Top Ten FAQ - Part Two

Last time we took a look at some of Jungerman CARSTAR's most frequently asked questions as front runners in the automobile repair industry:

1.   What to Do in case there is an a car accident
2.   Your Consumer Rights
3.   Where to find a Automobile Body Shop
4.   Regarding the Repair Procedure
5.   Knowing Your Estimate

Now we'll proceed with these commonly asked questions in another installment to Jungerman CARSTAR's Top 10 FAQs:

6.   Information about Your Deductible
7.   What Constitutes a Quality Repair
8.   Warranty Information
9.   What to Do in Case of Storm Damage
10.   Car Care Tips

6. Information about Your Deductible

If your insured car or truck sustains bodily problems as a consequence of a wreck with a different car or fixed object in the St. Peters, MO area or your motor vehicle sustains damage pertaining to some form of protected comprehensive danger (fire, theft, malicious mischief, vandalism, windstorm, hail, etc) your auto policy declaration pages will indicate the suitable insurance deductible. It is always essential to double check the accuracy of the policy information along with your insurance company both before and after a loss. Your insurance deductible is due when you pick up the car after repairs are finished. Get a body shop that provides financing for deductibles if you do not choose to pay this out-of-pocket.

7. What Constitutes a Quality Repair

A good auto body collision repair begins with a comprehensive assessment to fully gauge the damage and repairs essential to the car. A structured repair system should always be utilized to guarantee the repair meets the car manufacturer’s criteria. An extensive repair should always be conducted by professionals with I-CAR and ASA certifications, and training in the most recent vehicle materials and technologies and employs the very best quality components and products should always be made use of to restore your vehicle to pre-accident condition. Before the vehicle is given back to you, an intensive interior and exterior inspection, a test drive and a full detail should be done to ensure the repair satisfies your standards.

8. Warranty Information

Have a look at the fine print to know if their warranty is offered nationwide and exactly how long your car or truck is going to be covered. If your car is still within a manufacturer’s warranty, it doesn’t mean it has to be fixed at a dealership. Most dealerships do not possess their own collision repair facility and delegate their motor vehicles for fixes. Your vehicle's warranty is with your automobile's manufacturer, not with the dealer. When deciding on a wreck repair facility, look for a body shop that offers a nationwide warranty that will be recognized at any of their locations.

9. What to Do in Case of Storm Damage

When your car or truck has experienced a storm, call your insurance broker first to report the damage. Take photographs of the automobile where it was affected, including any branches, water damage, mud or additional factors. If your car has been immersed in water, you shouldn't drive it as mechanical and electrical elements might have been damaged. Trust your vehicle only to an established body shop business operating in St. Peters, Missouri before the storm. Watch out for fly-by-night operators trying to make a fast buck off of the situation.

10. Car Care Tips

Once your motor vehicle has been fixed, there are numerous car care ideas to follow to keep your ride looking its very best outside as well as in. Follow this link to see CAR CARE TIPS from Jungerman CARSTAR for everyone living in St. Peters, St. Charles, O'Fallon, and Lake St. Louis, Missouri.

Keep Your Sleigh Safe This Holiday Season

CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts Give Strategies For Safe Driving During the Holidays

Whether you’re on the road to grandma's home or perhaps just going to the mall for some last-minute shopping, it’s intelligent to take a couple of precautions to stop the holiday headache of a collision.

Heavy traffic, motorists sidetracked with holiday plans and cold weather create the perfect storm for car owners throughout December.  In point of fact, it’s one of the top months for traffic crashes in St. Peters, St. Charles, O'Fallon, and Lake St. Louis, Missouri.

However with the right preparation, some preventive driving measures and an eye on the weather report, car owners can guard themselves and their vehicles throughout the holidays.

The professionals on holiday driving collisions, CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts, repairs a great deal of automobiles every year damaged in arctic, frigid catastrophes and crashes.  Jungerman CARSTAR in St. Peters, Illinois provides drivers some helpful tips to make holiday driving less dangerous.

Keep In Mind:

•   Examine your route: check road conditions in advance to verify if there'll be any delays
•   Keep in contact: Bring a cellular phone in case of emergencies
•   Lower the Jingle Bells: lessen distractions such as excessive music
•   Don’t ask for theft: Gifts inside the back seat are considerably more welcoming than cookies and milk for Santa Claus.  Secure them in the trunk to prevent break-ins
•   Have a break: For those who are traveling a long distance, take breaks or a quick nap at a rest stop to remain vigilant
•   Shield yourself: Always put on a seat belt
•   Don't Text and Drive: Sending texts and driving can not only potentially harm yourself and your family but other drivers. Keep the phone put away for issues. When it is essential to send out a text message, properly move to the side first

Check Your Visibility: 

•   Refill your liquids: Add de-icer to your windshield wiper fluid
•   Update your wipers: Make sure that your windshield wipers are free of ice before venturing out on the road – and start thinking about updating with new flexible windshield wipers until the snow strikes
•   Check your visibility: Be certain that all the mirrors are clear and adequately aligned
•   Look at your lights: Clean hazed car headlights and inspect light bulbs in all of your vehicle's lighting – back and front

Slow Down and Keep Back:

•   Keep away from holiday revelers: Some individuals may very well have a few beverages before reaching the roads. Remain alert and watch other people in case they start to swerve
•   Make it slow: When there's snow or ice on the road, lower your vehicle's speed 10 to twenty miles-per-hour under the maximum speed limit
•   Allow for some space: Facilitate at minimum two or three vehicle lengths between your automobile and the car or truck ahead of you
•   Cruise with extreme caution: Avoid cruise control on frigid roadways
•   Stay alert to the surface: Make use of extreme care on bridges, overpasses, and seldom traveled roadways since these might be slick from ice and use extreme caution when traveling on one-lane roads

Get ready for a Snow Day:

•   Weight it out: In the event the vehicle has rear wheel drive, put in bags of sand, litter or bricks in order to keep your automobile much easier to control
•   Stock up on supplies: Pack a snow day kit in case you get stuck.  Critical items to include are a 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.
•   Take your tools: Make a toolbox for digging your vehicle out with foldable shovel, 2x4 planks to put below tires, ice scraper and snow brush, reflective triangles, flares and exterior windshield cleaner

You'll never be too careful when driving in holiday traffic and in winter months. Incidents can happen so rapidly on slippery, icy roadways, so slowing down and taking the additional precautions is exactly what Jungerman CARSTAR advises to really make the difference.  A vehicle accident is not an easy task to handle, but having any sort of accident during the holidays can put a cramp in the holiday cheer.  An additional measure of safety is always an excellent present throughout the Christmas season.

In the event that the unfortunate holiday collision does happen, we advocate having a collision plan set up so you aren’t marooned on the roadside waiting around for help.  Jungerman CARSTAR provides top-quality, reliable repair service in the St. Peters, Missouri area. Just call 1-800-CARSTAR when you have an accident and they'll send the tow truck, contact your insurance firm, plan for a rental car and fix your automobile.

Be In The Know When Driving On Ice And Snow

Jungerman CARSTAR Gives You Secrets For Safe Driving in the Winter 

Cold temperatures can cause much of the toughest driving conditions of the entire year. And, months between October and February top the list for collisions, automotive damages and accidental injuries in the St. Peters, Missouri area.

When the local climate plunges and the snow rises, it is necessary for motorists to increase their focus on safety on the highway.  With the correct preparation, some preventative driving procedures and an eye on the weather report, drivers can shield themselves and their cars or trucks during the cold winter months.

The authorities on wintry driving crashes at Jungerman CARSTAR in St. Peters, MO repair many motor vehicles each and every year wrecked in wintry, icy collisions.  They supply road users some helpful suggestions which will make the winter season travel more safe.

