DIY Car Scratch Removers: Do They Really Work?

Paintless dent repair gets your vehicle back into good physical health in a quick, easy, and affordable way. Sometimes things can happen, such as backing into an obstacle, getting into a fender bender, or, in some cases, dents can even just seem to magically appear. Whatever the cause, dents in your vehicle don’t look so great, and they can negatively impact the value of your vehicle if you were considering selling or trading-in. But what is paintless dent repair exactly? How does it differ from your run-of-the-mill dent repair? When should you opt for one and not the other? In this paintless dent repair overview, we’ll look at what you can expect from the service at a collision repair center and when it’s right to choose paintless dent repair. Let’s dive in. more What is Paintless Dent Repair? Without getting too technical, the one main thing you need to know about dent removal is that it hinges on the metal’s “memory.” In other words, assuming the metal hasn’t been bent out of shape too much or for too long, it can revert to its original state and shape. When the dent or ding isn’t too severe, the auto body repair shop will coax the metal back to how it should be. Sometimes this is done by accessing the dent from the other side (aka, the interior of the vehicle) or by using a suction tool to “pop” the dent out. And that’s it. Simple as that. No pounding, grinding, or sanding. And then, no need for a paint application to cover up the cosmetic damage, hence the name “paintless dent repair.” When Should I Choose Paintless Dent Repair? In Kansas City, we’ll sometimes get hailstorms, and those little nuggets plummeting back to Earth are key culprits of dents and dings in vehicles. If you have kids in your neighborhood, you might notice a ding that’s suspiciously the size of a football. Regardless, if you find dents on larger pieces of the vehicle’s body, such as the doors, hood, or roof, paintless dent repair is a quick and affordable option to get the dings out. When Do I Need Traditional Dent Repair? When dents and damage to the vehicle are more severe, or the paint has cracked in the dent or around it, you may need to opt for traditional dent repair over paintless dent repair. They’ll need to hammer out the metal to get it back into shape, grind, and sand the area down to have a fresh canvas to apply new paint. Because of the extra labor involved, this process is a bit more costly. However, at McCarthy Collision centers, we make it as affordable as possible and offer service specials to help you save. Choose McCarthy for Paintless Dent Repair If your car has a few dents and dings, bring it to our collision center to see if it’s eligible for paintless dent repair. Our expert technicians understand vehicle repair and dent removal and can help get your car, truck, or SUV back into tip-top shape. Contact us today to find the McCarthy Collision Center near you.

There’s nothing quite like the call of the open road. You go where you want, you see the sights along the way, and you have your choice of entertainment as you go. There’s just one thing—wouldn’t it put a damper on your big journey if your vehicle broke down on the way? Road trips are one of the last great expressions of freedom. So, why wouldn’t you want to ensure your freedom is safe from car troubles as you go? In this long road trip car maintenance checklist, we’ll go over how to prep your car for a road trip to avoid any unwanted service center stops. Read on to learn the long road trip car maintenance tips to ensure smooth sailing. more Get an Oil Change When you neglect to get an oil change for too long, sludge builds up in your engine, and the parts don’t get the proper lubrication. Without the proper lubrication, too much friction occurs. When too much friction occurs, the engine will overwork and overheat, and when overheating occurs, your road trip can be cut short very quickly. Be sure to check your service records to make sure you have plenty of miles before your next oil change is due. Check Your Tires Naturally, a deflated or flat tire will put a halt to the road trip immediately. However, ignoring warning signs about your tires will lead to repairs on the road. Firstly, make sure there aren’t any slow leaks or bubbles in your tires. Secondly, ensure that your tire tread is still in good shape. If your tread is looking low, you should consider tire replacement to avoid flats or blowouts. Change Your Filters Since you’ll be spending so much time in the car, you’ll want to be able to breathe comfortably. You’ll also want to check your engine filter to make sure that dust and debris don’t get into the engine to muck things up. When you bring your car to your local Kansas City service center, be sure to have the technician inspect your filters. Inspect Your Brakes As important as it is for your car to move forward, you need to make sure your vehicle can safely come to a complete stop too. If you’ve noticed a squeaking or, worse yet, a grinding sound when braking, it’s time for brake replacement. You don’t want your wheels damaged from metal-on-metal when brake pads are worn or worse yet, getting into an accident because you couldn’t stop in time. Replace Your Wipers and Lights A safe ride is a happy ride, and being able to properly see through any time of day, night, or weather is vital to a safe trip. You can’t guarantee you won’t run into rain on your drive, so it’s good to have fresh wipers to keep your windshield clear. You also may end up driving when it’s dark, so lights are just as important. They’re quick and easy to replace, so you should. Service Your Car at McCarthy Collision Centers Set yourself up for success on your next road trip by bringing your vehicle to your local McCarthy Collision Center location. Our experts know vehicles inside and out and can get your car, truck, or SUV back to road-ready in no time at all. Call us today to schedule service to get your vehicle like new again for your next adventure: Blue Springs, MO: 816-224-7575 Lee's Summit, MO: 816-313-4533 Olathe, KS: 913-324-7300 Overland Park, KS: 913-649-2999

