Category: Auto Body Paint Repair

Car Insurance: What Does “Total Loss” Mean

After you have been in an accident, you will need to have an estimate completed. Once the insurance company receives it, they can repair your vehicle or declare it a total loss. In that case, the insurer will reimburse you for a certain portion of the car without making any repairs. Unfortunately, that could leave you without a vehicle. Here are a few things to know about how a total loss could affect you.

What Is a Total Loss?

When your vehicle has been severely damaged in an accident, it could cost more to repair it than the vehicle’s actual value. The insurance company would deem the car a total loss in that situation. If you have comprehensive coverage, and the car was stolen, that vehicle will also be considered a total loss.

A total loss is similar to a regular insurance claim. The claim adjuster will review the damage and determine the amount you should be paid for the vehicle. Instead of deciding on the amount of repair costs to cover, the adjuster will put a specific value on your car. As previously stated, if the repair costs exceed the vehicle’s total value, insurance companies will consider it a total loss.

How Insurance Companies Determine a Total Loss

You need comprehensive, collision, or property damage liability insurance to receive a payout for the vehicle. In many cases, the claims will be handled through the vehicle owner’s own insurance. Unfortunately, it does not matter which driver was at fault for the accident. You will need to pay the deductible to receive compensation for the damages.

When the claim adjuster has determined that the repair costs exceed the actual cash value of the car, it will be considered a total loss.

Determining what is a total loss is not always straightforward and can change from state to state. Some states use a total loss formula that combines the actual cash value and the car’s salvage value. If the repairs exceed that, then the vehicle is a total loss. However, some states will use a total loss threshold where the damage will only have to exceed a certain percentage to be considered a total loss.

What Happens If a Car Is Declared a Total Loss?

Sometimes, you may disagree with the decision to total the vehicle. You will need to provide documentation and a few estimates to overturn the decision. Owners will have to submit paperwork that the vehicle is worth more than the claim adjuster’s estimate or that the damage is less costly than initially thought.

Most insurance companies will stand by their conclusion, but some car owners may have to use a lawyer to overturn the decision. However, if you agree with the total loss outcome, you will need to turn over the vehicle and the keys to the claims adjuster. After that, the insurance company takes possession of the car. The insurer will notify your department of motor vehicles, and a salvage title could be issued.

Sometimes, you may want to keep the vehicle. Remember that not all insurance companies will allow it, or you could receive less compensation for the vehicle. A few salvage cars may have valuable parts, or the owner wants to keep it for sentimental reasons. Unfortunately, some states will not allow a driver to keep a total loss vehicle. In those situations, you must return the vehicle to the insurance company.

With a totaled vehicle, finding an auto body shop that can fix and restore the car to its pre-accident condition is crucial. Keep in mind that not all totaled vehicles can or should be repaired. Safety should be your first concern. If any vital safety components have been damaged and cannot be repaired, you should consider allowing the insurance company to total the vehicle.

How Are Owners Paid for a Total Loss?

The same metric to determine the total loss will be used for your compensation amount. An actual cash value of the vehicle takes the pre-loss market value minus any depreciation. Age, wear and tear, and other factors may be used to find the car’s cash value. Many insurance companies use their own methods to determine the actual cash value, meaning it could differ from a value found on a website or through Kelley Blue Book.

After you have agreed to the amount, the insurance company will pay you. If the car was financed or leased, then the payout will go to those lending companies.

Many vehicle owners have a large amount of money left on their vehicles. With depreciation and other factors, you could be stuck with a large payment for the totaled vehicle. If you have a leased or financed vehicle, you should have gap insurance, which covers you for any remaining balance on the car.

Total Loss and Your Vehicle

You have limited options when an insurance company declares a total loss for your vehicle. You could keep the car, but it can mean a reduced payout from the insurer. Many times, you could challenge the total loss decision, but you need the proper documentation for your claim. Remember that some cars are severely damaged and cannot be repaired. With that, you may have to walk away and accept compensation from the insurer.

Need an Auto Body Shop Near Me?

If you need an estimate for your vehicle or want a repair completed, reach out to Elmer’s Auto Body. We have experience handling all types of vehicle repairs, from minor fender benders to major collision damage. Schedule an appointment by calling (856) 218-0202.

