Author Archives: Street Racing Cars

For many Americans when a vehicle goes down it is a lot more than an inconvenience, low cost car repair can be a lifeline. Many families depend on transportation to get them to work, school, and to keep medical appointments. It can be hard to fathom the idea of how important a running vehicle is to many millions of people in the United States.

Working reliable transportation and access to low cost car repair keeps food on the table in many households. About 45% of the US does not have access to public transportation. This means that 45% of the population depends on having their own vehicle to get them where they need to go.

For Many Americans No Car Means No Job

One of the many questions an employer will ask a candidate is “do you have reliable transportation?” It is a necessary question. Employers want to be reassured that their employees can get back and forth to work when they are scheduled.

As urban sprawl takes on a new meaning because businesses are moving out to the burbs for better tax advantages and cheaper real estate, it is getting increasingly harder to find employees to fill positions because of the transportation problem. Rural and suburban areas typically do not have mass public transportation available.

There are plenty of bodies to fill the positions and plenty of people that would welcome the opportunity, but exactly, how does one get to work when there is no public options? They depend on private transportation, but that opens up a whole new cycle of problems. How does one afford to buy a car when they cannot get a job without a car? How does a family succeed financially when they do not have the basics like transportation?

There is an organization that is focused on changing things. Working Cars for Working Families have identified a tremendous need and has set out to make changes to meet those needs. Through community efforts, policy change efforts and promoting practices that help families get in a reliable vehicle, Working Cars for Working Families is changing lives.

Working Cars for Working Families is a great resource for working-class low income families that need to:

• Enlist the help of the over 120 community programs that are dedicated to helping low income families secure safe transportation.
• Find low cost car repair to help keep their vehicle on the road.
• Learn about lemon laws in their state and find out about policies.

Helping families find the transportation that they need and can afford is vital to the success of families. Working Cars for Working Families has stepped up to the plate to help low income families find the path to success.

About 80% of the population drives to work because they do not have access to public transportation. Not having a running vehicle is not an option for many Americans. Working Cars for Working Families makes helping families, linking resources, and lobbying for change in policies a priority.

Low Cost Car Repair is A Saving Grace

There are so many things that can go wrong with a vehicle that can keep it parked. When a family depends on their vehicle to get family members back and forth to work, car repair takes on an entirely new urgency.

The cost of everything from new auto parts to simple maintenance can be out of range for working families that are already living on a shoestring budget. Often, desperate families are taken advantage of by unsavory practices starting at the car dealership and sold cars that are in need of repair.

Of course, some of the problems that a used car comes with are not huge problems but still require low cost car repair. For example, exhaust work does not leave a vehicle inoperable but it may cause a vehicle to fail inspection, which of course, means the vehicle cannot be legally registered. Unless your vehicle can pass inspection, you cannot put it on the road legally, which means, it stays parked.

For any family that is struggling to stay afloat low cost car repair can help to keep the car running, and in good shape, and on the road where they need it to be. Thanks to the work of Working Cars for Working Families there is finally a resource that can point families in the right direction when they are searching for low cost car repair at trusted auto repair centers.

With the help of this great organization families is able to connect with an automotive service and maintenance center that provides low cost car repair to keep their vehicle running, safe, and to even avoid bigger mechanical issues.

Here is a good example of how getting low cost car repair in the first place can put an end to the cycle of bigger and more expensive problems. We can all agree that tires can get costly. If an alignment is off, you will go through tires at a ridiculous rate. However, a full-priced alignment can be shoved to the back burner of things to do with your income when you are a low income family.

Low cost car repair like an auto alignment restoration can make the alignment more affordable, easier to access, and ultimately save on the cost of new tires every few months. Of course, this type of maintenance also keeps the vehicle safer.

While there is nothing wrong with families practicing a little DIY auto repair and using recycled auto parts to save and get the repairs done, there are some things that unless you are a pro you simply cannot do yourself.

Low cost car repair can fill the gap in between what you can DIY and what you cannot. Having access to low cost car repair is truly a way for many families to meet their basic necessities. Without it they would really be at a loss.

Not Just Mechanics

Obviously no one wants people on the road driving in vehicles that are unsafe because the brakes are going out, or the exhaust is just pouring pollution out of it, but there are other issues that low income family have to contend with when it comes to low cost car repair.

Broken, chipped, or damaged windshields are another safety hazard that many low income families cannot afford to repair. Getting the vehicle to the auto body shop and having to pay for new auto glass can really send a budget into a tailspin.

