The Collision Truth: Why Your Choice of Shop Matters If you’ve ever been in a fender bender or a major accident, you’ve likely heard a well-meaning friend say, “Just take it to any body shop, they’re all the same.” It sounds convenient, but let’s bust that myth right now: not all body shops are created…
Insurance Steering: It’s Illegal , and the #1 Way to Stop It Your car is one of your most significant investments. When an accident happens, you expect your insurance company to help you restore that investment to its pre-loss condition. Unfortunately, many drivers encounter a deceptive tactic known as insurance steering. What Exactly is Insurance…
Should You Fix Your Own Car After an At-Fault Accident? If you have been in an accident and you are at fault, your insurance is likely already stepping in to cover the other driver’s vehicle repairs. But what about your own car? Many drivers hesitate to move forward with repairs for their own vehicle, even…
Why You Must Call 911 After a Minor Car Accident Car accidents are incredibly stressful, even when they seem minor. Perhaps it was just a fender bender in a parking lot or a small tap at a red light. If there are no obvious injuries and little visible damage, you might wonder: do you really…
The First Thing to Do After an Accident: Safety Comes First Accidents happen in the blink of an eye. One moment you are navigating traffic, and the next, you are gripping the steering wheel in the aftermath of a collision. Whether you experience a minor fender bender or a high-impact crash, your immediate actions dictate…
Car Care FAQs: Professional Dent Repair Solutions Minor dents and dings are an inevitable part of vehicle ownership. Whether a stray shopping cart hit your door or a sudden hailstorm caught you off guard, these small imperfections can ruin your car’s aesthetic. More importantly, they can decrease its resale value. The good news is that…
What is Diminished Value and What Can I Do About It? You just picked up your car from the shop. The paint shines, the engine purrs, and the body panels align perfectly. However, even with a flawless repair, your vehicle is technically worth less than it was the day before the accident. At Sharp Auto…
What Happens When a Car Is Declared a Total Loss? Dealing with a car accident is stressful enough, but hearing the word “totaled” adds a new layer of complexity. Many drivers assume a total loss means the car is completely unrepairable. In reality, it is a financial calculation made by your insurance provider. At Sharp…
Protect Your Shine: The Ultimate Guide to Car Paint Care Your car’s paint does more than just look good under the sun. It acts as a primary shield against the elements, guarding the metal body against rust and structural corrosion. However, maintaining that showroom glow requires more than an occasional rinse. In this guide, we…
How to Save Money on Gas: Understanding the Summer Price Surge Every year, as the temperature climbs, so do gas prices. It’s a pattern most drivers dread but have come to expect. While seeing those numbers jump at the pump is frustrating, several economic and environmental factors explain the shift. The surge in summer gas…
Plastic Bumper Winter Damage Winter weather demands more than just winter tires; it requires an understanding of how freezing temperatures affect your vehicle’s bodywork. While modern plastic bumper covers offer lightweight efficiency and cost-effective styling, they face unique challenges when the thermometer drops. At Sharp Auto Body, we see a significant increase in bumper damage…
Hit by Substandard Insurance? What You Need to Know Getting into a car accident is stressful enough, but the situation becomes even more complex when the at-fault driver carries substandard insurance. Understanding how these companies operate is the first step toward protecting your vehicle and your wallet. What is a Substandard Insurance Company? A substandard…
Why One Auto Repair Estimate Is Enough Getting into a car accident is stressful enough without adding more tasks to your to-do list. Shortly after a collision, your insurance company might suggest that you “shop around” for multiple repair estimates to ensure “fair pricing.” While this sounds like helpful advice on the surface, it is…
The Deadly Cost of Distracted Driving Driving requires your full attention, yet thousands of people lose their lives every year because of a split-second distraction. At Sharp Auto Body, we see the aftermath of these accidents every day. While we take pride in restoring your vehicle, we prioritize your safety above all else. Understanding the…
Road Debris Dangers: How to Protect Your Vehicle Road debris represents a significant hazard that transforms a routine drive into a dangerous gamble. Whether you encounter a shredded tire, a stray nail, or fallen cargo, these obstacles appear without warning. Consequently, drivers often have only split seconds to react. Understanding these risks is crucial for…
The Ultimate Safety Feature: Why Driver Awareness Still Rules the Road Automotive manufacturers today pack vehicles with an incredible array of built-in safety features. From automatic emergency braking to lane departure warnings and adaptive cruise control, modern cars act like high-tech bodyguards. However, many drivers fall into a dangerous trap: they believe the car is…
Liability vs. Full Coverage: Which Auto Insurance Protects Your Legacy? Navigating the world of auto insurance often feels like learning a second language. Between the legal jargon and the fine print, many drivers find themselves asking one critical question: Am I actually covered? At Sharp Auto Body, we have seen firsthand how the right insurance…
Mastering the Maze: How to Survive Illinois Construction Zones If you live in Illinois, you know the local joke: we only have two seasons—winter and construction. While neither is particularly pleasant, both are completely unavoidable for local drivers. Navigating a sea of orange cones can be stressful, but your safety (and the safety of the…
Master the Roundabout Flow Roundabouts are efficient intersections, but navigating them can be a little tricky if you’re not used to their unique flow. However, adopting a few key habits can ensure you have a safe and smooth experience every time. Follow these tips to master the roundabout like a pro. Prepare Before You Enter…
Mastering Blind Hazards: Turns and Spots Safe driving requires more than just knowing your vehicle; it demands active awareness of the road’s hidden dangers. Two critical challenges frequently test a driver’s vigilance: blind turns and the ever-present vehicle blind spot. Understanding these hazards and proactively addressing them drastically reduces your risk of an accident.The Danger…
Will I Find a Good or Great Body Shop When Price Shopping? When it comes to getting your car repaired after an accident, price matters—but it shouldn’t be the only thing that matters. It’s understandable to want the best deal, but shopping strictly by price can come with risks. Not all auto body shops are…
Selecting a deductible is one of the most important things to consider when comparing coverage across insurance companies. A high-deductible car insurance policy brings different financial consequences than a policy with a low deductible. What exactly is a deductible? If you file a car insurance claim after an incident, the deductible is the amount you pay…
The Hidden Cost of “Cheap” Insurance: What You Need to Know Before Bundling Auto insurance is mandatory in Illinois—there’s no getting around it. And if you’ve just closed on a new home, congratulations! But you probably also noticed that homeowner’s insurance was another box you had to check before getting those keys in hand. These…
Great cash-saving tips like Avoid prolonged warming up of the engine, even on cold mornings – 30 to 45 seconds is plenty and Avoid “reving” the engine, this wastes fuel needlessly.
Only buy or fill up your car or truck early in the morning when the ground temperature is still cold. Remember that all service stations have their storage tanks buried below ground.
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