What Car Maintenance Should I Do Before a Big Road Trip?

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.

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.

We all love our furry friends, but let's be honest, they don't do your upholstery any favors. Claws wreak havoc on leather and vinyl. Wet noses and tongues muck up the windows. And have you ever tried to get dog hair out of your carpet? Yikes. Still, sometimes leaving your little buddy at home just isn't an option. The good news is that there are plenty of ways to bring pets along for the ride without sacrificing your car's interior. Here's our list of pointers. more Keep Up With Grooming It's important to make sure your dog, cat, or whatever other fuzzball you're transporting isn't going to shed or scratch excessively. Keeping your dog's nails properly trimmed will do wonders to protect the soft surfaces inside the vehicle, especially if you have leather or similar seating material. Once they're scratched or torn, seats can cost hundreds of dollars to fix, so always schedule a nail trimming appointment before you go on a long road trip with Fido. Alternatively, you can buy foolproof nail trimmers that are totally safe to use on your dog, and this will save you tons of money in the long run. Pet hair is notoriously difficult to get out of the nooks and crannies in your car—it can take a professional detailer hours to get the job done properly. If you have a dog or cat that's prone to shedding, there are many products available that can safely get rid of excess undercoat fur. Most groomers offer special de-shedding treatments as well. Transport Pets the Right Way If you spend a lot of time in the car with a dog or cat, it's never a bad idea to spend a few bucks on a dedicated car seat or seat belt harness. The benefits of these are twofold: not only does it keep your pet secured in one spot to reduce messes, but it's by far the safest way to transport pets in case of an accident. Cats can be a little trickier to keep safe and secured, so we usually recommend a small crate or pet carrier for our feline friends. This goes for other small critters like rabbits and ferrets, too. Regarding larger breed dogs, the best way to keep them safe in the car is usually a large, sturdy crate, preferably in the rear storage area of a minivan or SUV. You should also ensure that the crate itself is firmly secured so it doesn't go flying when you hit the brakes. Manage Messes Before They Happen Let's talk about medication for a second. Generally speaking, The more used to car rides your pet is, the better they'll handle it. But, many of our pets only ride in the car occasionally for vet appointments and such, so they never quite get used to the family vehicle. This can mean a lot of nervousness, when can result in carsickness and vomiting. If you find that your little buddy just can't stand the car, most vets will give you anti-anxiety or anti-nausea medication, which can do wonders to keep cats and dogs zen'd out. Invest in Seat Covers and Floor Mats One of the absolute best ways to keep your seats and carpet intact is to make sure they never get a chance to get messed up in the first place. Most major automakers offer covers and mats that are specially designed for their current models, so you can buy them with the utmost confidence that they'll fit like a glove. It may seem like an unnecessarily expensive thing to spend money on, but trust us when we say they'll pay for themselves within the first year if your dog spends a lot of time riding with you. Clean Your Car Regularly The longer you let a mess stay in your car, the harder it'll be to clean, and that doesn't just apply to pet hair. Giving your car a thorough bath on a regular basis is one of the most oft-overlooked but important aspects to responsible car ownership. We recommend vacuuming your car out a couple times a month, or about every two weeks. Doing so will go a long way toward maintaining your vehicle's resale value, and it's absolutely essential if you drive a newer ride, or if you're leasing. Keep an Emergency Kit No matter how well-prepared you are, accidents will always happen, so it's best to keep your car stocked with some cleaning supplies. Here's a quick list to get you started: Pet-safe disinfectant Pet-safe deodorizer Paper towels or shop towels Vehicle-grade wet wipes Plastic waste bags As long as you stay prepared, and you practice the other preventative measures on this list, you and your best friend can ride together with out a care in the world. Schedule Service With McCarthy Collision Centers Now that we've covered the inside of the car, let's address the outside. If you have any scratches, dings, or dents and you want to get your car looking like brand new, set up an appointment for a free estimate with us at one of our four locations across Kansas City.