Category: Collision Repair

Being rear-ended by another car is a constant danger on the highways of the world. There are always vehicles behind you, and there is always the chance that one of them could fail to stop in time. Luckily, these kinds of collisions tend to be a lot less damaging than head-on collisions, but that isn’t saying much. A rear-end collision can still cause significant damage, especially if the impact occurred at a high rate of speed. If you should find yourself in that situation, here are a few things that you should remember. This will explain what to do when you have been rear-ended.

1. Get Off The Road And Make Contact

Your first priority should be getting off the road. At the same time, observe the car that hit you. They should be doing the same. If it looks like they aren’t going to pull over, make sure you get a good look at their license plate. Repeat that combination of letters and numbers to yourself until you can find a way to write it down. If nothing else, you can use the “notes” feature on your phone. If they try to drive off, they are guilty of a serious crime.

Once off the road, make contact with the other driver. This might not be a friendly situation, but it has to be done. Try not to get hostile, even if it was completely the other driver’s fault: Even if you might be justified, no good will come of that. Just try to remember that they have already pulled over and taken responsibility for their mistake. Obviously, if you or the other driver have been injured, you need to call 911 immediately.

2. Call The Police

Either you or the other driver will need to call the police so that a properly certified accident report can be made. This is very important because your insurance company will want a copy of that police report later. Make sure to ask the officer where, when, and how you can obtain a copy of that police report.

When you tell the officer what happened, just be completely truthful and make sure the other driver does the same. Some people will try to lie their way out of culpability, so don’t let anyone get away with that. If nothing else, there might be camera footage that can be pulled in the event of a dispute. The important thing is to make sure you are nothing but truthful at all times. Anything else will simply discredit you.

3. Take Plenty Of Pictures

Everyone carries a smartphone these days and tends to have high-quality cameras. Therefore, there is no excuse for not taking plenty of pictures. You particularly need pictures of the damage that occurred from the accident. Get pictures of all involved vehicles from as many angles as you can, focusing on the areas that suffered the impact. This is likely to help you later on, should a dispute about blame arise.

As for when you should take these pictures, it would probably be best to take them immediately after calling the police. You are going to be waiting for at least a few minutes anyway, so you might as well put that time to good use. Besides, it gives you something to do and takes away from the awkwardness of the situation.

4. Contact Your Insurance Company

At the earliest possible opportunity, you should call your insurance company and let them know what has happened. Bear in mind that the call will surely be recorded and that it will surely be reviewed later. So, make sure there are no inconsistencies between what you told the officer and what you tell your insurance company. Again, the important thing is to be completely and consistently truthful. Even if the whole thing is your fault, it will be easier on you in the long run.

It would probably be best to contact your insurance company immediately after the police officer has left. If the accident occurred after-hours, call them early the next morning.

Avoiding Rear-End Collisions

You might remember a concept from your old driving manual called “the space cushion.” This is a certain amount of space that must be maintained at all times. Basically, it just means that you should avoid getting too close to other vehicles as much as possible. That way, you will have more time to stop if necessary. Since it is hard to judge exact distances while driving, it is best to maintain a space that is about the same size as your vehicle. Maintaining this space in the front and back will help you to avoid rear-end collisions.

Awareness is also very important. Brake lights and turn signals exist for a reason, so keep your eye on them. This includes keeping an eye on your own brake lights/turn signals and making sure they work properly. When the car in front of you is braking, you probably need to do the same. When you do so, you should brake as gradually as possible. If you slam on the brakes and stop very quickly, the car behind you might not react quickly enough.

Conclusion

If you have been paying attention, you should now know what to do if you are rear-ended. However, there is one aspect that has not been discussed, and that is auto repair. You will probably need the services of a good auto body shop, and that’s where Elmer’s Auto Body can be of help. If you need post-collision auto repair or any other kind of automotive work, you can call our team at (856) 218-0202.

Door damage is, unfortunately, very common. As the main point of access, doors represent one of the weaker parts of an automobile. However, they are certainly much easier (and cheaper) to repair than critical running parts like an engine or transmission.