Low cost car repair for auto glass repair can help to improve safety on the road for both the driver and other drivers. A cracked windshield may not seem like a big deal, but it can impair vision, and of course, it is not as structurally sound as an intact windshield. Access to low cost car repair to repair glass and other structural body challenges is important as well.

It Can be a Financially Devastating Cycle

Both major and minor issues can keep a car parked while the family is frantically searching for solutions to their transportation problems and risking job security. On top of the worry about getting their vehicle back on the road, in some cases, the matter deteriorates into a much worse situation. Many municipalities have laws on the books about where you can park unregistered vehicles and where you can leave broken down vehicles and for how long. Unfortunately, if you do not have the money to get the repairs done, and you do not have the money for auto towing services, you are at great risk of losing your vehicle.

Municipalities have contracted towing companies that will tow the vehicle (at a cost to the owner of course). They will drop the vehicle at a storage facility where the charges will ring up for every day that it is there.

After a certain point the vehicle will be turned over to an auto salvage yard, but the owner will still be pursued for the charges that have already accumulated for the towing and the storage. Liens can be applied to other properties, and civil charges can be taken out against the owner for not paying the penalties. All for what? The family could not afford to make repairs in the first place.

Working Cars for Working Families is lobbying local and state governments to change laws that punish people for being poor. For many families access to low cost car repair can be a tremendous game changes and keep them out of this never-ending cycle.

How Can You Get Help?

If you are struggling to get your vehicle back on the road and you need to find low cost car repair or a repair shop that will work with you on the cost reach out to Working Cars for Working Families to learn more about the resources that are available in your community.

If you need to buy a car to get back and forth to work, Working Cars for Working Families can also share resources with you. There are other programs that can help. Here are some tips for finding low cost car repair in your own community:

• Check with your local social services program. Some local social service offices keep a list of auto repair shops that will work with low-income families on pricing for repairs. Call your local social services office and explain your situation they may be able to help.
• Contact church groups. Start calling local churches to see if they have a program that can help. Typically, church groups will share information about what they are doing in the community. You may get a no with the first phone call but that church may know of another church that does have such a program.
• Call auto repair shops and ask for help. Explain your situation to local auto repair shops, you never know, someone may help.

The first thing you want to do is not panic. Arrange for a friend to pick you up for work if you can. If you do not have anyone to provide you with transportation, call social services, and ask for help there, they may have a program in place.

Ask neighbors, friends, relatives if they know of any place that offers low cost car repair. You never know a neighbor may have a brother, uncle, father, or another relative in the industry that can help. The point is, don’t give up. There is help you may just have to ask for it.

Working Cars for Working Families is a great resource that will do its best to help you find the support that you need. Don’t give up hope and don’t give up on your car.

What Can You Do To Help?

If you are in the auto repair industry, you can reach out to Working Cars for Working Families and offer your services. Providing low-cost car repair for a few families each year will make a tremendous difference in their lives.

If you own any type of business, spread the word, and get other businesses involved. You do not have to be an auto repair shop to help people find low cost car repair. You can just be a business owner that wants to donate to the cause.

If you are a community leader, make this your pet project. Help people to help themselves. If you give people in your community the tools that they need to succeed they will be successful. Having a reliable vehicle to get to work, to get to medical appointments, and to just be able to buy groceries for your family can lift working-class families up and out of poverty.

If you are just a community member that wants to make a difference in your community, share information about this great movement and how it can make your community a better place. Everyone has the power to help their neighbors.

Anyone can reach out to Working Cars for Working Families to learn more about ways they can help. This is a great organization that can make a tremendous difference in so many lives, and certainly a worthy cause to get involved in.

The United States has federal automobile safety standards that are among the strictest in the world. When most people are out buying used cars or new cars for that matter, they do not think about federal automobile safety standards and why they are so important.

Federal automobile safety standards are in place to protect consumers, the environment, and to ensure that there is uniformity across the board. Even when a car is not manufactured in the United States, if it is going to be driven or sold here it has to pass the federal automobile safety standards.

What Are The Federal Automobile Safety Standards?

In a word the federal automobile safety standards are extensive and they address just about every part of a vehicle from the type of auto glass and its rating to electronics to mandatory safety equipment. The federal automobile safety standards are a list of fluid rules that are ever-changing. As new technology becomes available the rules often change.