Why Cheap Dent Repair Can End Up Costing You More

Before you go out and pay for dent repair, beware of those who charge too little. As many find out, you get what you pay for in this business. Car owners try to save money because of a tight budget, but they later find out how much it costs them. Not all dent technicians apply the same standards of quality, nor do they have the same skill. Let’s look at how cheap dent repair can cost you more.

Cheap Materials And Rushed Dent Repair

When you work for less, you often work faster to earn more, and this will wind up costing you more in terms of quality. The lower quality materials can build into a costly disaster. Usually, cheaper dent repair will focus on metal integrity, paint finish, or the car’s trim and accessories. This could cost you more in the long run. In some cases, you could need to respray the whole car for it to look right again. That’s not good because the original paint job will always give your car the best value.

The Costs That Go Into Dent Repair

When it comes to paying the painter for the paint labor, the cost goes beyond applying the color and a clear coat. You have many other costs factored in that include:

Prep time
Time to set up and mix the colors
Procedures to ensure paint meets standards

If you want your car to look like how it did before, you must pay more for better quality materials.

Repair Fails and Causes More Damages

A repair failing and causing more damage is the greatest danger of going with one that’s too cheap. Good auto body repair shops understand how to protect the integrity of your car’s structure and the paintwork. Let’s say you paid $125 to repair a dent, but that low-budget dent repair can wind up costing you $1,250 because the original repair failed altogether. The $125 paid was a total loss.

Factory Paint Job: The Most Expensive

The factory paint job is the most expensive, and every auto body shop will struggle to replicate that paint job without a higher cost. When you screw it up with a cheap dent repair company, this can hurt the resale value of your car. At Elmer’s Auto Body, we have found that a car with a dent visible from 10 feet away will cost you from five to 10 percent of your car’s resale value.
When you go to repair a dent, every reputable auto body technician will focus all their efforts to keep from harming the original paint job. When you hire someone cheaply, you risk that they may cut corners, and they may care less about protecting the original paint job.

DIY Dent Repair Kits

You may have seen a DIY dent repair kit for $17. Let us give you some advice: Don’t buy it! It’s a laughable scam. When things sound too good to be true, they probably are. Let’s put this into perspective. Our auto body shop has invested over $10,000 into specialized equipment to remove dents. Why would we do that if we could use a $17 repair kit? The answer comes down to quality dent repair. You will see much better results from the $10,000 tools that we use over a $17 kit that may even further damage your car. We have had customers who used those kits enter our shop frantically telling us how they tried to use a kit first. You have another harmful myth on YouTube showing people using dry ice as a way to repair dents. They believe that the extreme cold caused by the dry ice contracts the metal to make it pop out. Here’s the problem: The people we spoke with who tried it said that it delivered uninspiring results. The other risk is that its rapid contraction will cause further damage to your paint job.

Dent Repair Scams

You have some legitimate operations offered for cheap, and we’re not going to put those down, other than to say that it often winds up costing you more because of limited resources and time to turn a profit. However, you have some actual scams in this industry, and one of the scams is where a “dent repair professional” drives up to your car. They tell you how they noticed that you have dents in the car, but they can fix them for a reduced price. The scam almost always follows the same lines where you need to pay in cash because they can’t let their boss know. After you pay, they apply this so-called dent remover liquid that does nothing. They then tell you to give it 24 hours before the dent comes out on its own. If you’re lucky, they used car wax, which is what they use most often. However, we have even heard of cases where the scammer uses body filler, which ruined the victim’s paint job. The insurance provider also refused to cover them. Don’t buy into the lie that a magical liquid exists that can remove dents. There is no such thing.

Final Thoughts

Google, “Auto body shop near me,” and you will probably see Elmer’s Auto Body come up on your screen. We would love the opportunity to look at your dents and determine a good course of action. Going with cheap dent repair isn’t worth the trouble that it often brings. You can call us today at (856) 218-0202.