Assess Your Visibility:

•   Add de-icer to your windshield wiper liquid
•   Ensure your windshield wipers are free of ice just before venturing out on the road – and look at updating with new flexible windshield wipers before the snow strikes
•   Check that all of the mirrors are clear and correctly adjusted for field of vision
•   Clean your car headlights and check out the light bulbs in all your car lights – back and front

Slow up and Keep Back:

•   When there is snow or ice on the surface in St. Peters, St. Charles, O'Fallon, or Lake St. Louis, Missouri, reduce the speed of your car to a safe limit
•   Leave a lot more distance in between your car or truck and the automobile before you for added safety
•   Avoid cruise control on slippery roads
•   Use extreme caution on bridges, overpasses, and rarely traveled streets mainly because these could possibly be slick due to ice
•   Use extreme caution when you're driving a motorcar on one-lane streets

Skidding Smartly

If your rear tires slip...

•   Take your foot off the accelerator
•   Steer in the direction you need the front tires to move. If the rear tires are sliding left, steer left. If they are moving right, steer right
•   If your back wheels get started on sliding the other way as you recover, ease the steering wheel toward that side. You might have to steer right and left several times to get your motor vehicle entirely under control
•   For standard brakes, pump them carefully
•   If you have got anti-lock brakes (ABS), do not pump the brakes. Apply consistent pressure to the brake system. You're going to feel the brake system pulse — this is routine

In case the front wheels slip...

•   Take your foot off of the gas and switch to neutral, but don't try to steer right away.
•   As the tires skid laterally, they're going to slow the ride and traction will come back. As it does, steer in the direction you wish to go. Then put the transmission in "drive" or release the clutch, and accelerate slowly

Prepare for a Snow Day:

•   If your motor vehicle has rear wheel drive, put bags of sand or kitty litter to help keep your car or truck easier to control on St. Peters, Missouri streets
•   Load up a snow day kit in case you get stuck.  Valuable items to include are a blanket, gloves, hat, water, granola bars, flashlight and additional battery packs, extra cell phone battery pack, flares, wooden matches in waterproofed carrier, compass, scissors, rope and first-aid kit.
•   Create a toolbox for digging your automobile out with foldable shovel, 2x4 planks to place under tires, ice scraper and snow brush, reflective triangles, flares and exterior windshield cleaner

You'll never be too cautious when driving a car in cold weather. Collisions can occur fairly quickly on slippery, slippery roadways, so decelerating and taking the extra safety measures can really make the difference.

If the regrettable winter accident does take place, we recommend having a wreck plan set up so you aren’t stranded on the roadside waiting for help.  Jungerman CARSTAR in St. Peters, Missouri  gives excellent, reliable repair service.  Just call 1-800-CARSTAR after you have an automobile accident and they will send the tow truck, get hold of your insurance company, arrange for a car rental and repair your car.

Top Ten FAQ - Part One

Do you know of a concern with your motor vehicle and the repair process? Jungerman CARSTAR of St. Peters, MO has stated the common inquiries further down. In the event that you don’t discover the answer below, contact us and we will ensure you get the details you need.

1.   What to Do in Case of an Accident

2.   Your Consumer Rights

3.   How to Choose a Body Shop

4.   About the Repair Process

5.   Understanding Your Estimate

1. What to Do in Case of an Accident

First, get calm. If you have personal injuries, call 911 swiftly. Usually do not move your automobile, unless you'll be in immediate threat and it might be advisable to get your car or truck in another position. You should get the name of the individual (s) driving the other vehicle (s) involved in addition to their contact number, driver's license, motor vehicle license and insurance details. Endeavor to acquire any witness' name and contact number (s). Take note of the place, time and date. Make use of a digital camera cell phone to take photos of the incident, automotive damage and witnesses.

2. Your Consumer Rights

When you have a car accident, you will have the right to find out where you will want your vehicle brought and the place you choose to have your car repaired. A quality collision repair shop will coordinate towing for you, perform excellent repairs and work with your insurance corporation. Jungerman CARSTAR can provide a limited five-year nationwide warranty as an extra benefit.

3. How to Choose a Body Shop

You'll want to pick a motor vehicle body shop in St. Peters, St. Charles, O'Fallon, or Lake St. Louis, Missouri that offers a thorough written estimate, adheres to a structured repair plan for each and every car and includes skilled, qualified repair specialists. A national affiliation generally is a reflection of higher quality repair standards, so does a nationwide warranty. Locate a body shop which uses the highest-quality parts and products to revive your car or truck, who is going to help you stay well informed all through the repair process, offers very good customer service, can deliver your motor vehicle on time, and does a thorough examination of all repairs before putting you straight back on the highway.

4. About the Repair Process

The repair process begins with you taking your car in for an estimate with a skilled estimator. If you decide on that shop, they will deal with your insurance broker to process the repair claim. A high quality auto body shop such as Jungerman CARSTAR will carry out a extensive disassembly of all damaged parts of the car or truck to determine any structural or mechanical damage. They will order the needed parts for your ride and then complete the repair. Once the repair is finished, they'll undertake an in-depth review of the interior and outside of your car or truck to ensure a top notch repair.

5. Understanding Your Estimate

Your estimate ought to include a comprehensive assessment of the project to be done on your car, a summary of the repair parts for usage, what items your insurance protection will and will not cover and the expected amount of the repair. One reason estimates in St. Peters, Missouri could vary from a different shop is thoroughness of the appraisal process. Some quotes may put imperative repairs out of the preliminary estimate, causing the amount to not be the same from another facility. At Jungerman CARSTAR we're thorough to look for the procedures necessary for an outstanding and safe repair for your car or truck.

Ten Tips for Dealing with an Auto Accident

One time every seven years, the average vehicle owner from St. Peters is taking part in an car accident.  When that happens, it is practical to realize what you ought to do to safeguard yourself and your car or truck, and put yourself on the road to a quick, high-quality repair.  Here are a couple of ways to keep in mind and give to the motorists in your household from your friends at Jungerman CARSTAR in St. Peters, Missouri:

1.   Power down your vehicle’s motor and let it sit where it is as long as you feel it’s safe. Should you be threatened or your car or truck is in peril of being struck by yet another vehicle, slowly drive your vehicle to a less dangerous position, such as the curb of the roadway or a well-lit car park.

2.   Make sure you keep calm.  Be tactful and affable, regardless of if you are quite enraged.

3.   Gauge the degree of impact and see whether you are actually hurt. If you feel you’re injured at all, sit in your car or truck and attempt to cool off. Be truthful if somebody asks how you are. Ask somebody to call for help, and let a specialist examine your condition.

4.   Give out medical services to other folks only when you have been taught to do so.

5.   Look at the damage to your motor vehicle. When inspecting the incident scene, you shouldn't try to walk right in between the two cars. If one is slammed for a second time, you might become jammed amidst the 2 automobiles.

6.   Simply call the authorities of St. Peters, St. Charles, O'Fallon, or Lake St. Louis, Missouri to tell of the vehicle accident. Call 911 first, if this doesn’t succeed, dial zero and request the authorities.

7.   Don’t say the collision was your error, even though you may believe that it was.

8.   Call 1-800-CARSTAR to have someone from Jungerman CARSTAR request a tow, arrange for a car rental, make contact with a loved one and call your insurance broker .

9.   Get the names, addresses and cell phone numbers of any witnesses.  In the event you can't really obtain their names, at the very least get their license plate numbers.

10.   Exchange names, addresses, license numbers and insurance plan details with any other car owners mixed up in auto accident.

It is logical to have an accident plan in place before an auto accident does occur.  Locate a trustworthy auto body shop where you can bring your car or truck in advance so that you are not really expected to generate a rapid decision at the wreck scene.  To discover the most ideal collision repair facility near you, seek out the CARSTAR company logo.  All CARSTAR auto body repair shops like Jungerman CARSTAR are locally managed, and are devoted to giving you the highest-quality repair and getting you right back on the highway quickly.