The Damage Matters A Lot

When we come to the subject of cost, the biggest determining factor (by far) will be the extent of the damage. If you’re just talking about a dent or two, you will get off relatively cheap. If entire components of the door need replacing, you’re talking about a much higher bill. In the end, it’s a lot like any other auto repair: The cost is determined by the time and materials required.

Average Figures

Although costs will vary a lot, most sources give an average figure of $500-$2500. This isn’t a bad place to begin, but we need to get a little more specific here. Since the majority of door damage will take the form of dents and dings, let’s look at average costs for the repair of such damage. So, how much will your car door dent repair cost?

Let’s start with these estimates from Chase Bank. They use these kinds of estimates for insurance and liability purposes, so they are likely to be pretty accurate. Like our previous source, they give us a maximum figure of $2500. However, their minimum figure is much smaller, at $50. Thus, if you’re only talking about a tiny little ding, the cost will be minimal.

This article from CarRoar gives us a different kind of estimate. This one says that the baseline cost will be anywhere from $100-$500. However, that range only applies to a 1-inch dent. The cost will go up by roughly $30 per inch.

This brings us to another important point: Many repair shops charge by the inch. A larger dent simply takes more time and effort to repair. It may also require specialized tools that are not cheap. So, the larger the dent, the more money you will have to pay.

We can see that these estimates vary a lot, but it is safe to say that $100 is a minimum figure for a small dent. If the dent isn’t larger than an inch, $500 would probably be a good maximum figure. For larger dents, $500-$2500 would be the norm. Needless to say, the higher end of that range would be reserved for cases with particularly large dents and/or multiple dents.

Will Your Insurance Cover The Cost Of Car Door Dent Repair?

That depends on your insurance policy. If you simply have a basic, bare-minimum kind of policy, these repairs are not likely to be covered. If you have full coverage (technically known as comprehensive and collision insurance), these repairs will probably be covered.

Of course, you should look at your policy before assuming this to be true. In many cases, insurance policies will have specific qualifications. For instance, most insurance companies will cover damage from falling objects, since that is clearly not the fault of the driver. On the other hand, damage that is considered to be the fault of the driver may not be covered.

Paint Costs

In many cases, a car door dent will also damage the paint job. However, there is a process known as “paintless” dent repair. Using specialized tools, it is usually possible to repair a dent without damaging the paint. However, dents that are particularly large and deep will probably have serious damage. Once the paint starts to flake off, it has to be repainted. This will often mean repainting the entire door, which will definitely add to the repair bill. This article estimates the cost of a complete door repainting job as $300-$1000.

That being said, it may be possible to “spot-paint”, meaning that the whole door will not have to be repainted. However, it is very difficult to match colors and finishes in such a way as to be exact. However, if you are on a tight budget, this is one option to consider. It probably won’t be perfect, but it is definitely going to be a lot cheaper.

How Much Does It Cost To Replace A Car Door?

Some of you might be wondering: “What if my car door has more serious damage? What if it isn’t just dents and dings?” When that is the case, you might want to consider replacing the entire door. Sometimes, that can actually be cheaper than repair. Once again, it all depends on the extent of the damage.

So, how much does it cost (on average) to replace a car door? About $500-$2500. As you can see, it has the exact same range as the cost of repair. Thus, it all depends on where your needs fall within that spectrum. Sometimes, you can save money by replacing the whole thing.

Conclusion

How much does it cost to repair a door ding? Anywhere from $50-$500, depending on the severity of the damage. How much does it cost to repair more extensive damage? Again, depending on the severity, those repairs will range from about $500-$2500. If you have any questions, or if you need a more exact estimate, feel free to call Elmer’s Auto Body at (856) 218-0202. We offer the finest service in South Jersey, just as we have done for over 70 years.

Maybe you’ve just purchased a new car and you’re debating whether to take it to the dealership where you bought it for scheduled maintenance or even bodywork as opposed to an auto body repair shop.

Then again, you think about having close ties to the dealership, but you think it’s not that convenient to where you live and work. The constant thought of should I take it to the dealership or find another source of maintenance is on your mind. Well, finding an auto body shop near me should be my goal, but I need to figure out what is the best plan of action. Which is better, taking my new car to a dealership or an auto body repair shop?