What Can And Can’t Be Fixed With Paintless Dent Repair

Accidents will happen—you can count on it! At some point, you may experience dents or dings in your vehicle and wonder what steps to take next. First, you want to look at the cheapest option known as paintless dent repair (PDR), but unfortunately, not all cars will be good candidates for this fix. You need to know what it can and cannot fix to determine whether you should take this action or choose a traditional dent repair method.

Before You Start

First, you need to speak with an insurance agent about the damage to your car. Provided you carry comprehensive or collision coverage, they will cover it. For minor dents, you may want to cover it yourself because you will wind up paying more for your premium after filing a claim. Either way, your agent will assess the damage to determine how to proceed. In most cases, they prefer PDR because it costs less than traditional dent repairs, but it may not work for every situation.

Categories of Damage from Dents
Dent repair falls into four categories such as:
Paint intact with cosmetic damage
Scratched paint with cosmetic damage
Intact paint but has severe damage
Scratched paint with severe damage

Paint Intact with Cosmetic Damage

In most cases, PDR works best for minor dents and dings. The first category means that the paint suffered no scratches, and the key focus here will be to restore the metal.

Scratched Paint with Cosmetic Damage

This is the second category with a larger amount of damage to where it scratched the paint. For anyone who doesn’t know, the original paint job from the factory will always be worth the most. Damage to this can cause the resale value to drop slightly, but you should be able to repair it with PDR. With this one, you have minor dents in the car, and you will need to repaint the car after.

Intact Paint but Severe Damage

In this category, the car suffered serious damage, but the paint remains intact. They may have damaged the mechanical system. You don’t need to repaint the car with this category, however.

Scratched Paint with Severe Damage

You don’t have any way around it because the paint was damaged severely. You will need to go the full mile with this and pay the extra to bring the car back to normal condition. Many times, you need to repair or replace panels on the car due to the extent of the damage.

When Can You Use PDR?

The best times to use PDR will be when you didn’t damage the paint job. If the paint job was damaged, the technician will need to use body filler to repair the cracked paint, which will require more traditional methods of repairs. Even in cases where your car suffered severe damage, as long as the paint job remains intact, you don’t need to choose the traditional route. You may consider this as a way to save money. In fact, whenever you can preserve the original paint through PDR, use it because your car will retain its trade-in value. PDR won’t work where the dents sit at the edge of the panel or the car had previous auto body work done.

What Is PDR?

We have gone on about PDR and when to use it, but you may wonder about the repair method. PDR requires no body filler, which means that it won’t mess with your paint. Instead, our technicians will gently reset the metal back to its original condition with specialized tools in the hands of trained technicians. This method requires no sanding or replacement of your panels. PDR costs less than what most auto body shops usually charge, and they can perform it faster. It depends on the damage, but it may take five minutes. We don’t want to set the expectations too high, however, because there are cases where it will take one to two days. Most of the time, they can do this repair while you go to work or shop.

Metal Only

You can’t perform PDR on plastic bumpers, fenders, or non-metal parts. PDR only works on metal auto-body parts. The dent must also be accessible to the PDR tools. Don’t worry about PDR not working or causing damage to your car. You have some stories making their rounds that it will damage the car. That is false. In fact, this is one of the cheapest dent repair options that will truly work. You have many cheap dent repair choices that will often fail or wind up costing you more money, but you don’t have to worry about PDR. Google, “Auto body shop near me,” and all of the reputable ones will tell you the same thing. The only time where they wouldn’t is when they hope to scare you to make more money off you.

Final Thoughts

If you crashed your car, you may need to remove the dents from it. You can speak with the experts at Elmer’s Auto Body. We have been in business for over 70 years in South New Jersey. We’re family-owned and operated, and we seek to serve the community with quality auto body repairs. If you’d like to learn more, call us at (856) 218-0202.

What Is The Difference Between An Auto Body Shop And An Auto Mechanic Shop?

There are many people who don’t fully understand the difference between an auto body shop and an auto mechanic shop. Although they are similar, it is important to know which kind of service your vehicle requires. These are two different types of businesses that specialize in two different types of work, so it can save you some time and trouble to learn the difference. With that in mind, let’s talk about the key differences between a body shop and a repair shop.

Auto Mechanic Shops: What Are They?