To get more St. Peters car care tips, visit www.auto-body-st-peters-mo.com.

Bucks Cost Bucks, Does Cost Dough

North America’s Collision Repair Experts Weigh in on the Hefty Costs of Hitting a Deer 

 

It’s the yearly battle of the bumpers versus the bucks, the does against the doors.  Both sides lose when car and deer collide, but a measure of defensive driving can reduce the risks.

CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts in the St. Louis area say the regularity and severity of deer-related accidents are growing as quickly as the deer population in certain markets. And, with the cold-weather months supplying peak season for deer-vehicle crashes, this risk is rising.

The truth is, over forty percent of CARSTAR store owners report a twenty five percent boost in deer-related injuries, while some nearly 12 percent report a fifty percent increase and five percent have noticed a whopping 75 percent boost within their areas. That deer-related crash could be pricy -- just about seventy percent of CARSTAR store owners gauge that an average cost of a deer-related crash repair is between $2,500 and $4,999, while some five percent of repairs are anywhere between $5,000 and $10,000.

A current survey by State Farm confirms the trend.  U.S. drivers are 3 percent more inclined to hit a deer in the following twelve months as opposed to this past year, specifically in October, November and December. The cost is rising, also, and is anticipated to be almost 14 percent greater than this past year.

A new trend is emerging, and one that doesn’t bode well for driver or deer – the serial deer crash motorist.  As soon as a driver has been around a deer-related accident, their own probability of having another one are going up.  Most of these motorists have a home in deer-filled areas, drive in the early morning or early evening when deer are out and about, or just really are ill-fated with bucks.

Greg Walter, a suburban Atlanta resident, is merely one example.  He’s had 17 deer-related crashes throughout the last decade!

“I’m uncertain of why they aim for my vehicle, but they sure do,” said Walter.  “I’ve totaled a few company cars, and it’s become so bad that a few of my work colleagues put deer heads on my truck door similar to a WWII fighter pilot.  I’ve experimented with a variety of headlights, deer whistles, everything.  I think I simply need to have a retainer at my local CARSTAR shop.”

Drive Defensively to Escape Deer Dangers

This year, some 1.5 million motorists will hit deer, and November is the top month for deer-related mishaps in St. Peters, St. Charles, O'Fallon and Lake St. Louis, Missouri.  But drivers can easily stay away from a car accident with a buck by following some smart driving techniques this fall and winter.

Early morning and dusk are the worst times for deer crashes, as visibility is restricted and deer tend to be on the move. It is essential to drive defensively and anticipate the potential for deer in the roadway.

The motor vehicle experts at Jungerman CARSTAR, who repair a huge number of vehicles annually from deer-related mishaps, provide the following tips to decrease the deer danger:

1.    Use extra caution at daybreak and dusk and around golf courses, fields and wooded areas.

2.    Bear in mind that deer travel in packs – if you locate one, there are certainly likely more behind it.

3.    Do not swerve to get around striking a deer, since that increases the threat of hitting another car or losing control over the vehicle.

4.    Should there be no opposing traffic, use high beams after dark to better light up deer.

5.    Try not to rely on gear such as deer whistles, that are coupled to the surface of a automobile, in order to scare off deer with an supersonic or high-frequency sound. They have not been proven to shrink deer-vehicle collisions.

6.    If a deer keeps on the road after you strike it, report the occurrence to the game commission or a community law enforcement department, because deer presents a threat to other motorists. If the deer still is alive, don't get near it since a wild animal with sharp hooves can easily impose injury.

7.    If an accident with a deer really does happen, it pays to be safe. Many individuals never understand that holding solely collision coverage doesn't cover damage from a deer collision, leaving them with a damaged vehicle and a major repair expense.  To totally deal with any possible problems, people really should carry comprehensive insurance that deals with such crashes. For all those driving an older automobile who think their cars are not worth the expense of the insurance coverage, it’s wise to maintain an “accident fund” for if anything does occur.

If a vehicle owner ends up stranded with a busted car or truck after a deer collision, they could always call 1-800-CARSTAR. Jungerman CARSTAR will send the tow truck, contact their insurance company and help the vehicle owner get back on the highway.

Jungerman CARSTAR in St. Peters, Missouri offers high-quality, trusted repair service at more than 430 locations in 30 states and ten Canadian provinces. Just simply call 1-800-CARSTAR if you want a car repair, and they will send the tow truck, contact your insurer, arrange for a rental car and repair your car. For additional information and store locations, check out www.auto-body-st-peters-mo.com.

5 Tips for Choosing the Right Auto Body Shop

With rocks, shopping carts and various other typical hazards, it’s not extremely uncommon to see a scratch in your car, either in the paint or the windshield. Left untreated, any scrape can cause significant issues, from rust and corrosion as a result of paint scratch exposing the metal to a small windshield scratch that spreads out until an entire windshield replacement is needed. To lessen this sort of damage, it is important that whenever your get a scratch to repair it immediately at a shop like Jungerman CARSTAR in St. Peters, MO.

When you do get a paint scratch or windshield scratch in St. Charles, O'Fallon and Lake St. Louis, Missouri, the best thing to do in most cases is use a professional repair company.

To fix a deep paint scratch that goes all through the paint to the metal, a paint and body repair center such as Jungerman CARSTAR will do the best job in completely fixing the abrasion. To fix this type of scratch, the technician will need to strip the affected panel, prime it and paint it. Jungerman CARSTAR in St. Peters, MO has the ability to correctly match the color of your vehicle. Depending on your insurance plan, you may get your glass scratch repaired without paying anything out of pocket. No matter if you get a paint scratch or a glass scratch, repair it without delay. The harm your vehicle could sustain from not having a scratch fixed can be both severe and expensive.

But how do you know what auto body shop to visit? It isn't unheard of for estimates from assorted body shops to vary significantly. One shop might give you an estimate for $500 while another wants $2,000 for the work. What's the difference? And when is it fine to choose the cheaper shop?

Here are some ideas from Jungerman CARSTAR in St. Peters, MO for choosing the most appropriate shop in St. Charles, O'Fallon and Lake St. Louis, Missouri to work on your car — especially if you're the one paying the bills.

1) Pay Attention to Word-of-Mouth
Any business can advertise, but you will fare better with a shop that friends, family and acquaintances suggest. It's a business that has confirmed it can satisfy customers. And it might not be the largest or best-known shop in your community. In some instances, you may get a suggestion for a little shop where the owner works on the cars himself.

2) Consider the Operation's Location and Overhead
Labor hours is the deal-breaker for exactly how much a repair will set you back. Many shops charge $40 per hour for labor. But in ritzy parts of West Los Angeles, the per-hour labor charge is $60-$65. In wealthy Newport Beach, California, we have seen as much as $90-per-hour labor charges.

3) Get Several Estimates

Taking your car or truck to a few auto body shops in the St. Peters, MO area for repair quotes is the ideal way to avoid overcharges. And while you'll want to protect against being overcharged, you should never simply take the cheapest quote. You might get some kind of midnight guy who will say he can do it really cheap. Stay away from those guys, since there is something they're not doing. You may have major problems in the future.

4) Ask the Right Questions
When deciding on a body shop, don't go in with your wallet open. Ask some essential questions. Does the shop provide a written warranty? And if that's the case, for how long? Precisely what does the warranty cover?

Another key question is whether the shop carries fire and theft insurance. You need to be sure you're covered if your automobile is destroyed, stolen or burglarized. Remember to ask how long the shop has been doing business. Make sure it has a business license.