With either choice, you are dealing with the limitations of a dealership and an independent body shop. With either choice, you’ll have to decide what works for you. Weighing the differences should help you decide which is a better option for you.

Collision Repair

Does a dealership do collision repair work? Dealerships have service departments that deal with collision repair work, but often the repair work is done outside of the dealership and that’s because of time and cost limitations.

With standard repair work, dealership technicians are skilled and competent with basic repair work but with bodywork that’s necessary after a collision, there is a focus on the time to repair the vehicle as opposed to completely repairing it.

Does a Dealership Actually Do Body Work?

When you work with a dealership, they will do bodywork on the cars that they promote and sell, but they will assign out bodywork if they don’t have the current capacity to complete the work. You expect dealerships to complete bodywork quickly, but what they charge with any repair work done depends on the time involved in repairing the vehicle.

Most people just automatically expect dealerships to repair a vehicle quickly. This encourages service departments to finish repairs as fast as possible. When a service technician completes a job quickly, within the amount of time estimated, the dealership profits. There are online competitors that have edged dealerships out on work, so the dealerships are trying to make up for losses through service departments.

Is a Dealership Mechanic Better?

Auto technicians who work for dealerships undergo factory training and work on the makes and models the dealership represents. The technicians are not necessarily better than technicians from auto body repair shops. Many independent technicians have similar factory training but are more in-depth with certifications in various areas. They also usually have more time in the business along with gained skills.

Technicians with dealerships often go through prolonged training and are aware of the kinds of cars that are sold through the dealership. They understand the ins and outs of vehicles. Are they considered more proficient than an independent body shop? Not always. Independent body shop technicians often have similar training as dealership technicians, but they are likely to be better at the work if they’ve been in the industry for a longer length of time.

Independent body shop technicians work on a whole range of vehicle types and models so they can advance in their level of experience and technical proficiency in repairing and rebuilding a vehicle. Most body shops also hold certifications that enable them to gain expertise. They gain further certifications as collision experts with different vehicles. This means that they gain independent certification from carmakers for repairs. Such examples include other top vehicle names in the industry who require advanced training and other certifications to complete repairs at a high level.

Determining Factors with a Dealership or Auto Body Repair Shop

Price

Independent auto body repair shops have less costly repair prices than dealerships do. Those who use dealerships for repairs often pay more for similar repairs. A body repair shop can help vehicle owners save money on costly repairs. People want to argue about dealer prices being relevant because the technicians making the repairs have more training and experience. That’s not always the case.

Experience

There seem to be arguments concerning both the knowledge and experience viewpoints between technicians who work for a dealership and those who work for auto body repair shops. With a dealership, technicians work with certain models and car brands while independent auto body shops work on a wide variety of vehicles. A technician from a dealership may have experience with specific cars and knowledge of them and may work better because of that specific knowledge, but that doesn’t guarantee that an independent technician knows any less.

Most independent auto body repair shops today carry blue seals of excellence and other certifications. This means their technicians have gone through strict training and examinations that verify a technician’s worth, plus they go through recertification on a regular basis.

Parts

Most independent body repair shops have access to parts through several outlets. When you know you need to repair your vehicle, a dealership can get parts more easily as they direct their attention to certain vehicle makes and models. They are more zoned into specific cars and work on them regularly, which means they understand certain parts and their availability.

A Dealership or Auto Body Repair Shop

There are savings on repair costs along with benefits, whether you go with a dealership or an independent auto body repair shop. So, it basically comes down to a choice of where you’ll take your vehicle for repairs. A dealership may have a bit more knowledge about your car, but an independent shop is usually less expensive and still has the knowledge and experience. You want to research on your own to determine what is the best choice for you.

If you’re anywhere in the southern New Jersey area and need either maintenance, specific repairs, or body work, contact Elmer’s Auto Body at (856) 218-0202. Or maybe you just have questions about general vehicle maintenance or more serious concerns with repair work. We’ve been in business since 1947 and have more than proven our worth to the communities we serve. Call us, you won’t regret it.

Many people find themselves feeling surprised at the amount of damage that hail can do to a cars’ body. These little bits of ice that fall from the sky are one of the worst things that can happen to a nice car. On average, hail causes about 15 billion dollars in damage every year…and those are just the coverage costs reported by the insurance companies.