As more and more Americans depend on automobiles for travel and daily use, the rules are getting more and more stringent. There are about 102 fatal car accidents every single day, the federal automobile safety standards are in place to control what can be controlled when it comes to vehicle safety.

The goal of these standards is to help to reduce the risk of a serious car accident injury, reduce the effects on the environment, and ensure there is a familiar standard across the board for consumers. Standards are often changed based on research and safety findings. For example, Title 49 of the United States Code, Chapter 301, Motor Safety Standard, was enacted in 1968 that required every seat in every car to have a safety restraint (seat belt). Before 1968 there was not a standard in place for personal restraint systems in motor vehicles.

These regulations are in place and it is expected that vehicle manufacturers will follow these standards. Even if you purchase a car overseas from an auto sales company, that vehicle will have to be retrofitted to meet the federal automobile safety standards before you put it on the road. The list is long when it comes to these standards and covers things like:

• Electronics and displays. Every part of the electrical system has a standard enforceable by the federal government including the automotive bulkhead connector, display panel, wire harnessing, and more.
• Exhaust systems. Every part of the exhaust system has a standard. The federal automobile safety standards are not only for personal safety but for environmental safety as well. For example, if you buy a car in Germany and have it shipped to the US, it will cost about $3000 above and beyond the cost to have the vehicle outfitted with the equipment that brings it up to federal automobile safety standards to be driven in the US.
• Custom car modifications. There are federal automobile safety standards that address any modifications that are made to a vehicle to ensure those modifications do not render the vehicle unsafe.

What happens if you buy a used car from a used car dealership that is not up to the current federal automobiles safety standards? It all depends on which standards are not up to date. For example, if you buy a classic 1959 Chevy and it does not have factory seat belts, you should have them retrofitted if you plan on driving it regularly. If you buy a 1998 Mustang and some of the anti-pollution safety features are not in place, you should be okay, because many older model vehicles are grandfathered in. Typically, when new federal automobile safety standards come out it is a “moving forward” rule. For example, in 2011 several standards were proposed regarding fuel economy. Those standards if accepted would affect vehicles that were manufactured one year after the standards were published. This gives auto manufacturers time to implement the changes that are necessary to meet the new standards.

How Can I Find Out If My Vehicle Is Up To the Federal Automobile Safety Standards?

The National Highway Traffic Administration is the federal agency that oversees the implementation of the federal automobile safety standards. They have a website that you can visit if you have any questions about whether your vehicle is under recall or if it meets the standards.

Unfortunately, there are literally hundreds and hundreds of standards, and going through them all would be very time consuming. If you have a newer vehicle you can bet that that vehicle has been manufactured within the guidelines. Automobile manufacturers have enough headaches without trying to skirt the safety standards.

On the NHTSA’s website there is a search engine that you can use to help you locate information about specific components that have a standard that should be followed. You simply type in the part you are concerned about and results will be returned about that component.

Connecting with trusted automobile services professionals can help if you have a vehicle that you want to have retrofitted with the latest safety features if you are concerned that your older vehicle does not have the safety features that newer models are required to. It will of course, be at your discretion if you want to absorb the cost of retrofitting your vehicle.

Do DMV Mandatory Inspections Check for Federal Automobile Safety Standards?

In many states across the US you have to have your vehicle “inspected” at a service station approved by the Department of Motor Vehicle prior to registering your vehicle. Depending on where you live that inspection can be key in determining if your vehicle is currently up to the federal automobile safety standards, especially when it comes to emissions.

For example, California has some of the toughest emission laws on the books, far tougher than even the federal automobile safety standards. If you live in California and your vehicle fails the emissions testing, then you will be unable to register your vehicle until it is fixed.

In most states the safety inspection includes:

• Checking for tire life. Worn out tires are a tremendous danger. An inspection will include making sure your tires are not worn to the point of a safety concern.
• Headlights and tail lights are functioning. Headlights will be checked as well taillights to ensure that everyone else can see you on the road.
• Directional signals will be checked. Being able to indicate your direction is an important part of driver safety on the road. Turn indicators will be inspected.

A lot of people think that the “check engine light” means that there is something malfunctioning with the engine like the oil is low or the timing is off, while in some models it can mean that, in most models, it means there is something happening with your emission system.

If your check engine light is on your vehicle cannot pass inspection, but more importantly, it is an indicator that there is something that needs to be checked. Usually, this indicator means that there is a sensor or module that is failing. Many times it is an oxygen sensor for your emission control system.

