight percent of all people that are injured in traffic collisions throughout the year. These individuals made up sixteen percent of traffic fatalities.  The majority of all traffic fatalities with older drivers in 2009 took place in the daytime (81 percent), on weekdays (71 percent), and involved other vehicles (69 percent).

With just a few safety measures and frequent vehicle maintenance checks to optimize visibility, senior drivers can keep independent and substantially improve their safety on the road.  We're proud to give you these suggestions for keeping seniors secure while traveling.

Conduct a Safety Fit Check on the Car:  In many cases, a senior's car is no longer a good fit for them.  The seat could be too low or the pedals too far to comfortably reach or mirrors may no longer be adjusted properly for good vision.  These factors can contribute to a potentially disastrous accident.  Steve's CARSTAR Auto Body Repair can give you a good evaluation.  To help keep the senior in your life safe, they provide pedal extensions, booster seats, mirror extension, magnifiers and running boards.

If you are hunting for a new or used car for a senior, try to find options like high or extra-wide doors, adjustable foot pedals, large interior door handles, over-sized knobs with clearly visible labels, support handles to help with entry and exit, big or adjustable-size text for dashboard gauges, seat adjustment systems that can move the seat in any direction - particularly raising it up so the driver’s line of sight is 3” over the adjusted steering wheel and dashboard-mounted ignition as opposed to steering column-mounted ignition, as your specific needs may direct.

Check the Vehicle's Visibility:  It isn't just important for the driver to see out of the car, it’s important for them to see the road completely and for other cars to be able to see them.   Many seniors will travel in vehicles that are older, and these headlamps substantially lose lighting capability and may become hazed over time.  The simple solution, a 3M Lens Renewal Kit, enables users to restore headlights to pristine clarity in under an hour with nothing more than a household drill or have it done professionally at Stock Auto Body CARSTAR in Arnold, MO. Put in new headlight bulbs, change out the wiper blades and give the interior and exterior glass a thorough cleaning to generally improve visibility.

Assess the Driver: It goes without saying that talking with seniors about their driving isn't an easy thing to do, but this is fundamentally important.  Fortunately, qualified assessments are available in every state through the Association for Driver Rehabilitation Specialists (ADED) and the American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc. (AOTA).  The driver ought to expect a total evaluation, including vision screening, muscle strength, flexibility, range of motion, coordination, reaction time, judgment and decision-making abilities.

Have a Safe Travel Plan:  Elderly drivers are generally more safe on routes that do not require recurring lane changes or heavy traffic situations.  Help the senior in your life to schedule trips for times when traffic is not so heavy, and map out routes to regularly visited locations that include side streets and intersections that aren't so busy.  Also identify landmarks that help them stay oriented on their trip.

Prepare For An Accident:  In case of an accident, make provision with the senior through an accident kit with their insurance information, emergency contact list, names of their primary physician, notepad and disposable camera.  They can also give a call to 1-800-CARSTAR for our 24/7 assistance hotline where we can coordinate the towing, rental car and contact the insurance company. For the trunk, have an emergency kit packed including blanket, gloves, hat, water, granola bars, flashlight and extra batteries, extra cell phone battery, flares, compass, scissors, rope, wooden matches in waterproof container and first aid kit.

With even a small amount of preparation and smart maintenance, seniors can stay safe on the road well into their golden years. If you've got senior parents, family members, friends or neighbors, take just a few short minutes to do a safety check on their vehicle and help them prepare in case an accident does take place.  It can make a vital difference for them when next they hit the road.