If you account for all that unreported damage, the figure is even higher. Today, we are going to compare the two methods of repairing hail damage: The DIY method and the professional method. By the end of this article, you should know which option is best for you.

DIY Method

It might seem like child’s play to remove a few small dents, but it’s not always that easy. The internet is filled with all kinds of tricks that will (supposedly) remove small dents from your car. However, until you have tried these methods, there is no way to know exactly how well they are going to work. Yes, you can watch videos and observe the results, but clever editing can hide a lot of problems.

The Pros

The most obvious upside to the DIY approach is the greatly reduced cost. Depending on what tools and methods you choose, you might be able to get off very cheap here. Obviously, the extent of the damage will also play a determining role. You can go out and buy all the same tools that a professional mechanic has, although you might not be able to afford the very best.

Another good thing about the DIY approach is the fact that it offers a chance for customization at the same time. For instance, just about everyone with a half-decent car has thought about getting a cool custom paint job. Most people also discard that thought when they realize that it’s a large expense indeed. However, if you have the skills to do it right, a DIY paint job can be a great creative opportunity. If you’re putting a lot of time into this project anyway, why not take a little more time and create something truly stunning?

The Cons

The DIY method also has one gigantic problem: Most people are not going to get it right. If minor dents were easy to repair, body shops would not be as common as they are. Yes, you can use many methods to “grab and pull” the dent, but several things can go wrong. First, you might pull too hard and create a reverse dent (i.e., protruding outward instead of inward). Secondly, if you do things too roughly, you might crack or chip the paint job, exposing that part of the vehicle to quick corrosion.

If you want to do things yourself, you had better make sure that you know what you are doing. Without sufficient knowledge, it is likely that you will make the problem worse. This means that you will end up paying even more money when you finally take it to a shop. As the old saying goes, “shortcuts make for long delays!”

The Professional Method

Unfortunately, it can get a bit expensive to have those hail dents removed at a professional shop. That being said, this is the method that usually brings the best results. Unless you happen to be an expert in auto repair (or at least a gifted amateur), you could very well end up making the problem worse. When you go to a professional, on the other hand, you get guaranteed results. If not, then you need to find a new mechanic.

The Pros

The big pro of this method is peace of mind. When you put your vehicle into the hands of a highly trained and qualified person, you can have a lot more confidence that you will get a good result. Not only do they have the proper training, but they will also probably have much better tools and equipment than your home garage. The average person simply cannot match the work of a qualified expert.

Work guarantees are another big upside that comes from dealing with a professional shop. As long as you are dealing with reputable people, they should be willing to guarantee their work. Thus, if something goes wrong, your interests are covered. Obviously, you cannot guarantee your DIY work, and it may even void your vehicle warranty.

The Cons

This is a lot more expensive than the DIY approach, that’s for sure. If your car is foreign, strange, or highly customized, those costs are going to be even higher. One of the worst-case scenarios is a vehicle that has been pieced together from other vehicles (sometimes jokingly called a “Frankencar”). Such a vehicle will definitely be more expensive to service, simply because they are a lot more confusing to the mechanic.

If you don’t choose the right body shop, that list of cons can get a little bigger. Paying top dollar is only worth it when you are getting top-tier results. If not, you might have actually been better off with the DIY plan. However, this con can be reduced or removed if you take the time to evaluate your body shop carefully.

Conclusion

We think there is a pretty obvious winner here, and it is the professional option. Although going the DIY route can save you a lot of money, that doesn’t mean squat if you don’t get the desired results. Yes, you will pay more for the services of a professional, but you are also a lot more likely to get the desired results.

If this article has you wondering: “Where is the best auto body shop near me?”, then we have the answer. Here at Elmer’s Auto Body, we offer reasonable rates, well-trained and certified personnel, and a track record of satisfied customers throughout our service area. If you would like to know more, you can call us at (856) 218-0202.

When you need bodywork on your vehicle, cost estimates can be maddeningly vague. Until the job is done, the exact costs cannot be determined, so an estimate is the best you are going to get. This is a problem because you need to know if you can afford these services before bringing your vehicle to a particular shop. Thus, to save you a little bit of time and aggravation, let’s go over some basic rules that govern auto body repair costs.

