When Are Your Car Repairs Covered by Car Insurance?
It’s important to be prepared in the unfortunate event of a car accident or if your vehicle suffers damage in some way and needs auto body repair. Knowing what your insurance will cover when it comes to collision repair is essential to this preparation. Check out the guide below to get more information on what your insurance policy may cover.
When Are Your Car Repairs Covered by Car Insurance?
Collision Repair
One of the most common causes of serious damage to a vehicle is a collision. Whether the damage is caused by colliding with another vehicle or from obstacles such as trees or telephone poles, a collision coverage policy can typically help cover the repairs needed to get your vehicle back into working order.
It’s vital to note that collision coverage insurance is considered optional. However, if you finance or lease your vehicle, the dealership or lender may require you to seek this type of insurance as a way of protecting their stake in the vehicle.
Damage from Fire
When people think of damage from a fire, they usually think about structure fires that cause catastrophic damage to a home or business. However, the truth is that vehicles are just as vulnerable to damage from fire. Comprehensive insurance coverage policies for vehicles typically include coverage for fire damage.
Theft or Vandalism Auto Body Repair
While you hope it never happens to you, malicious people may damage your vehicle when attempting to steal from it or simply vandalize property. The vehicle itself may be stolen in some rare cases as well. Comprehensive insurance coverage for your vehicle can help cover the repairs you need so that you can get back on the road in a timely manner.
Other Covered Events
Comprehensive insurance policies may also include coverage for a variety of other events that might damage your vehicle. For instance, these policies often include coverage for damage caused by natural disasters or damage caused by animals. Consult with your insurance provider to learn more about what your specific policy covers and to get additional coverage if you feel it’s necessary.
Looking for repairs for your vehicle? Our experienced team of technicians has the skills needed to get your vehicle back to its best shape. Reach out to Zimbrick Body Shop today and let us help you get back on the road!
Deer are especially active at this time of the year, making it important to stay alert and take steps to mitigate the risks. A collision with a deer could result in needing auto glass repair or auto glass replacement along with general body work. Reduce the risk of needing these repairs by following these deer safety tips. Come by Zimbrick Body Shop if your car crosses paths with a herd to let our technicians assess and repair any damage.
Deer Collision Season: How to Stay Safe on the Road
Keep Alert and Attentive
This tip goes for any driving situation, but when you’re driving during deer season, you need to stay especially alert. Don’t let distractions such as loud music or your cell phone take your attention off the road. If you start feeling yourself getting drowsy while you’re driving, pull over for a moment until you feel alert enough to drive safely.
Use Your Headlights Properly
Headlights allow you to see in dark and low-visibility conditions, making them an invaluable asset in spotting deer before they become a danger to you and your passengers. Make sure to turn your headlights on when you’re driving after dark or in weather conditions that limit your visibility. This will help you spot deer earlier so that you have more time to react appropriately.
Watch for the Rest of the Herd
When you see one deer, there’s almost certainly going to be more around. These animals travel in herds, so more deer are likely to follow the one you see crossing the road. Take it slow and watch for additional deer once the way is clear before continuing on ahead.
Get Auto Glass Repair and Auto Glass Replacement
If the worst-case scenario does occur and you have a collision with a deer, one of the most common repairs needed besides door and fender repairs will be a replacement for your windshield or other windows. It’s important to take care of these repairs promptly as driving with broken glass parts of your vehicle adds more danger to the drive.
Following this advice will help you steer clear of the risk that deer pose to drivers. In the event that you are involved in a collision with a deer, come to us to get the repairs you need. Come see us at Zimbrick Body Shop today!
When Are Your Car Repairs Covered by Car Insurance?
It’s important to be prepared in the unfortunate event of a car accident or if your vehicle suffers damage in some way and needs auto body repair. Knowing what your insurance will cover when it comes to collision repair is essential to this preparation. Check out the guide below to get more information on what your insurance policy may cover.
When Are Your Car Repairs Covered by Car Insurance?
Collision Repair
One of the most common causes of serious damage to a vehicle is a collision. Whether the damage is caused by colliding with another vehicle or from obstacles such as trees or telephone poles, a collision coverage policy can typically help cover the repairs needed to get your vehicle back into working order. It’s vital to note that collision coverage insurance is considered optional. However, if you finance or lease your vehicle, the dealership or lender may require you to seek this type of insurance as a way of protecting their stake in the vehicle.