You will also want to know about the types of materials the shop wants to use. Are new, used or aftermarket body parts likely to be used? New parts are clearly the best and used parts are okay, though they won't offer the savings people imagine. Dependent on the damage to your car or truck, aftermarket parts can save a lot of money and can be every bit as good as the ones that come from the initial manufacturer. If paint work is involved, ask how many coats of paint and clear coat the shop intends to use.

5) Follow Your Intuition
Finally, it is important to trust your instinct about the shop you are considering. If a shop is not busy, maybe that's because customers in the St. Peters, MO area are keeping away from it as a result of shoddy repairs. If the place is really dirty, cluttered or disorganized, this may reflect the type of work you could expect the shop to do with your automobile. Is the shop owner or manager a grouch that seems to resent giving answers to your questions? You'll be happier with a shop where the owner communicates well and is straightforward with clients.

As you are out searching for an estimate, why not check in with Jungerman CARSTAR ? They would love to offer you a fair estimate backed by a lifetime warranty.

Auto Collision Tips

Keeping calm and on task after an auto collision can save lives and enable you to get back on the road fast

An auto collision is definitely an emotional and draining experience. Many motorists drive defensively, take driver education lessons and get ready for stressful driving situations, however vehicle collisions still take place in St. Peters, MO.

A motorist is responsible for knowing what to do when they are involved in a collision. Even the most prepared and competent motorists sometimes find themselves taking part in an accident. It does not matter who is guilty, the most important thing to do first is make sure everyone is OK, then seek medical and law enforcement help and know what to do to shield yourself from legal or financial difficulties later on.

The best defense to avoid any hassles after an accident is to be prepared. According to AAA, "Keeping a writing implement and paper, non-reusable camera or cell phone camera, and copy of your insurance card readily accessible all of the time will help keep you organized and reduce stress moments following a collision."

After stopping your automobile, Jungerman CARSTAR recommends all individuals involved in a car crash adhere to these steps:

1. Assist the Injured. Quickly talk to those involved in the wreck to figure out if there are any injuries. If medical help is necessary, call 9-1-1. If medical attention is not required, make sure you are not in imminent danger at the roadside.

2. Control the Scene. Before you take time to exchange information, get to a safe place.  If there aren't any injuries and the car is drivable, safely move to the right or left emergency lane.  Some state laws require drivable cars to be removed from the roadway to eliminate traffic congestion. Activate your hazard lights and set out warning flares or reflective triangles. Do not leave the scene of the collision, but find a safe place to remain until emergency services show up.

3. Notify the authorities and send a Report. The law demands you tell the authorities. Regardless of what either party alleges, call the cops and file a report. If law enforcement do not come to the scene to open an investigation, you can file a report by visiting a nearby police department or automobile insurance agency in the days after a collision. Having a written report on file might help later if a liability claim is submitted.

4. Document the Scene and Swap Information. It is important to share and gather information with all parties involved in the wreck, including witnesses. Having this on file will help complete any future paperwork or deal with potential problems. Jungerman CARSTAR suggests that you document:
•   Names
•   Addresses/email address
•   Vehicle Information including makes, models and years for all cars involved
•   Vehicle identification/license plate numbers
•   Driver’s license numbers
•   Insurance carriers and policy numbers
•   Take photographs of the situation, people involved and affected cars

5. Notify Your Insurance Company. Your insurance company will have to be notified after having a crash to start the proper claim filing. Many insurance companies have staff available all the time and can help immediately. Having proof of insurance in your car or truck is required by law and makes processing a claim easier if not at home.

6. Get Your Ride Fixed. You've got the right to get your vehicle fixed at the auto body shop of your own choosing. Consider taking it to Jungerman CARSTAR in St. Peters, MO, which also serves St. Charles, O'Fallon and Lake St. Louis, Missouri.

7. Unattended Vehicle or Property. If you are tangled up in a crash that involves an unattended motor vehicle or property, take action to tell the owner. If you're unable to locate the owner, attach a written notice of the crash to the automobile or property, being sure to incorporate your contact information and information mentioned above.

Drivers and owners of motor vehicles must certainly be able to assume legal and financial accountability if involved in a collision, do not let your emotions and feelings get in the way of determining who's guilty. Do not let yourself be pushed into admitting fault or giving an opinion regarding the cause of a crash. If you wish, you can consult with an attorney before providing a statement.

To get more great tips on proper auto body repair or what you should do if there is an accident, contact Jungerman CARSTAR in St. Peters, MO today.

Kids And Hot Cars Are No Mix In Summer Heat

With the summer heat here, it is a great time to recall just how dangerous a motor vehicle can be when kids and pets are left unattended.  Heat is one of the primary weather-related killers in the US.
At Jungerman CARSTAR in St. Peters, Missouri, North America’s most reliable brand for auto body repair, the focus is not exclusively on repairing vehicles, it’s on protecting the well-being of the drivers and passengers in those cars any time they're on the road.

We want to do everything we can to educate drivers about the safety of their cars or trucks in the summer sun.  Jungerman CARSTAR encourages vehicle operators to plan their trips so you do not have to leave somebody – or any pet – in a car or truck that isn’t running with the air condition switched on.  And, it’s necessary to keep in mind that even a couple of minutes in a hot car or truck can have huge effects.  You always should take those extra safety measures to ensure the safety of your young ones.

According to the National Weather Service, a large number of young children and untold numbers of pets left in parked vehicles die from hyperthermia every year.  Hyperthermia is a severe condition that develops whenever the body absorbs more heat than it can deal with.  Hyperthermia can occur even on a mild day.  The effects can be more severe on youngsters because their bodies warm at a quicker rate than adults.

Research has shown that the heat inside a parked automobile can quickly rise to a risky level for young children, pets and even adults.  Leaving the windows slightly open won't substantially decrease the heating rate.  On an 85-degree day, the temperature within a automobile with the windows opened slightly can reach 102 degrees within ten minutes.  After thirty minutes, the temperature will reach 120 degrees.

The non-profit safety group, KidsandCars.org declares that many heat-related motor vehicle tragedies occur because a driver sometimes forgets a boy or girl is there.  Little ones can also get into unlocked vehicles without any grownup knowing it just happened.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Association has some suggestions to help keep children and pets safe during the heat of summer:

•   Never leave little ones, disabled adults or pets alone in a hot car, even temporarily

•   Always remember to check the front and back seats of the automobile before you lock it and leave

•   See a youngster alone in a hot car? Call 911 immediately. Get them out ASAP if they're in distress

•   Put your purse, briefcase, or something else you need by the car seat so you do not neglect to check

•   Always lock your vehicle when it’s empty so children can’t get in without you knowing

The people at Jungerman CARSTAR in St. Peters, Missouri also supporting the people in St. Charles, O'Fallon, and Lake St. Louis Missouri are so happy that you are taking the time to read about the importance of summer vehicle safety. If you want more superb advice, call us up at 636-939-4199

IS YOUR CAR’S BODY READY FOR SUMMER?

Summer is here now, and even though people are thinking about a vacation getaway and some time outdoors, you should start making plans to care for your truck and lessen damage from summer weather and often unpleasant driving conditions that you can find in St. Peters, St. Charles, Lake St. Louis, and O'Fallon, Missouri.

We all know that too much sun can be harmful to your skin.  It can also be bad for your truck, causing oxidation and premature fading.  Salt air is harsh on paint surfaces, too. Inside the car, plastic trim and the interior can also take a beating from heat and sun.  However with a proper maintenance routine and some T.L.C., it is possible to keep your car looking fresh and new.

That's where your local Jungerman CARSTAR in St. Peters, Missouri can help.  Jungerman CARSTAR 's automotive professionals can manage any damage you have already, and  they can also put you on the road to prevention to lessen any future costs.

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE DETAILS

The first starting place is with CARSTAR’s professional detailing services. Jungerman CARSTAR can return your vehicle to like-new condition for a small investment.