Labor Vs. Parts

In general, auto body repair fees can be divided into two types: Parts and labor. As you would probably guess, labor is usually the bigger part of the expense. Any good shop will be getting their parts at a reduced rate, allowing them to pass on some of that savings to the customer. Labor costs for car repair work, however, will generally range between $47 and $215 per hour, according to AAA.

Make And Model Will Also Play A Role

Your exact rates will also depend on what sort of vehicle you have. Needless to say, foreign cars and other uncommon vehicles tend to carry higher repair costs. This is because parts are harder to obtain and because fewer people know how to fix those uncommon machines.

It is also generally true that newer cars will cost more to service. Older technology tends to be simpler, and it requires a lot less to repair. On the other hand, anything that is computerized and high-tech is going to drive up the repair bill. That being said, an older vehicle can also be pretty expensive if it is old enough to be rare.

Here is a short list of vehicles that are particularly expensive to have repaired:

• Chevrolet Trax
• Kia Soul
• Audi Q3
• Hyundai Accent
• Nissan Maxima
• Nissan Kicks
• Ford Ecosport
• Chrysler Voyager
• Dodge Grand Caravan
• Anything by Mercedes or Saab
• All electric and hybrid vehicles

Consider The Extent Of The Damage

The extent of the damage being repaired will play a huge role in determining your final price. We probably don’t have to tell you that minor damage is cheaper to repair, and that’s because minor damage usually doesn’t require the replacement of damaged parts. For instance, a cracked windshield can usually be repaired without a need to replace the whole thing. If it is well done, you will never be able to tell the difference (and you won’t pay much, either).

Here is a short list of repairs that tend to be more expensive than average. If your problem is on this list, you should prepare yourself for a significant expense.

• Damage to the ECM (electronic control module), which is basically the main computer of your car. It can cost up to $200 just to inspect one of these, and replacement costs can get up in the thousands.
• Safety system repairs, such as airbags, mirrors, and seat belts. Although these jobs might not be all that complex, there are some serious liability issues and no store wants to be held responsible for shoddy work. Thus, they have to take a little more time and care.
• Replacing bumpers and grills. These components are a lot more complex than they once were, as they now include things like impact sensors, backup cameras, extra lights, and all sorts of other things.
• Transmission issues are probably the worst whammy of them all. Other than the engine itself, this is the most expensive component to fix. Most people choose to buy a new vehicle if the transmission goes bad.

Is The Cost Of Auto Body Repairs Worth Paying?

Although most vehicle body damage can be fixed, there is a question of whether or not it’s worth the time and money involved. Let’s say you’ve just wrecked an old Yugo from the mid-80s. Since the Yugo is considered to be one of the worst cars ever made, and because it is well past its prime, it probably isn’t worth the money to fix a car like this. The repair costs could very easily exceed the cars’ value.

When getting an estimate, you can “double-check” the prices by asking for a per-hour rate. After that, ask them approximately how many hours it will take for repair. Multiply the per-hour rate by the estimated repair time (in hours, of course), and you will have an approximate total cost. If this doesn’t match with the estimate you were already given, you might want to look for services elsewhere.

Always Do Your Homework

If you are like most people, your vehicle is very important to you. As such, you do not want to bring that vehicle to someone with a history of shoddy work. Of course, when you have an emergency (like a car that won’t even start), there isn’t enough time to sufficiently vet your options. That is why you need to evaluate your local shops ahead of time and answer the all-important question: “Which one is the best auto body shop near me?”

Here are some important things for which you should look:

• Relevant qualifications (certifications, etc.)
• Relevant experience with your kind of vehicle
• Online reviews (as many as you can find)
• Any known legal/liability issues
• Guarantees and warranties that aren’t completely full of loopholes

Conclusion

Of course, none of this knowledge will do you a lot of good if you are dealing with a substandard shop. That’s why you should call our seasoned professionals here at Elmer’s Auto Body at (856) 218-0202. With our years of experience and some of the most reasonable pricing around, it’s hard to go wrong with Elmer’s. Like so many others, you will find that our service cannot be beaten.