Damage from Fire
When people think of damage from a fire, they usually think about structure fires that cause catastrophic damage to a home or business. However, the truth is that vehicles are just as vulnerable to damage from fire. Comprehensive insurance coverage policies for vehicles typically include coverage for fire damage.Theft or Vandalism Auto Body Repair
While you hope it never happens to you, malicious people may damage your vehicle when attempting to steal from it or simply vandalize property. The vehicle itself may be stolen in some rare cases as well. Comprehensive insurance coverage for your vehicle can help cover the repairs you need so that you can get back on the road in a timely manner.Other Covered Events
Comprehensive insurance policies may also include coverage for a variety of other events that might damage your vehicle. For instance, these policies often include coverage for damage caused by natural disasters or damage caused by animals. Consult with your insurance provider to learn more about what your specific policy covers and to get additional coverage if you feel it’s necessary. Looking for repairs for your vehicle? Our experienced team of technicians has the skills needed to get your vehicle back to its best shape. Reach out to Zimbrick Body Shop today and let us help you get back on the road!When is a Windshield Replacement Necessary?
Your windshield is on your vehicle’s first line of defense for debris, adverse weather conditions, and other hazards. As such, windshields are quite often damaged and are among the leading reasons for car insurance claims.
However, sometimes a damaged windshield can be repaired, while other times it requires a full replacement. So how do you know when a windshield can simply be fixed and when a replacement is necessary? Read on to learn more.
When a Windshield Replacement is Necessary
Below are a few instances in which a damaged windshield may be beyond the point of basic car window repair and a replacement might be necessary.
When the Glass is Tempered
Tempered glass is much stronger than regular glass and is often used for car windows and windshields. However, when tempered glass does break, it tends to shatter into tiny pieces, necessitating a windshield replacement.
Some windshields are made of laminated glass. While not as strong as tempered glass, laminated glass tends to stick together when it breaks and can often be repaired.
When a Crack or Chip is Too Large
Cracks that are shorter than the length of a dollar bill can typically be repaired, along with chips that are smaller than a quarter. But any damage larger than those parameters has likely jeopardized the integrity of the windshield and a replacement is usually necessary.
It’s advised to repair cracks and chips early, as hot temperatures can cause cracks or chips to expand in size and turn a fixable windshield into one that needs replacing.
When There Are Too Many Cracks or Chips
A single crack or chip on a windshield can usually be fixed. But, if you have three or more separate cracks or chips on your windshield, it may be time for a replacement. A windshield can only take so much damage before it loses its ability to withstand future impacts.
Hail is a common culprit among windshields with multiple chips and is a big reason for auto glass replacement or repair.
When the Damage is Near an Edge
Damage that occurs near the edge of a windshield often compromises the overall integrity of the glass and may not be safe to repair.
The Damage Runs Too Deep
Windshields are made of two layers of glass. Cracks or chips that only penetrate the outer layer of glass have a higher chance of being repaired than ones that penetrate both layers.
Schedule Your Windshield Repair or Replacement
Whether your windshield needs to be replaced or can be repaired, our auto body repair shop in Madison, WI can help. Schedule your appointment today for auto glass repair or replacement or contact us with any questions about your windshield. Our team of expert technicians will work tirelessly to get your vehicle looking like new again.
How to Fix Hail Damage and Small Dents
Hail damage and other small dents are an almost inevitable part of car ownership. But that doesn’t mean you have to accept these cosmetic blemishes.
Paintless dent repair can flatten out the surface of your vehicle and smooth out your ride. Learn how paintless dent repair works and how it can fix your vehicle’s damage, dents, and dings.
What is Paintless Dent Repair?
Paintless dent repair is a process by which a technician accesses the dented area from behind, which can be through a window, by removing panels of the body or by other methods. Once the back of the dent has been reached, the technician uses a special tool to massage the dent’s outer edges back into position. The damaged area gradually gets smaller and smoother until eventually disappearing entirely.
What Are the Benefits of Paintless Dent Repair?
Paintless dent repair comes with a number of advantages over other repair methods including:
Cost
No body filler, sanding or repainting is needed, so paintless dent repair is generally cheaper than alternative options.
Convenience
Paintless dent repair can typically be done much quicker than more conventional dent removal methods and you can be in and out and back on the road without too much interruption to your schedule.
Value Retention
Vehicles that still have their original paint job with no major body work performed generally retain a larger portion of their value.
Color Matching
Since there’s no need to apply new paint, there’s no concerns about color matching or leaving the shop with a noticeable difference in the damaged area.
When Can Paintless Dent Repair Be Used?
Paintless dent repair can be used to fix most dents. Exceptions are dents with very sharp edges or torn metal, dents with paint damage, dents that are near the edge of a panel and dents in areas that have had previous bodywork done.
In such cases, a different method may be used to repair your dent.
Where Can Paintless Dent Repair be Performed?
Here at Zimbrick Body Shop you’ll find a team of technicians who are highly trained, skilled, and experienced in performing paintless dent repair. And if the damage to your car is too big for paintless dent removal to handle, we can take care of it using other methods.
Make an appointment with our team today. We’ll get you a speedy estimate.