These are general auto repair shops that offer a variety of services based on the expertise of those working there. While many of these shops will specialize in certain kinds of jobs, they are meant to be general-purpose repair technicians. So, this is the place to go for most minor damage.

Problems Fixed By Mechanic Shops

Here are some examples of problems that might commonly be fixed at an auto mechanic shop:

Brakes: This includes drums, pads, calipers, master cylinders, brake lines, etc.
Oil/Fluid changes: This includes switching out your old oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, coolant, etc.
Internal Part Replacement: This covers a lot of ground. There are many instances in which a vehicle malfunctions because one or more parts have stopped working. When that happens, those parts have to be switched for new (or at least working) parts of the same type. These are probably the most common types of jobs for auto mechanics.
Engine Repair: Auto mechanics should be able to do all sorts of engine work, including a total rebuild (when necessary).
Electrical System Problems: A general auto mechanic should also be able to fix problems with your car’s electrical components such as alternators, starters, relays, batteries, etc.

The Process Of Doing Business With An Auto Mechanic Shop

In most cases, people do not know what is wrong with their vehicle when they bring it to an auto mechanic shop. Thus, the process will always begin with a diagnosis. This means that a mechanic will check out your vehicle based on the problems that you have reported. An estimate is then made based on their findings. If you decide to have the work done, they fix the car and you pay the bill afterward.

Auto Body Shops: What Are They?

An auto body shop differs from a normal mechanic shop in the fact that they specialize in specific types of auto repair. Rather than serving as general-purpose repair technicians, the people who work at auto body shops are more specialized for their particular kind of work. You wouldn’t go to a shop like this for any of the repairs that we listed earlier, because they are only going to do bodywork and things related to bodywork.

Problems Fixed By Body Shops

Here are some examples of common problems that might be fixed at an auto body shop:

Dent Repair: Most dents can be repaired, and many of them can even be pulled or pushed back into place without spoiling the paint job. Any good auto body shop should be able to remove minor dents and dings with ease.
Paint Jobs: Vehicle paint jobs are not like normal paint jobs. It takes special kinds of paint. special kinds of coatings, and a special kind of process. That is why most DIY vehicle paint jobs look so bad. That’s also why you will get better results by hiring a professional.
Glass Repair: if there is damage to your windows or your windshield, it is best to get that fixed at a body shop. A cracked windshield can even get you in trouble with the law so that one is pretty important. Auto body shops are also the best place for these kinds of repairs.
Body Panel Repair/Replacement: When the panels of the auto body itself are damaged, it takes a trained professional to remove and replace them properly. Many collision repairs fall into this category
Frame Repairs: If the frame of your vehicle is damaged, it is likely better to scrap the thing. However, in cases of mild frame damage, an auto body shop can probably get you back on the road.

The Process Of Doing Business With An Auto Body Shop

The process of doing business with an auto body shop is very similar to the process of doing business with an auto mechanic shop. However, there is one difference: Most body shop jobs do not require a diagnosis step. Although someone will definitely have to look at your car to determine the work that needs to be done, most body-shop problems are not difficult to pinpoint. For instance, if you have a huge dent in your rear panel or a big crack in your windshield, the problem is already obvious.

Conclusion

You can see that both types of auto repair shops are similar in their method of doing business but very different in terms of the problems they can fix. It is impossible for one mechanic to learn everything, and that is why different types of mechanics and repair shops exist.

We hope that this article has been helpful to you and that you will walk away with a full understanding of these differences. If you are in need of a good NJ body shop, you can call our team here at Elmer’s Auto Body at (856) 218-0202. There are many auto body shops in South Jersey, but only one offers a 70-year record of excellence.

What Causes Damage to Car Paint?

The paint on your car is important, because it not only protects the metal from rust, it also adds appeal. No matter if your car is brand new or getting on the older side, you will still want to protect your car against any paint damage possible. In this article, we will explore the most common causes of damage to your car’s paint.

What Are The Most Common Causes of Damage to Car paint?