Vehicle manufacturers outfit your vehicle with sensors to help them stay within the federal automobile safety standards. Of course, the check engine light is not the only warning light on your dash, there is a range of warning lights on your display that are there to alert you and that were put there as a nod to the federal automobile safety standards.

If your airbag is malfunctioning there is typically a warning light that will let you know that something is wrong with your airbag. The same is true of your brake system a warning light will come up with the ABS is failing.

Recalls And the Federal Automobile Safety Standards

Recalls are often issued after a safety standard violation is realized. In most cases, recalls are for small fixes, but in some cases, the recall is far more serious. Volkswagen, the German carmaker has had several major recalls over the last two decades for violations of the federal automobile safety standards.

One of the biggest violations of the federal automobiles safety standards caused Volkswagen to recall over 11 million vehicles. Dubbed the “dieselgate” VW was accused of purposely engineering their diesel powered models to pass US emission inspections without actually having the equipment to manage the level of emissions that is required.

Luckily, VW is the exception when it comes to car manufacturers adhering to the federal standards. In many cases, the car manufacturer will realize something is not within the standards long before there are many deadly accidents because of the failure. Case in point, Chrysler Motors recalled about 4 million vehicles in 2018 when they realized that their cruise control may have been faulty. Chrysler voluntarily recalled the vehicles to make the repairs.

According to the NHTSA the “the largest and most complex safety recall in U.S. history” involved airbags used in Honda vehicles. Honda was the largest client of the Takata Air Bags company and had installed them in many of their vehicles under the Honda banner. In total there were 19 manufacturers that used the Takata Airbags. The airbags were found to be responsible for about 180 injuries, and 20 deaths.

It is strongly suggested if you drive a Honda that was manufactured from 2000 to 2010 that you contact Honda to ensure the airbag deployment unit was replaced. When you buy a used car it can be hard to track what recalls have been repaired but calling the manufacturer and letting them run the VIN number will give you the answers that you need.

Another famous recall involved the car manufacturer Hyundai. In 2018 44,000 vehicles had to be recalled because of the threat of steering wheel detachment, yes you read that right. If a paving company wasn’t being used to keep the roads nice and smooth and you were driving one of the recall models and hit a bump in the road you could lose your steering wheel. No one was killed or seriously injured because of this defect, but it certainly was a considerable safety issue.

You can see how important it is to have the safety standards in place to keep people safe when they are on the road. You can think of the NHTSA as a combination watchdog agency, and research agency. The agency spends a lot of time investigating claims of safety failures, doing research to improve driver safety on the road and working with car manufacturers to improve safety.

Safety and Accidents

The federal automobile safety standards’ main goal is to help drivers stay safer on the road. Each year there are about 6 million car accidents in the United States. On the upside of things, the number of fatalities due to car accidents has actually decreased over the last decade.

The newer driver-assisted technologies and the higher safety standards set by the NHTSA are accredited for making the roads safer. Over the last decade fatalities due to car accidents have dropped by about 21%.

The federal automobile safety standards have implemented standards that help to curb not only the number of deaths in a car crash but that also seem to be curbing the number of serious injuries due to car accidents. In 2018, it was reported that serious injuries due to car accidents were also down.

The federal automobile safety standards seem to be doing their job for consumers, and now have switched a lot of the research focus on how to curtail the damage to the environment. Hopefully, the NHTSA will move forward with the same commitment to the environment that they moved with to make the roads a safer place for consumers.

They seemingly have been off to a great start by mandating those fuel economy standards for new cars. Other areas they are currently looking at to improve safety for the environment including hybrid standards for hybrid cars and electric car standards. The research will continue to ensure safety across the board. The standards, like the standards before them, will evolve as the technology evolves. The federal automobile safety standards are here to stay.

UPDATED 11/18/20

Owning a motor vehicle demands proper maintenances. To achieve this as the owner, you need to ensure it gets automotive services. These are services given by automotive service technicians involving the inspection, repairing, and automobiles’ maintenances. It also entails light trucks that use gasoline or fuels such as ethanol.

How to get the top 3 cars to buy

The manufacturing of cars has led to several top new vehicles. Are you looking for the top 3 cars to buy? What makes them the most desired cars? Most people choose to buy a vehicle due to the quality, reliability, and cost of ownership. Most car owners will go top new vehicles to maintain their social class regardless of the cost. Do not be left behind; search from online platforms and car selling agents to get more details on the top three cars to buy. The models keep getting better. Get one of the top new vehicles today.