•   A fresh cleaning can get rid of all of the road grime, tar, and other particles that you could have picked up on the way

•   A proper waxing can really help protect your automobile from sun and rain, restore faded paint, and bring back that showroom shine

•   Wiping out minor scratches and blemishes within the clear coat and paint now can keep rust from taking over later

•   A thorough interior cleaning can get rid of any damaging elements such as sand or dirt which you may have brought into your vehicle

•   A proper conditioning of leather, vinyl, and interior plastics can help protect against fading and cracking

•   Mending torn upholstery now and replacing worn floor mats will help keep a little problem from turning out to be a bigger, more costly one later

•   Putting in window film can lessen fading later on, and also minimize heat in the passenger area
While you take pleasure in the summer sun and outdoor activities, your car doesn’t.  A good detailing and wax is just like sunblock for your vehicle. With good car care and some smart driving, you and your vehicle can sail through summer! Just give Jungerman CARSTAR in St. Peters, Missouri a call at 636-939-4199 today or visit www.auto-body-st-peters-mo.com

The Wonderful Women Of CARSTAR

CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts is a family of family businesses all through North America, such as Jungerman CARSTAR in St. Peters, Missouri. More and more, these family businesses are headed by females.  Today, around 60 women own some percentage of interest in sixty-eight shops in seventeen states.  A majority of these women grew up in the business, taking over shops from their fathers.  Some lead stores with their siblings, and others with their spouses.  Together, they deliver operational brilliance, a fantastic focus on customer happiness and new levels of performance for their businesses.

The “good old boy” image that the collision industry once had is beginning to change, and the women of Jungerman CARSTAR are showing that every day, with every repaired car they deliver!

Toni Donius’ mom and dad started in Jungerman CARSTAR in 1991, and turned the garage over to she and her brother Kerry Woodson whenever they chose to retire. Toni's been around the business since it first started up, and has been working full-time at the shop for the past nine years.  She describes her day-to-day responsibilities as pretty much doing everything that doesn't involve working on and painting cars.  Toni says that what differentiates Jungerman from other shops is the family atmosphere and that they are constantly going above and beyond for their customers.  Jungerman has also recently gone Green, with solar panels being placed on the roof of the shop, which Toni says will slash their utility bills in half.  They are also doing substantial remodeling both inside and out with new paint, new furniture, a new layout, and a newly renovated HERTZ counter.

Jungerman CARSTAR in St. Peters, Missouri is happy with all of its fantastic workers. If you live around or in St. Peters, St. Charles, O'Fallon and Lake St. Louis Missouri and are in need of wreck repair, call them up today at 636-939-4199 or have a look at www.auto-body-st-peters-mo.com for additional contact information.

Save Money In 2014 - Find Every Discount For Your Insurance Policy

Many people in St. Peters, Missouri begin every New Year with various important changes or plans to make “this year” better than the previous one. Some plans might involve better diets, lifestyle changes, read more, exercise more, journal more, spend more time with our family, and increased focus on how to be more fiscally responsible.

It’s hard to argue with being more responsible with where you spend your precious dollars. Insurance costs to protect our motor vehicles may be a significant expenditure for many individuals.  It is smart to complete an annual review where and how these controllable dollars are spent.

Jungerman CARSTAR in St. Peters, Missouri, also serving the people of St. Charles, O'Fallon, and Lake St. Louis, Missouri, offers a couple of tips to help make sure your auto insurance premium dollars are spent in the very best manner possible.

1.   If you have a clean driving record with no accidents and no violations within the last three years you might qualify for a significant “safe driver” discount. If you don’t see a discount of this type on your declarations page that comes with your renewal, consult your agent or insurance provider.

2.   Assuming you have good or very good credit you might qualify for additional discounts.  Consult your agent or insurance provider.

3.   If you've got your auto and homeowner policies with the same insurance company you most likely qualify for an additional type of discount. Consult your agent or insurance provider.

4.   If you have young drivers on your policy who are good students, generally a B average or higher, you may qualify for further discounts.  Additionally, there are discounts available for participating in safe driving programs. Ask our agent or insurance provider for availability.

5.   If your current automobiles have exclusive accident avoidance systems you might be entitled to additional discounts.

6.   If you have vehicle(s) whose mix of age, miles and current physical condition has deteriorated to a point of lower value it might be time to think of self-insuring these vehicles. This means removing collision and comprehensive coverage. This action will require careful consideration and should definitely include consultation with your agent or insurance provider.

7.   Changing the level of your collision or comprehensive deductibles could be an option to control your premium costs. Picking out a higher deductible for either coverage will lessen your premium. But it is necessary to understand this move will raise your financial exposure should an accident take place.

8.   Many insurance companies are offering installed driving performance monitors that offer you a deep discount on your insurance for safe driving.  Seek the advice of your insurance agent on availability.

9.   If you've moved, taken a new job or married or divorced during the past year, it can impact your car insurance.  Be sure to update your policies accordingly.

10.   One final tip to each and every insurance consumer would be to ensure that you have a “what if I have an accident" kit in your glove box. This pack should contain a pencil, a pad of paper to jot down accident details and witness contact details, your agent’s contact information, your current insurance card, an expendable camera, and emergency contact information with names and numbers of people identified as the people to call whenever you’re injured.

Jungerman CARSTAR hopes to be sure that individuals traveling in St. Charles, O'Fallon, and Lake St. Louis, Missouri are ready for the road in every single way possible. If you reside in St. Peters, Missouri or the surrounding area and would like to have your questions concerning auto body repair answered, call Jungerman CARSTAR at 636-939-9411 or visit our website: www.auto-body-st-peters-mo.com

Why Should You Choose CARSTAR?

When your vehicle needs to be repaired, you will need a repair facility that you can rely on to help keep you informed throughout the full process, supply exceptional customer service, deliver your car or truck on time and get you back on the road with the very best quality repair.

That’s why a lot more people Opt For Jungerman CARSTAR in St. Peters, Missouri for their automobile repair needs than any other body shop. Across St. Charles, O'Fallon, and Lake St. Louis, Missouri, we bring national scale, consistently high-quality car repairs and the industry’s greatest customer satisfaction ratings, and most repairs are backed by a limited five-year nationwide warranty and service guarantee.

When you Pick  Jungerman CARSTAR for your automobile repair, you’re choosing to be a part of North America’s broadest network of auto body shop owners.  That means you get the national training, quality standards and resources of the network, in addition to the personal service and community involvement of our local St. Peters, Missouri area.  We believe this unique combination provides you the highest quality vehicle repair possible and supports a vibrant locally owned and operated small business in your community.

Certified technicians are trained to work on all makes and models and participate in ongoing education programs on the most recent vehicle technologies and materials. Working with Jungerman CARSTAR allows you the peace of mind in knowing your vehicle will be repaired right and with the utmost attention to your needs. It's just one of the numerous ways we help minimize the disruption to your life.

We use high-quality parts and products to restore your vehicle to pre-accident condition. And, we do a 50 point quality interior and exterior inspection, a complete test-drive and a complete detail, to ensure our workmanship meets your high standards before we give your car back to you.

Whenever you need auto body repair, Jungerman CARSTAR in St. Peters, Missouri is here to help. We offer helpful assistance 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and will walk you through each and every step of the process.   We can call your insurance company, have your car or truck towed for repairs and get in touch with a friend or family member for you. Call us today at 636-939-4199 or visit www.auto-body-st-peters-mo.com.

Prevent Pandemonium For Perfect Performance

Drivers must deal with many more distractions today than they did a decade ago, and those attention-stealers are a direct cause of crashes that cost valuable money and lives. On the brighter side of things, folks who see up close the damage inflicted by in-car diversions have assembled this list of some tips for managing and avoiding unwanted distractions.