Here is a list of the top ten external factors that can cause damage to your cars paintwork and some helpful tips to prevent them:

Bird Droppings
Sun Damage
Stones
Cleaning Products
Coffee
Gas
Tar
Salt
Tree Sap
Bugs

1. Bird Droppings

Protecting your car from bird droppings is a challenge, especially if you are leaving your car in outdoor car parks and visiting areas where wildlife is more common. Bird droppings can permanently damage your car’s paintwork if left for some time due to the droppings being highly acidic. The bird droppings are more likely to damage your paintwork, especially if the car is left in the sun as they will then begin to harden onto your paint. It is best to remove the bird droppings with a damp cloth as soon as you can in order for the droppings to not have enough time to damage your paintwork. If you find that you are still struggling with bird droppings, purchasing a car cover could be a simple way of preventing damage to your paintwork.

2. Sun Damage

During the hot summer months, it is important that you protect your car from the sun as the UV rays can cause the surface of the car and your paintwork a lot of damage. The UV rays from the sun can cause a change in your paint appearance which is described as chalky oxidation. The UV rays will break down the clear coat of paint and will then chemically react to the metal. If this kind of damage occurs, it may not be able to be corrected. To avoid damage from UV rays try to park your vehicle in shade or covered parking if the car is being left for a longer period of time.

3. Stones

One of the most obvious factors to cause paint damage is stones. Stones can cause small chips to the car’s paintwork. The clear coat of paint is not strong enough to protect from the sharp edges of the stones.

4. Cleaning Products

Not every cleaning product is the right cleaning product. It is best to avoid products like washing up liquid or any household cleaning products when you are cleaning your car as you will not want to create a lather when cleaning your paintwork. Household cleaning products can break down the protective clear coat of paint, making your car prone to more paint damage and corrosion.

5. Coffee

One of the least expected substances to cause car paint damage is coffee. You know on TV shows or in movies when someone puts their coffee on the roof of the car and drives off, having forgotten the coffee was there? Maybe it has happened to you, or you have seen it in real life. However, you shouldn’t make this a habit. The reason why coffee can stain your car’s paintwork is because it has high acidity levels. These high acidity levels can corrode the top protective layer of paint on your car.

6. Gas

When you are filling your car’s tank up with gas, make sure that the gas does not leak or drip onto the paintwork of your car. If the gas is left on the paintwork of your car, you may find that it will evaporate leaving a distinctive pattern on your paint which can then have a damaging effect on the clear coat of paint. A great way of preventing gas from affecting the clear coat of paint on your car is to have your car waxed each time you wash it.

7. Tar

Even though tar is a less common obstacle that you may face when looking at paint damage, it is still one you should consider trying to prevent, especially during the summer months. As the temperature rises during the summer months, tar and asphalt can stick to the paintwork on your car. Once this tar dries into your car’s paintwork, it will be very hard to remove. There are professional products you can purchase which will help with the removal of tar without damaging the clear coat of paint that acts as a protectant.

8. Salt

It is very common for salt to be used on busy roads in order to protect cars from the ice that may form in the winter months and colder temperatures. Unfortunately, even though salt is a cheap and effective way of protecting against ice, salt on the road can have negative effects on your car. The salt on the road can cause your car to rust quickly. The best way of preventing this is to wash your car regularly and treat your car with wax before the winter temperatures begin.

9. Tree Sap

Tree sap will show very small brown spots on your car and ideally should be washed off with water regularly in order to not cause damage to your paintwork. Luckily, tree sap will not damage your car immediately but if it is left over time it will begin to damage the clear coat of paint which will show as discoloration. When the temperatures are higher in the summer, this can cause the tree sap to damage your car more quickly. Using a wax treatment on your car every three months can help prevent any tree sap damage to the clear layer of paint on your car.

10. Bugs

After a long drive, you may notice that your paintwork has gathered a few small dead bugs. Even though this seems harmless, dead bugs are very acidic and can be damaging to your paintwork. Dead bugs can also be very challenging to remove from your car and we would recommend investing in some professional cleaning products. If you leave the dead bugs on your paintwork for some time you may notice discoloration in your paint. Simply using microfiber cloths and water will remove these bugs and make sure that the paintwork remains the correct color.