What is the best place to truck buy and sell?

Are you seeking to truck buy or sell? You can do this at the comfort of your sofa. Whether new or used, there are various websites to use. The best way for used tracks is to channel the sale or purchase through the top used car sales websites to make the process easier and faster.

Car maintenance and repair is a monthly expense that can really add up and go unnoticed. Regularly filling up your tank and getting an oil change are expenses that you likely keep track of in your monthly budget, but you probably overlook the price of ongoing maintenance costs. A vehicle requires regular maintenance over the course of its life and these costs can add up. The simplest solution to cutting down drastically on the price of car maintenance and auto repairs is to fix your own car. According to a recent survey, an estimated 77 percent of automobiles were in need of repairs and maintenance. With this guide and some simple tools and car parts you can purchase online, you can fix your own car without ever having to visit a mechanic.

This guide will include minor repairs and ways you can fix your own car at home. For all other major repairs, including replacing the suspension, transmission, or engine and cylinders, visit an auto repair shop that is equipped to handle these major repairs.

Buying Tools and Car Parts

Every make or model vehicle is different, but almost all cars have basic nuts and bolts, even vehicles made in foreign countries. You can make the most common repairs with just a few simple tools. You will need a torque wrench, adjustable wrench, pliers, ratchet and socket set, a flat head and Phillips head screwdriver, and a jack, which is generally included with your vehicle. When buying tools, opt for durable tools with hefty handles and a good grip. If you can make simple repairs around the home, such as a garage door, you probably have all the tools and skills you need to start making simple repairs to your car.

If you are replacing a part in your vehicle, you will need to buy it from an auto parts shop online. Simply enter your vehicle’s make, model, and year into a form on the site and then search for the specific part you need. If you do not know the name of the part, you should be able to find a number on the part itself. If you cannot find a number, head to a local parts shop and ask for some expert advice. Depending on the year, make, and model, every vehicle’s parts will be slightly different. Make sure you have all this information correct to ensure that you get the correct part that matches your vehicle. Once you receive your part, keep your receipt in case it does not fit your vehicle or something goes wrong.

Changing Brake Pads

Changing brake pads is a fairly inexpensive and simple procedure that specialty brake and auto repair shops will charge a few hundred dollars for. These shops will have you believe changing brake pads is difficult so they can make a lot of money off the simple procedure. In reality, replacing brake pads is a task you can do yourself, one that is also a lot easier than changing those old fashioned drum brake shoes. For this task, you will need a few basic wrenches, including a wheel lug wrench, pliers, a jack, and a set of jack stands. Never attempt to change brake pads or go under your car for any reason unless you have reliable jack stands. A jack on its own is not sufficient since it can fail.

A new set of brake pads cost approximately 20 to 40 dollars, depending on the material of the pad and your vehicle’s make, model, and year. The industry average for an auto repair or specialty brake shop to replace brake pads is 250 dollars per axle. The difference is about how much you can save if you fix your own car. To begin this procedure, remove the wheel and the hardware to gain access to the brake pads. Remove the worn pads by pulling them out. To install the new set, push in the caliper piston, insert the new brake pads, and reinstall the hardware.

Even if this is your first time installing new brake pads on all four wheels, the job should take no more than one hour. The newly installed brake pads should last anywhere between 30,000 to 50,000 miles. However, you should check your brake pads every 10,000 miles. When the thickness of the brake pad wears down to below 2 to 3 millimeters, that means it is time for another replacement. If your vehicle has old fashioned drum shoes, brake services will be able to replace them for you.

Changing the Battery

People will often head to their mechanic or auto repair shop when they need their car battery replaced. However, it may surprise you to know that replacing your car battery is one of the easiest ways you can fix your own car. Since car batteries generally last anywhere from four to six years, you should have a general idea of when your current battery will need to be replaced. If you are unsure how old your car battery is, the date is usually stamped on it. It is not recommended to wait until your car battery starts to cause issues to replace it. Since you could end up stranded on the side of the road with a dead battery, it is best to get out ahead and replace the battery before this happens.