Jungerman CARSTAR in St. Peters, MO is a leader in the business of fixing the mistakes people make while there on the road. All a driver had to distract himself at one point in time was an AM radio. Now, most vehicles have enough high-tech electronic gadgetry onboard to pilot a space shuttle, and they can all diminish the concentration of a driver.

These tips are designed to substantially reduce the chance of an accident and make a trip less stressful for anyone that is involved.

•   Adopt no-text policy with absolutely no exceptions – Figures from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) prove that the risk of a crash is twenty-three times greater in magnitude for people who are sending and receiving text messages while they drive. A car traveling at fifty-five miles per hour will cover the length of a football field in the time it takes to type or receive a message. Driving while you text is in many ways the same as if you were to drive while intoxicated. The great thing about a text message is that it will be waiting right where you left it for whenever you have the time to pull over and read it.

•   Limit or completely eliminate cell phone use while driving – A study by Australia’s Monash University Accident Research Centre revealed that the use of cell phones increases crash and injury potential by four times. A passenger, if on board, can conduct the conversation while you drive in most cases.

•A hands-free device is acceptable, but only for calls that you deem to be necessary – Carnegie Mellon used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to view brain activity of those that they chose to answer a series of true/false questions while they simulated driving on the screen of a computer. They found a thirty-seven percent decrease in the brain’s ability to examine spatial relationships when the “driver” focused on responding to the series of questions. This information gives us the indication that any conversation with a person who isn't in the passenger compartment diminishes the driver’s reflexes behind the steering wheel.

•   Program your GPS receiver before starting your next trip – Portable and in-dash GPS devices are both seriously helpful when it comes to getting us where we want to go, especially those that give us step-by-step directions. They are only helpful, however, if the driver doesn't try to go and input information while traveling. In fact, most GPS devices will display a legal warning against such action before they can be used.

•   Learn a car’s instruments and adjustments before pulling out of the driveway – Modern cars have dozens of buttons, switches and handles that may need activating while on the road, and a driver should have the ability to quickly access them to prevent distraction. Adjusting the windshield wipers, headlights, radio settings, climate controls, seat height, steering wheel angle and emergency flashers can be incredibly distracting to a driver, so much so that it may lead to an accident.

•   Save eating and drinking for the next rest stop – Americans have seemingly perfected the art of eating and driving at the same time, which is why vehicles designed for the U.S. market often have more cup holders than they do seats. According to NHTSA, a driver’s morning cup of coffee and muffin very well may be as distracting as a cell phone conversation.

•   Keep children and pets in the right seats or areas for them– Crash-test engineers have figured out that the safest placement for children of different sizes and ages changes from vehicle to vehicle. Following federal and state laws also greatly reduces the distraction of a parent while driving since the child is not as likely to get hurt or into trouble in a moving vehicle if restrained. Letting animals roam freely about in a vehicle isn't simply a terrible idea; it is illegal in many states because legislators are trying to crack down on distracted driving.

Jungerman CARSTAR in St. Peters, Missouri, also fixing cars in St. Charles, O'Fallon, and Lake St. Louis, MO, want you to be aware that there are a number of ways to decrease the amount of dangerous distractions within a car. These tips cover just a few that are really easy for the majority of people to fix. Anything a driver has to do to concentrate on the road will simply serve to improve the chances of a safe arrival.

For other tips on driving and auto body collision repair, visit www.auto-body-st-peters-mo.com. CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts offers high-quality, reliable repair service in 32 states and 10 Canadian provinces. Just give a quick call to 636-939-4199 when you have to have a car repaired, and they will quickly send over a tow truck, contact your insurance company, arrange for you to get a rental car and repair your vehicle.

There Isn't A Magic Wand For Everything...

A scratch repair pen may appear to be the perfect plan to start out with. After all, what could someone possibly have against the ability to make quick repairs to a car’s finish by simply drawing a line across the damage? Come to find out, the outcomes aren’t always what you see on TV. Jungerman CARSTAR in St. Peters, also serving folks near St. Charles, O'Fallon, and Lake St. Louis, Missouri, are happy to be offering you these most interesting of test results.

To start out with, we found they won't work on anything but the smallest of surface scratches. On top of that, they may even make the damage look worse then it did to start out with.

Marketed as the easiest way to avoid the expensive bills of an auto body shop, manufacturers will claim that anyone has the ability to get expert results from the pens, which cost as much as ten dollars. We employed the use of three to see if the claims were valid.

What we tested

The Simoniz Fix it Pro ($10), DuPont Pro Fusion Color ($8), and Turtle Wax Scratch Repair Pen ($10) are widely available online or in your local auto parts stores. Alleged to work with any paint color that you can metaphorically throw at it, they have a permanent clear coat much like the protective outer layer used on new cars that are coming straight from the factory. But what their packaging does not make entirely clear is that pens of this nature are strictly for minor surface scratches in the clear coat. If the damage goes down through the paint below, you’re just going to be out of luck.

We also discovered that the pens may be a lot harder to use than other pens, and that it’s not a simple task to get the thin, even line necessary to neatly fill your vehicle's scratches without overdosing on the stuff. With applicator tips that are as wide or wider than your typical scratch, our sampled products make it incredibly hard to avoid putting on too much filler, and leaving a very noticeable residue that’s probably going to be more noticeable than the damage you’re wanting to get repaired. And getting rid of the residue might require sanding and buffing to get the stuff out, and you might even have to use some touch-up paint too.

Remember that these products will never help on any scratch that’s deep enough for you to be able to feel it with a fingernail, or if you can see primer or bare metal on the scratch. For damage of that extent, you’ll want to have more than clear filler and a steady stroke of the hand. The only way to actually repair damaged paint is with more paint. Period.

How we tested

For our analysis, we got the same lab-grade black test panels we buy for car wax testing. These panels are painted and clear coated with automotive finishes to simulate the exterior of a real car. We also tried them on two different vehicles with minor scratches: a silver Toyota Sienna minivan and a dark blue Honda CR-V.

We scratched the test panels with a key and a bolt, and then used the products exactly as instructed by the manufacturers' directions on the panels and the pre-scratched automobiles. Washing and drying the damaged area, shaking up the contents of the pen, dabbing the tip on a piece of paper towel to get the product flowing properly, and moving the pen along the surface of the scratch were all involved in this process. After applying the products as instructed, we moved the samples to a place where they were able to weather for four straight weeks.

The results

The three products filled up the scratches perfectly, and we recognized no noticeable difference between them in terms of ease of use or effectiveness.

From some of the angles that we observed the repair at, it looked just as good as was advertised in the television ads. But other less flattering angles revealed a ridge of noticeably excessive clear coat. The results looked like an amateur job, at the very best, and often the repair was more noticeable than the original scratch was. The Simoniz and DuPont products advocated for wiping off any excess with a paper towel, but we discovered that this only made things look worse, as it smeared the paint over the undamaged surface.

Our advice is to save your hard-earned money and skip these quick fixes for minor scratches or try a cleaning polish in their place.

For deeper scratches, a visit to your local Jungerman CARSTAR in St. Peters, Missouri may be your best option.

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

Warm weather is now here, and that means that hail storms are going around the nation, leaving nothing but dented, dinged and damaged vehicles in their wake.

Is your vehicle properly equipped to face Mother Nature this year?  Do you have sufficient insurance that will help you to rebound from any damage?  And, most essentially, how can you get your car or truck fixed up to pre-storm condition without making a sizable dent in your pocketbook?