Protect Your Paint Before Damage

Protecting your car against external factors that may damage your paintwork is the best method to use as repairing against scratches and damage can be challenging. Using wax and sealants on your car can help protect the clear top coat of paint. If you need any repairs to your paintwork, call or get in touch with our friendly team at one of the three Elmer’s Auto Body locations today. The teams at our auto body repair shops in South Jersey are ready to repair your paintwork back to its original form.

How Much Does it Cost to Get a Car Painted?

Even the most visually impressive vehicles can have their appearance ruined by a bad paint job. Obviously, an automobile’s paint job will not last forever, especially with all the abuse it must endure from the elements. If a few bad spots have your car looking shabby, you might have asked yourself: How much is a car paint job? Let’s try to give you a full and detailed answer.

A Point To Remember

Before you can understand the answer, you must first understand the question. In this case, you need to understand that the cost of a vehicle’s paint job will vary a lot. You have a lot of different options in terms of paint and workmanship, and these will affect the price of the job. The type of vehicle involved can also play a role in the price. So, just understand right away that the price is not entirely consistent.

Factors That Influence The Cost Of A Car Paint Job

1. Paint Type/Color

The cheapest option will always be a basic color of standard auto paint. However, there are all sorts of specialized paints that can be used to provide extra effects. For instance, some paint is made with small metallic flakes. In the sunlight, this provides a “sparkling” effect that many people like. There are many types of specialized paint, and all of them will add to the total cost of the job.

2. Vehicle Size

This one is pretty obvious. If you have a larger vehicle, it will take more paint to get the job done. Thus, a shop is going to charge you a little bit more for the extra paint (which is fair).

3. Extra Work

Dents, deep scratches, and excessive rust can keep paint from adhering properly to the surface of your car. As such, they have to be repaired before a paint job can begin. If it requires a lot of time to do this work, it will certainly add to the cost of the bill.

4. Professionalism

As with most services, the most competent professionals will be a little more expensive. As they say, “you get what you pay for”. If you go with the lowest possible price, don’t be surprised if you get poor results. A competent and trained professional will want a certain bare minimum for their time and services, and that will influence the cost of the job.

5. Coatings

In many cases, it is worth a little extra money to get a specialized finish on your vehicle. This is a special coating that goes over the paint, and they are meant to provide protection from normal wear and tear. These specialized finishes will add a little bit to the cost of the bill, but they will help your paint job to last a lot longer. In general, this will add $100-$200 to your bill, but this part of the expense will pay for itself by providing greater longevity.

How Much Is A Basic Paint Job?

Now we get to the important point: How much can you expect to pay for a basic car paint job? As we already explained, the best we can offer is an average figure, since the price varies so much. Let’s look for some sources on that subject.

According to this article, the cheapest paint jobs will average about $566. However, jobs in that price range will tend to be very low-quality. To get a paint job that is worth the money, this article says you are looking at a range of $1000-$3500.

Let’s get a second opinion. This article gives us the same range, $1000-$3500. This estimate from Carfax is a little higher, putting $3500 as the minimum for a high-quality repainting. In fact, it says that some jobs can even cost as much as $15,000!

There are plenty more articles on this subject, but you can probably see the general trend here. You can sometimes get a paint job for $500 or less, but it isn’t likely to be a very good one. $1000 seems to be a good estimate for a basic paint job. If you want a non-standard color, $1500-$2000 would be a more realistic figure. There are some types of specialized paint jobs that are highly expensive, but those are mostly intended for show cars. The average person doesn’t need anything like that.

Repainting Vs. Restoration

In many cases, the cost of car paint restoration is much lower than the cost of total repainting. The surface of your vehicle’s paint will degrade over time, but that doesn’t mean the entire paint job is shot. Sometimes, the top layer can be carefully removed and restored. Since this requires less time and material, it can be a good way to save money.

Conclusion

It is very important to choose the right shop for your car repainting needs. If you need a good paint job, Elmer’s Auto Body is the place to go. We offer any kind of paint job that you might need, whether it be basic, fancy, or anything in between. We have decades of experience and plenty of top-level professionals that can give your car the attention it deserves. If you would like to know more, you can call Elmer’s Auto Body at (856) 218-0202.