The price of a new car battery costs an average of 80 dollars, although prices vary drastically based on your vehicle’s year, make, and model. Regardless of the price of the battery, many auto dealers charge customers over 200 dollars for a battery replacement, even though the task requires minimal labor and tools. For a car battery replacement, all you will need is a basic set of wrenches. The only safety precaution you need to take is to pay careful attention to the order in which you remove and replace the cables. The negative or black cable always needs to be removed first and once the new battery has been installed, the negative cable should be replaced last. If you fail to remove and replace the cables in this order, there is a good chance you will short circuit the red or positive terminal to a grounded part of your vehicle.

Changing the Oil

Your average auto maintenance shop will charge about 30 to 70 dollars to change the oil in your car, while others may charge at much as 90 to 100 dollars, especially if you have a high-end foreign vehicle. Some express oil change shops will advertise oil changes for 15 dollars or under, which is less than you would pay for the oil and filter. However, many hidden fees come with these express oil changes. That price usually guarantees only a set amount of oil, which may not be enough for an engine in a pickup truck or SUV. The oil also may be low grade as opposed to high-grade oils like full synthetic or even a synthetic blend.

Oftentimes, cheap oil changes offered by auto maintenance shops are sold at a loss to attract customers. Once they look under the hood to change the oil, they will try to find additional problems that they can fix, but do not necessarily need immediate attention. All of a sudden, a $15 oil change bill can become thousands in major auto repairs. If you find yourself in this situation, it is highly recommended that you seek a second or third opinion from auto mechanics that you trust.

The best way to avoid inflated or unnecessary oil change fees is to fix your own car. You can buy high-grade synthetic oil and a high-quality filter from a local retail or auto specialist store. You will also need a drain pan, an oil filter wrench, jack, and jack stands. These tools and equipment can be purchased once and last for decades. Changing the oil is slightly different for every car, so do your research before you attempt this task. There are a variety of videos and other resources online that will walk you through the oil changing process step by step in great detail.

While many older vehicles require an oil change every 3000 miles, cars today are designed to go about 10,000 miles in between oil changes. To be sure about how often you should be changing your vehicle’s oil, check the owner’s manual.

Changing Spark Plugs

Replacing your vehicles’ spark plugs is another one of the easiest ways you can fix your own car at home. However, since many cars today are manufactured with extended-life spark plugs that will last for about 100,000 miles, you will rarely have to perform this task, if ever. Although, you should err on the side of caution and check your spark plugs every 30,000 to 40,000 miles.

To change your car’s spark plugs, you will need a spark plug wrench in addition to your basic set of tools. A spark plug wrench usually costs under 10 dollars and will last a lifetime. There are many instructional videos and resources online that will explain how to change your car’s spark plugs. Auto maintenance shops can charge over 300 dollars for a spark plug replacement. Since spark plugs are often about 30 dollars a set, you can save massive amounts of money if you fix your own car at home.

Replacing a Tail Light or Headlight

Responsible car owners should regularly perform a quick inspection of their vehicle’s exterior. This involves walking around the vehicle and checking that all the lights are functioning properly. This simple task is crucial for safety since lights are necessary for providing clear vision and alerting other drivers. If you get caught with your lights not working, you can also incur a traffic ticket, or even worse, cause an accident. Therefore, you should do a walk around inspection about once a month. If you are in an accident because a headlight or tail light was not functioning properly, contact an auto accident attorney.

Any time you find that one or more of your vehicle’s lights are not working, you can easily purchase a replacement and fix your own car. Many repair shops will charge a minimum of 25 to 50 dollars per bulb they replace. When purchasing a replacement, use your old bulb as a reference to make sure you are getting the same model. Another important tip is to never touch the glass bulb with your bare skin. The natural oils on your skin can get on the glass and shorten the lifespan of the bulb. If you are in an auto accident because one of your vehicle’s lights was not working, contact insurance claim lawyers to help you with filing a claim.

Fixing a Chipped Windshield or Paint

Oftentimes, windshields are chipped by rocks and their owners think it is not that big of a deal and ignore it. However, a small chip on your windshield can spread and then cause you to have to replace the entire windshield. A chip or dent in the paint is not as big of a deal, but still an issue you may want to get fixed. Through a process known as paintless dent removal, dents can be removed from the body of your car without the use of paint. If your windshield is chipped, you can fix your own car by purchasing a windshield repair kit online for under 15 dollars. These kits come with a small pin for digging out any loose glass, a part that forms a seal around the chip, and a small device that applies resin into the chip. This simple process will take less than an hour.