Jungerman CARSTAR sees and fixes up plenty of cars harmed by hail storms. Jungerman CARSTAR in St. Peters, Missouri, also serving the people in St. Charles, O'Fallon, and Lake St. Louis, Missouri, provides this information to aid motorists as they seek to deal with hail storms:

Whenever you do get hail damage, your first priority should be to establish contact with your insurance company, even before calling up a repair shop.  This is because there is a distinct possibility that your insurance provider will call in what’s called a Catastrophe Team if there is a sizable hail storm.  If you decide that instead of visiting the Catastrophe Team, you'll drive around town and get a bunch of estimates, sadly, it’ll just be a lot of wasted time for you.  The insurance companies will tell you to go and have their Catastrophe Teams look at it, commence the claim process, and then they'll allow you to bring it to Jungerman CARSTAR or any auto body shop so that they can work with the insurance company to guarantee that all the dents get fixed on your car.

Even if you don't really think that your car was damaged too badly, it’s important that you have it looked at quickly. You may find that there's a lot of damage that you cannot see when you’re just visually looking at it.  Once you get it under some shop lights, and you actually have the chance to take a good look at it, you'll find that there are a lot of dents that you won’t see until you go to trade your vehicle in, and then you’ll be stuck with a bunch of hail damage and a vehicle that's worth that much less.  Realistically, your best bet is to have a claim processed, and get it to a certified auto body shop, and have the experts really look over the vehicle carefully.  Once you're inside and the car is under the florescent lights, what you thought was maybe ten to fifteen dents very well may wind up being one hundred dents.

Analyze Your Coverage

It is not time to review your car insurance once you hear the smack of hail hitting your car.  Read the policy right now to know what is and is not protected, what the deductibles are going to look like, if you have rental coverage, and what to do whenever the storm strikes.

Comprehensive coverage shields your vehicle from a lot of damage that can be incurred from natural disasters.  Two other choices to think about are gap coverage – which covers the difference between what your loan is and what your car is worth -- and rental reimbursement.

One warning – if you've submitted a prior damage claim and got a check from your insurance company, but didn't really go to have the vehicle repaired – the insurance company will take off this amount from your estimate for the damage, and bill another deductible, too.

Protect Your Vehicle

When you are aware of a hail storm that is headed your way, it is important to get your vehicle to higher ground or beneath some type of cover.  If you don’t have a garage at your place of residence, find a covered public parking garage to shield your vehicle.  If you absolutely must park your car outdoors, park it on as high of ground as you can possibly find, away from potentially hazardous objects like trees and phone poles.

For hail storms, cover your automobile in something like an old blanket and a car cover from your local automotive merchant – prior to the storm hitting.  This will offer some defense for your hood, roof and rear deck-lid. If a storm comes without sufficient warning, find an awning at a gas station, the drive-through at the banking institution or car wash to get underneath for quick protection. If you're on the highway, find cover under a bridge or viaduct.

Get Your Car Repaired

Handling the aftermath of a large hail storm can be distressing, particularly if you’ve had significant 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 procedure, Jungerman CARSTAR offers the following tips:

•   Create copies of your vehicle registration, title, insurance card, and driver’s license prior to the storm hitting and secure them within a safe, dry place.
•   Whenever the storm clears itself up, record the damage with photos and video.
•   Have a repair plan in place before something actually happens.  Know where you want to have your car repaired beforehand so you don’t have to make a rash decision.

When you pick which body shop you want to use for repairs, remember:

•   It is important that you do your homework and look at the reputation of the shop, business or trade associations they belong to, and if their specialists are I-CAR trained.
•   Reputable repair facilities will always offer a warranty of some kind or another for the work that they do … ensure that it is both written down and fully explained to you.
•   Your vehicle is a big investment. Only trust your car or truck to a good body shop business that has been operating long before the storm. Don't fall into the trap of smooth operators attempting to make a quick buck off of the storm.  If they are in a tent or other temporary location, absolutely do not trust them with your automobile.

When your car makes it to the body shop for repairs, there are a some things you should remember to ensure that you get a quality repair:

•   Look over the estimate that they give you in detail, but do not forget that it only addresses the visible damage and what it's going to take to fix the vehicle up to pre-accident condition. If you find that the estimate doesn't cover the full extent of the damage, a Supplement will be created, submitted to your insurance company for approval.
•   Get a comprehensive outline of the parts that are going to have to be replaced and if they're OEM, new or refurbished, and in what condition the car is going to be returned to you.  Most insurance policies only cover as far as pre-accident condition, so your seven-year old minivan may not come back looking brand new.
•   Get a timeline that will outline when the work will be done and when the job is going to be completed.
•    Detail the terms and methods of payment, such as down-payment, final payment and costs for follow-up work.
•   Ask the manager of the shop for continuing updates on the job, and ensure that you are given approval for any work done outside the original estimate.
•   Do not feel pressed to simply accept whatever repair they give you if you don’t think it is repaired properly.  Contact your insurance agent for guidance if you don't want to accept it.

Whenever your car is in the shop, it’s a great time to have other dents and dings fixed too.  It will be more cost-effective and your car will ultimately benefit.

For other tips on dealing with a car accident or having your car repaired after a collision, visit www.auto-body-st-peters-mo.com. CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts provides top-quality, reliable repairs in thirty-one states and ten Canadian provinces.  Just call 636-939-4199 when you want to have your vehicle repaired and they will send out the tow truck, contact your insurance company, get you a rental car, and fix your car.

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

If you find yourself bringing a new baby home soon, purchasing a safety seat for a developing child or swapping out a car seat that has been affected by a wreck, picking out the right seat for your youngster is just half of the task.  The really big struggle is ahead still – having it set up correctly.

NHTSA, the National Safety Council and Jungerman CARSTAR in St. Peters, Missouri provide the tips below to help parents make sure that their child safety seat is installed totally safe.

•Make sure that your baby is rear facing. Although the scene might be dull for you, it assures that the baby will be in the safest position possible in a collision. The rear facing position severely decreases the probability of the child experiencing neck/spine trauma.  Many experts say that it's important to keep the baby rear facing until they reach six months and or 22 pounds. However, know that there is no harm in waiting longer.
•   Use the right kind of seat for your child's age, weight and height. If you have leather seats, get some non-slip rubber shelf liner or purchase a "seat saver" to put under the car seat. These will help you by keeping your vehicle seat clean and preventing the car seat from sliding around. (Depending on your child safety seat, though, a seat saver may interfere with installation, so hold on to the receipt.)
•   Read both the car and child seat manuals thoroughly, and always follow the car seat manufacturer's advice. If you have any questions about your car seat, call the car seat or vehicle manufacturer. Your local dealer may or may not be up to speed on your installation questions.
•   Rear-Facing, Infant-Only Seat — LATCH Install -- Many parents of newborns tend to go for the type of infant car seat that comes with a separate base. The base remains installed in the car while the baby carrier itself can be taken out and snapped back in at will.  Infant seat bases generally have flexible LATCH connectors — essentially belts with hooks at the ends.  Locate the lower anchors in the second-row window seats. Make sure the child safety seat lays flat against the seat's bottom and back, between the two lower anchors.  Hook the LATCH attachment that is furthest away from you onto the anchor. Then, if you can safely do so, climb on top of the seat, putting your knee on top. Using your weight to fully compress the vehicle seat, hook the other attachment to the anchor and pull out the slack. If you can't get on top of the seat, use all your strength to push down on the seat while hooking on the second attachment.
•   Rear-Facing, Infant-Only Seat — Standard Shoulder and Lap Belt Install
There is always the possibility that your car or car seat is an older model that does not feature LATCH. Or it may be true that your car's seat cushions or anchor placements make LATCH installation impossible. If that is the case for you, you're pretty much left with doing a standard shoulder and lap belt installation, but don't worry, it's still perfectly safe. The first step is pretty obvious: thread the lap and shoulder belt into the correct slots, known as the "belt path." If you have a car seat that has the ability to reverse from forward-facing to rear-facing, be careful to choose the correct path; it will be clearly marked.