An accident is a stressful, harrowing, and terrifying experience every time it happens. Whether it’s a moderate fender bender, a collision when your vehicle was parked, or a major crash, one of the biggest concerns once your nerves have settled is whether your vehicle is all right. Will you need dent repair? Is it worth saving? It’s never a good feeling to find out your car, truck, or SUV is totaled, but the waiting can often make matters worse. However, there are a few ways to accurately guess the diagnosis. If you don’t want to ask yourself, “Is my car totaled?” after an accident, this guide is here to help. Read on to learn how to determine if your car is totaled. more What Makes a Car Totaled? Say you’ve been in an accident. Your car’s current value is around $5,000. If the cost to repair the vehicle is less than that number, assuming you have auto insurance with collision coverage, you’ll receive a check for the repairs. If the cost of repair is more than your vehicle’s value, then your insurance company will likely claim the vehicle totaled. It’s important to research your insurance policy to see if there’s any difference in its definition of totaled. Some states and insurance companies will use a percentage threshold to claim your car is totaled (for example, if the repairs cost 80% of the vehicle’s book value). They may also claim the car is totaled if it’s unsafe to drive and unfit for the road, even if it were fixed. How to Determine if My Car is Totaled If your vehicle sustained excessive damage to the front end, there’s a strong likelihood your vehicle will be considered totaled due to the fact that most of the crucial components are housed there. Damage to your frame is another incredibly expensive and difficult-to-repair part of your vehicle and will likely result in a totaled diagnosis. Heavy leaks from the brakes, coolant, transmission, or any other part under the hood may not necessarily mean your vehicle is totaled, but you may want to plan for the news that it’s totaled. When the engine won’t start after a collision, it’s never a good sign. Engines are (naturally) some of the most expensive components to a vehicle, and if yours is damaged, your insurance company will likely claim the vehicle is totaled. While there is a chance your vehicle isn’t totaled despite any of the examples above, there’s one (almost) surefire way to tell if your vehicle will be considered totaled: fire damage. Top 3 FAQs About Totaled Vehicles Is My Car Totaled? If the cost of repairs exceeds (or in some cases comes close to) the current value of your vehicle, or if it would be deemed unsafe to drive after repairs, your insurance company will likely consider it totaled. How Much Will Insurance Pay for My Totaled Car? If the car is claimed totaled, the insurance company will send you a check for your car’s pre-accident value. What Happens When Your Car is Totaled but Still Drivable? If your vehicle could be repaired, but your insurance company has deemed it totaled, it is, in fact, totaled. You can either sell it to the insurance company for your payout, or choose to keep it and be given a salvaged title. This increases the difficulty of insuring the vehicle, trading it in, or selling it, so choose carefully. Trust McCarthy Collision Centers If you’ve been in an accident or need repairs to your vehicle, bring it to one of our McCarthy Collision Center locations for fast, easy, and affordable service. From oil changes to insurance claim assistance, we work with you to reduce stress when you need your vehicle repaired. Contact us today for more information or to get your vehicle back into road-ready shape.