If your paint has been chipped, you can fix your own car by doing the auto painting yourself. Begin by cleaning out the chip with water and soap, and then drying it with a soft cloth. Apply some auto polishing compound on the chip and gently rub it in. Next, clean the area with some denatured alcohol and a soft cloth. Finally, you can apply the primer. The best way to apply primer is with the butt end of a paper match. The last step is to apply the paint over the primer.

There is no need to visit a mechanic for every little repair your car needs. You can save hundreds to potentially thousands of dollars a year if you simply fix your own car. With this guide and a few tools you can buy online, you are well on your way to saving big money by doing your own auto repairs.

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With more than 270 million vehicles on the road, there’s little doubt that Americans love driving. That’s especially true in the spring and summer when the weather is nice and millions of Americans travel near and far to camp, fish, boat and engage in dozens of other leisure activities.

Having so many vehicles on the road however, means that there’s high potential for car accident. It’s estimated that there are six million car accidents in the U.S. every year and an average of 102 fatal car accidents each day. It doesn’t matter if you’re driving a small car or a huge SUV; if you’re young or old; if you’re a safe driver or an unsafe driver; car accidents happen all the time and often without warning.

If you’re involved in a car accident, you can experience a range of emotions. You can be angry, scared, sad and in shock. That’s to say nothing of the severity of the accident. While you can easily move on from a small fender bender, other car accidents are more severe and potentially life altering.

While ideally no one wants to be involved in a car accident, it’s important to know what car accident steps to take in the event you are involved in one:

Check Your Condition

The first thing you need to do in your check list of car accident steps to check yourself out. You’re likely in shock from being in an accident, but you need to make sure you’re alright. Even the most minor car accidents can effect a person. If you’re rear ended for example, you might have some whiplash if you were thrown forward in your seat. If it’s a more severe accident, you might have bruises or you might bleeding. If you find that you’re seriously hurt, call 911 immediately.

Get To Safety

Being involved in a car accident can be shocking, but it’s important that you get yourself to safety. If you can, move your car to a safe place such as the road shoulder. If your car can’t be moved for whatever reason, flip on your hazard lights so your car doesn’t get clipped.

It may seem obvious, but you’re also going to want to stop your car and then get out.

Check On Other Parties

It doesn’t matter if you’re at fault for the accident or not, you need to check on the other parties involved. If someone is in need of medical attention, call 911.

Call The Police

Whether you’re in a minor fender bender or a more serious crash, you need to call the police. If you’re wondering why, it’s because having a police report of the incident is invaluable for some of the car accident steps you’re going to need to take going forward, especially when you’re dealing with an insurance company.

When you’re talking to the police, it’s important to note that you need to let the police do the investigating. Talk to the authorities, but don’t admit fault or blame the other party.

Get Information

In the immediate aftermath of a car accident, it’s probably too early to determine whether or not you’re going to need the services of an auto accident attorney, but you need to gather as much information as you can.

What kind of information do you need? In the accident aftermath, you need the following:

• License plate numbers
• Insurance info
• The name of the other party and names of any passengers
• The location of the accident
• Contact information for any witnesses to the accident

File A Claim

One of the most important car accident steps you’ll need to take is filing an insurance claim. Whether you’re a truck driver with commercial auto insurance or just an average Joe with comprehensive car insurance, you need to contact your insurance agent and file a claim.

Taking Legal Action

In the aftermath of a car accident, taking legal action might seem like one of the more drastic car accident steps to take. But if you’ve been injured in an accident or a passenger in your car has been injured, you have grounds to take legal action.

You may wonder why you should seek the services of personal injury attorneys. The simplest answer is that if you’re injured in a car accident, your insurance company can only do so much to help you. Whether you know it or not, some insurance companies are only looking out for their bottom line and you could end up with a settlement that’s much less than you may be entitled to.

With experienced legal help, you can get fair compensation. With that in mind, it’s important to know what exactly you can take legal action for. If you’re seeking damages, you can take legal action for the following:

• Car repairs
• Pain and suffering
• Medical expenses
• The cost of a new car, that is assuming yours is totaled

Bottom line: if your life has been significantly altered by a car accident where you’ve been injured or even had to miss work, a lawyer can review the accident and know how to structure a lawsuit in your favor. Cases like these can be strengthened in your favor if it’s proven the other party engaged in dangerous behavior such as tailgating, drinking and driving, talking on the phone while driving or texting while driving.

If the other party is at fault, especially in cases of drinking and driving, they may hire a DUI defense attorney for legal representation. But if your attorney can prove negligence on the part of the other party, they may end up having to pay some of the costs associated with any settlement you get.