Connect the latch plate or male end of the seat belt into the buckle or female end, then, utilizing your weight as above, totally tighten up the belt. Ensure that all of the slack is removed from both the lap and shoulder belt. Also keep in mind that using a locking clip will secure you car seat installation even further. If you are wondering what a locking clip is, it's an H-shaped piece of metal that comes with every new car seat or may be requested of the manufacturer. To use one, plug in the seatbelt, making it as tight as you can, then unplug it again while you hold the belt tightly. Wind the locking clip around the belt as closely as possible to the latch plate, then plug it back in again. You might find yourself having to bounce down on the seat a few times to get it closed. This certainly will not be easy, but it will give you a totally sturdy installation.

Keep in mind that a rear-facing infant car seat should always sit at around a forty-five degree angle to lessen the possibility of the baby slumping and to keep their airway open. Take a look at the instructions to see if your seat has an angle adjuster; if it does, use it. If not, a small piece of a swimming pool "noodle" stuck beneath the seat is the safest way to get the same angle. If you are wondering why a noodle, you should know that you can also use a tightly rolled towel, but towels do have that tendency to compress over the course of time, while the material in pool noodles doesn't. If you decide to use a towel, check it every once in a while to see that the angle has been maintained.

The experts at Jungerman CARSTAR in St. Peters, MO, who also serve the people of St. Charles, O'Fallon, and Lake St. Louis, try at every turn to offer a top-quality, trustworthy repair for every customer and want to extend that commitment to even the youngest passengers in our customers’ vehicles. Those who have put their bundle of joy in a car seat know exactly how much trust you put in the car seat.  They are happy to help parents as they seek to protect their kids, either during daily driving or after an accident.

For more information on the CARSTAR Child Safety Seat program, visit www.auto-body-st-peters-mo.com.

There’s Snow Time To Waste!

Winter months will take a huge toll on the family car, even when the snow, ice, rain and tough driving conditions are a thing of the past. These straight forward guidelines from Jungerman CARSTAR in St. Peters, Missouri can make sure that your car is free of winter damage and help maintain and safeguard one of your biggest investments. CARSTAR is North America’s number one collision center and specialist in automobile exteriors.

Salt, sludge and road debris can all slowly eat your paint job and exterior. And let's not forget about the dents and dings that seem to automatically come with driving on slippery roads. So, it's easy to see that Ol’ Man Winter really is pretty hard on your automobile. Just a few quick tips from Jungerman CARSTAR experts can really help motorists remove wintertime problems more quickly than they can set aside their cold weather coats and get their automobile ready for springtime, while also bettering the looks, functionality and even the long term value of their vehicle.

The secret is having your vehicle completely washed and restored, getting rid of saltiness and fine sand that may cause rust and damage a car’s finish, then assessing small dents and dings which can become major headaches when kept in disrepair. Jungerman CARSTAR in St. Peters, which also serves St. Charles, O'Fallon, and Lake St. Louis, Missouri, has the following suggestions for eliminating wintertime grime.

1.    Give your vehicle a bath with car wash cleaning soap to get rid of winter saltiness, fine sand, dust and grime without stripping it of wax protection.
2.    Clean out the engine bay to remove harmful residue and maximize performance. The first thing that you must do is warm up the engine for a couple of minutes, then spray water throughout the whole engine compartment with a hose that has an attached nozzle. Also spray the underbody of the car and all of the wheel wells to remove any built-up salt and sand.
3.    Remove tar and debris built-up on your vehicle with a simple adhesive and wax remover. Just wipe it on with a micro-fiber towel, leave it be for a minute or so to loosen all of the dirt, old wax and tar, then just wipe it off.
4.    Clean wheels and tires to eliminate brake dust, salt and highway grime.
5.    Tires can get their brand new finish back with a tire restorer. Just spray on and wipe off for a profound ebony luster.
6.    Give the automobile a nice preventative coating of synthetic wax that will chemically bond with the clear coat finish to make sure that the car’s finish continues to look good.
7.    Lube up the door, hood and trunk hinges, locks and any additional moving parts with a lubricant that is spray-on that lubricates, permeates, resists infiltrating liquid and generally fights the effects of rust.
8.    Clean the glass inside and out for truly sparkling car windows.
9.    Wash and shield the upholstery from wear with a leather and vinyl restorer, which restores the natural gloss and soft feel of the factory finish.
10.    Clean the carpet of your car to get rid of winter salt and dirt.

Jungerman CARSTAR experts would like to remind drivers that there’s one other step in the spring cleaning endeavor. That is examining for external damage, triggered by winter road debris, potholes and icy conditions, which all can leave dings, dents and scuff marks hidden below your car’s wintry weather coating of gunk. They suggest carrying out a detailed inspection of the vehicle from bumper to bumper and that you take careful note of any new damage that you find. Don’t forget – simple scratching and minor dents can turn into rust spots and perhaps even bigger problems if left untreated.

The certified professionals at Jungerman CARSTAR in St. Peters, Missouri can offer a comprehensive “spring cleaning” regimen for the car or truck that you own, with a paint touch-up, dent and scrape repair and a lot more, at a budget-friendly price.

How To Know What Your Auto Body Repair Estimate Means

If your car or truck needs to be repaired, you'll need a repair shop that you can count on to keep you well informed throughout the whole experience, give you great customer service, give you your motor vehicle promptly and with the best possible repair.  It is also important that you know before the job starts out just how much upfront cost you might face and to be sure your auto body repair estimate is addressing everything.

The estimate you receive should include:

•   A complete review of the work to be done on the vehicle
•   An index of the repair parts to be used
•   What items your insurance will and will not cover
•   Total anticipated amount of the repair.

One reason estimates can vary by shop is the degree of detail in the assessment process. Often, estimates may keep essential repairs from the preliminary estimate, causing the total amount to be different from that of another facility. At Jungerman CARSTAR in St. Peters, Missouri we are thorough to determine the actions essential for a top quality and safe repair for your motor vehicle. If you live in St. Charles, Lake St. Louis, or the Metro East St. Louis area and have questions about car collision repair, contact us from our website at www.auto-body-st-peters-mo.com.

Vehicle vs. Repair Cost

If You Buy A New Car, What Will It Cost to Repair If You Have A Car Accident?

The very last thing you're going to want to think about when you buy a new car is what it'll cost to repair. But the cost of fixing bumpers, door panels, and hoods can vary greatly by vehicle model, and often the expense of the repair does not match the value of the vehicle.

Jungerman CARSTAR closely tracks the expense of vehicle repairs on every make and model of automobiles. These expenses doesn't just play a role to the repair bill, it also drives up or down the price to insure the vehicle.

A couple of alarming figures to think about when replacing damaged parts with OEM equipment are:

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

So what four door automobiles are the most reasonably priced and most expensive to repair when thinking about the “collision” coverage loss experience, which is the overall cost paid out to fix or exchange the damaged parts sustained to the car?

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety loss data shows the Honda Accord is the very best in this regard, while Mitsubishi Galant is at the very bottom of the list when looking at four door cars. Judged on a scale where one hundred is average and lower scores signify less expensive repairs, the results are as follows.
The Honda Accord has an impressive loss experience rating of seventy-eight, which happens to be twenty-three percent better than the average result of one hundred. The remaining top nine of the top ten performers and their comparative scores were:

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

The worst vehicle model for comparative loss value was the Mitsubishi Galantat one hundred thirty-two. Rounding out the most expensive vehicles to repair with a loss 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)

No matter how carefully you drive, a vehicle accident may happen. As such, we suggest that you have a collision plan put in place so you don't find yourself stranded on the side of the road waiting for help. Jungerman CARSTAR offers high-quality, reliable repair service in St. Peters, St. Charles, and the Metro East St. Louis area. For more information visit www.auto-body-st-peters-mo.com.