We are among the leaders in paintless dent repair and other body work service in the Madison, WI area, proudly serving Sun Prairie, Middleton, and surrounding communities. Contact your nearest Zimbrick Body Shop today to learn more about our paintless dent repair service and how we can help smooth things over with your car.
Windshield cracks happen, often at the worst possible times. While they may seem devestating, they are fairly normal and commonly seen when driving on highways or gravel-heavy rural roads. Even though they’re commonplace, it’s never recommended that you continue driving your vehicle with a cracked windshield. While its easy to ignore, it could set you back thousands of dollars in injuries and fees. Read on to learn why you should consider auto glass replacement as soon as possible if you notice that your windshield is cracked.
You could be ticketed for the lack of repair
Highway patrol officers are able to pull you over and write you a “fix it ticket” if you do not have your vehicle fixed, as this could pose a risk to you and to other drivers. This can bring even more unnecessary expense and hassle to the maintenance situation, as you’ll often have to submit proof to the court or another third party before you can continue to use the vehicle. Failure to do this process can result in more fines and fees.
You can rack up cost with additional injuries
If you choose to avoid windshield replacement or windshield repair, you might get lucky and avoid further injury. However, your windshield can crack or shatter completely with the slightest dent or nick from gravel or road debris. Plus, you can run up a high medical bill for any injury associated with shatter or puncture of your window. This can be devastating in the result of a crash, especially if the driver is unsecured.
You could be susceptible to robbery or theft
A cracked window can make your vehicle a bigger target for robbery or theft, thanks to the already-present weakness in your car’s defenses. Fixing your windshield as soon as possible can help you to reduce the overall risk.
Auto body repair shops and dealerships have service packages to help you address the risks that a cracked windshield can bring. The pros at Zimbrick Automotive are here to help you address any windshield repair or maintenance you need to drive safely. For more information, please visit our website or schedule repair service online. We look forward to connecting with you soon!
Wet Weather Driving Tips
Driving on slick streets or through heavy downpours can elevate hazards and increase your travel risk. Many drivers slow down any time it’s raining, just as a matter of instinct. In truth, there are a number of steps you can take to stay safe when driving in wet weather.
Tips for Safe Driving Through Wet Weather
Consider a few guidelines:
● Keep your car in good condition. First and foremost, be sure your windshield is cleaned, and your wipers are in good working order. Double check your wiper fluid once a week, refilling as needed. Also conduct regular inspections of headlights and taillights; if you notice any problems, schedule a service appointment ASAP.
● Consider your route. Before you hit the road through wet weather, pause to think through the route as best you can. If your path will take you over a bridge or through areas where flooding is common, try to think of alternate paths.
● Slow your pace. The instinct to slow down in wet weather is a good one. As a good rule of thumb, you should maintain about five seconds of following distance between you and the car ahead of you.
● Avoid driving through deep water. If the markings on the road are covered by water, that’s a clear indication that it’s too deep to drive through. Going through even a couple of inches of water may cause you to lose control.
● Steer where you want to go. Even if you find yourself hydroplaning, it’s important to turn the steering wheel in the direction you want to go. It may take two or three adjustments to get back on track, which can be scary, but stay calm!
● Abstain from unnecessary trips. Sometimes you get stuck in sudden rainfall, and that’s unavoidable. But if you know there are storms forecasted and you can put off your travel, that’s always the best.
For Any Collision Repair Contact Zimbrick Body Shop
These tips can help you enhance your safety as you drive, but accidents can happen even to the most vigilant motorists.
If you own a luxury vehicle, you know it’s an exceptional vehicle and you’ll do all you can to keep it looking great. Unfortunately, life can be unpredictable, and eventually, you may encounter a situation that leads to a cracked windshield or a dented bumper. When that happens, you’ll be happy to know that there is a dedicated collision center that can assist with your car. You can trust that only the most qualified hands will be working to bring your exceptional vehicle back to its original factory condition and get you back on the road. Read on to find out more about how Zimbrick Body Shop can help.
Why Zimbrick Body Shop is a Premier Collision Center
For luxury car owners in the greater Madison, WI region, Zimbrick Body Shop is the top choice for your collision repair needs. We are a fully staffed service center filled with a team of highly-trained service technicians. We’re Manufacturer Certified in collision repair for a variety of high-end brands, including Acura, Audi, BMW, Infiniti and Mercedes-Benz. Our Stoughton Road location is also a favorite of Porsche owners as we have some of the most advanced frame alignment in the state of Wisconsin and a technician with almost 30 years of experience repairing Porsches.
Being manufacturer certified means our technicians have access to training, specialized tools and parts lookup based on your vehicle VIN. The manufacturer also supplies certified shops with repair procedures and all OEM parts. We also are manufacturer certified to repair Buick, Chevrolet, GMC, Honda, Hyundai, MINI, Nissan and Volkswagen.