If you are considering legal action, the good news is that a personal injury attorney or motorcycle accident attorney can go to bat for you. They have experience in cases just like yours, they’ll go over all the ins-and-outs of your case and they’ll make sure you get a fair settlement that can help you pay for medical expenses, everyday expenses and help you get back on your feet.

Avoiding An Accident

Obviously there are many car accident steps you can and should take if you get into an accident. But one of the most important steps you can also take is doing your best to avoid an accident at all.

How best to avoid an accident you ask? There are actually many ways you do this:

• Be aware of traffic: As a driver you already know about the importance of paying attention to traffic. But to avoid car accidents, take extra care when it comes to traffic. Check your blind spots, look in all directions at intersections and pay attention to all road signs.
• Be careful at lights: We all know it’s important to stop at red lights. But It’s also important to watch for red light runners or people trying to goose it through yellow lights. If you do stop at a red light, wait a second or two after the light turns green to avoid potential collisions.
• Pay attention: One of the most important car accident steps you can take to avoid an accident altogether is to keep your eyes on the road. Limit—or better off eliminate—any distractions such as cell phones, music players or eating and drinking. Taking your eyes off the road for even a few seconds can have potentially disastrous consequences.
• Look ahead: When you took driver’s training as a teen, you likely learned about the importance of scanning ahead as you drive. It’s recommended that you can 10-12 seconds ahead and make sure you’re far enough from the cars around you in case you need to swerve or brake suddenly.
• Don’t tailgate: It’s also recommended that you leave about a three-second cushion between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you. Speeding and tailgating aren’t going to get you where you’re going any faster. Tailgating doesn’t help anyone and you’ll likely end up in an auto collision body repair shop to repair your front end or fix your front bumper if you’re riding too close. Repair shops can do great work to make your car look as good as new, but it’s best to also be courteous on the road.

Fixing Your Car

Among the car accident steps you’ll have to take if you’re involved in accident, one of them is figuring out how to get your car fixed if it’s damaged.

The first thing you’ll need to do is make a claim with your insurance company. Once that’s done and your claim is processed, you’ll likely be giving a list of auto repair and body shops you can go to to have your car repaired. If you’ve got towing as part of your insurance, you can even have your car towed from the scene of the accident.

For whichever body shop you go to, they will look at the damage and determine what can be done with your car. In some cases, your car may declared totaled. But in many cases, a shop will be able to get your car ready for the road again. If you need diesel repair to fix your pickup or semi-truck, an auto body shop will get it up and running. Likewise, a collision will be able to make essential repairs like an auto brake repair, so you’re not taking any risks on the road.

Regardless of the repairs that are made, at the end of it all you should end up paying is whatever your insurance deductible is—roughly $500 or $600 depending on your insurance plan.

Getting A New Car

If your car is totaled as a result of an accident, the last of the important car accident steps to make is to get yourself a new ride. If your car is totaled, you will more than likely get a check from your insurance company for the value of the car relative to its condition and value in the Kelly Blue Book.

If you’re in the market for a new car, these tips can help you find the perfect ride:

Get A Car You Need

You might have your eye on a Salvage Dodge Viper for sale in a local used car lot, but that may not be the best choice. Maybe you need something with good gas mileage or something big enough to accommodate your family. The key is to prioritize need over want and also get something that fits your budget.

Research

In any case of shopping for a car, you want to get the most bang for your buck. That’s why it pays to do some research before you buy. Let’s say you live in an area with harsh winters and you want a vehicle with four wheel transmission, more commonly known as four-wheel drive. Having a vehicle with four wheel drive can help you have better control on the road and by doing some research into local dealerships you can find the right vehicle with all the specs you’re looking for.

Consider Your Options

If you’re in the market for a new car, the important thing to remember is that you have choices. That includes the choice of whether to buy a used car or a new car. A new car might sound enticing, but you can get a used car with decent mileage for an affordable price. It really just depends on your needs and what you’re willing to spend.

By following these tips and taking the right car accident steps, you’ll know just what to do in the event of an accident. Regardless of the nature of your accident, you’ll be able to take legal action (if necessary), properly file an insurance claim, deal with an auto body collision repair shop and ultimately by a new car in the event that you need one.

No one wants to be involved in a car accident, but the fact is that they happen all the time. By knowing what to do and how to act in the event of an accident, you’ll make the process much easier for yourself and everyone else involved.