Paintless Dent Repair
It can be very frustrating coming out of a store and seeing a dent in your luxury car due to a careless driver or an errant shopping cart. Luckily, we offer all kinds of minor paintless dent repair so that you won’t be subjected to these dings and dents for too long.
Paint Jobs
Scuffs and scratches can affect the overall beauty of your luxury car. Whether it is small, or a more serious damage, we can make it right. To get that nice uniform finish back, bring your vehicle in to us to get a perfect color match.
Glass Repair
Breaks and cracks in the windows of your car can happen at any moment, whether it’s due to severe cold weather, a pebble hitting your windshield, or something else. It’s better to have auto glass fixed by a professional service sooner rather than later — before the damage grows. We offer rock chip repair, front windshield replacement, rear view mirror replacement, back glass replacement, and more auto glass services.
Bring Your Luxury Car to Zimbrick Body Shop in Madison, WIReady to have your luxury car serviced by a team of experienced and knowledgeable repair experts? Then we encourage you to reach out to us at Zimbrick Body Shop today with any questions or to schedule a collision repair. We’ll work with you to restore your car to its original condition.
Find Out the Leading Causes of Car Dents
| Isn’t it frustrating to come out to your car and find a new ding or dent? Unfortunately, these dent-causing incidents aren’t uncommon, and it’s likely you may find yourself in situations where your car can potentially be damaged. Here are just five of the most common causes of dents so you know how to protect your vehicle in the future. Inclement Weather If you park your car outside, then you can experience dents and dings as a result of inclement weather, such as hail, sleet, and even intense rainstorms. If you want to avoid such incidents, it’s a good idea to invest in a car cover or to park inside a garage or under an awning. Other Cars When you park next to another car, it’s possible that they may open their door too wide and ding your vehicle. You can minimize this risk by parking away from other cars whenever possible. Grocery Carts After you’ve done your shopping, you may return your cart to the corral. Unfortunately, not everyone does the same, and it’s common to see rogue shopping carts rolling through the parking lot. In some instances, these carts can actually run into a car and leave a nasty dent. If you’re afraid of this happening, it’s a good idea to park as far uphill as you can. Falling Objects Have you ever parked underneath a tree? If so, not only have you possibly experienced bird droppings on your car, but you may also have squirrels dropping acorns and branches. Although they are small, they can still cause dings and dents. Try to avoid parking under a tree to minimize such annoyances. Tight Parking Spots Even if there aren’t any other cars around, your own car can still be dented in tight parking spots, such as those in parking garages. Make sure to give yourself a wide berth when getting into or pulling out of a tight parking spot so that you don’t accidentally scratch or dent your car. Have Your Car Serviced or Repaired at Zimbrick Body Shop Has your car been the victim of a dent or ding and you want to have them buffed out? If so, then you should bring your car into one of our collision centers in Madison, Wisconsin. We specialize in paintless dent repair as well as paintless dent removal, so we can make your car look outstanding in no time. Schedule an appointment at your earliest convenience, we’ll be happy to assist. |
What to Do if Your Car’s Paint Gets a Deep Scratch
No matter how careful you are, or how hard you work to maintain a pristine vehicle, scrapes and scratches can happen. For example, your car’s paint job may be compromised by a simple fender bender, or even by an accident as you pull out of your own garage.
Naturally, you’ll want to buff out that scratch and get your car looking like new again. Alas, it’s not always so simple. Depending on the depth of the scratch, you may need to visit a professional car paint shop. This is especially true of deep scratches that penetrate all the way down to the metal.
How to Fix a Scratch in Your Vehicle’s Paint
For shallower or more superficial scratches, it may be possible to achieve a DIY fix. Here are some steps we recommend at our car paint shop in Madison, WI:
● Clean the area. Before you do anything else, be careful to wash the surrounding area, ensuring that you do not accidentally get any dust or debris lodged in the scratch or under the new coat of paint.
● Try a scratch repair kit. There are a number of DIY repair kits on the market today, all of which are of varied quality. Stop by your local auto store and ask which kit they would recommend, then follow the directions provided.
● Apply a rubbing compound. For shallow scratches, you may wish to try a liquid scratch remover. Apply a dollop to a microfiber cloth, then rub it into the affected area.
● Cover the scratch with touch-up paint. If you’re successful in minimizing the appearance of the scratch, you may want to apply some touch-up paint to further conceal it.
● Schedule an appointment with a car paint shop. If the scratch goes all the way through to the metal, you may need to have a professional help you out. Make an appointment with a trusted car paint shop in your town.
Contact Our Zimbrick Body Shop in Madison WI
We are proud to offer a number of car painting services to help keep your car looking brand new. To schedule a service appointment, reach out to our body shop at your convenience.
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