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Feb 8, 2012

Cheap Auto Repair

Auto repair is a headache for motorists all over the world. Repair and replacement of parts have become so costly that motorists are looking for cheap auto repair as an alternative to regular repair.
Many auto repair firms advertise to repair vehicles at cheap rates but they do this by using inferior parts and employing unskilled workers. Generally, specialized shops, including transmission repair and old car repair shops, offer cheaper auto repairs compared to general shops. There are even general repair shops that provide you quality repair at cheaper rates.
It is imperative that you discuss the exact nature of the repair job and take time with the mechanic before you actually launch the repair. Most of the modern vehicles have computerized monitoring systems, which help mechanics identify problems easily. Auto repair manuals and guides call tell you details of each repair job and the normal time taken for each. These manuals can be bought from auto parts shops in your neighborhood.
Online you can find many experienced mechanics advertising cheap auto repair. They do brake jobs for as little as $50.00 and many other repair jobs just as cheap. There are also part-time mechanics who do most of their work at their own house and are ready to do cheap auto repair on request.
Cheap auto repair is usually sought by people who are money-minded. Cheap repair has many drawbacks too. It is not reliable, and often functionality is not guaranteed. Mechanics doing cheap auto repair generally do not give proper attention and, in many cases, inferior parts are used. Cheap auto repair can lead to long-term problems that may sometimes cost you much more money in the long run.

Auto Ding Repair

A car ding repair is easy to do if you have a good auto ding repair kit. Such repair kits are not so expensive; about $30 and it's really easy to used. Such automobile ding repair kids can be purchased at most stores selling car parts or car accessories. The task you have to do is to pull or remove glue from the surface on all panels of the vehicle and most of these cheap ding repair items for sale today are really working for this purpose if the dents or dings are not too big. For small and medium dents or dings, ding puller devices provides a simple, cost efficient removal. Fortunately there is no need to access the underside of the panel.
We see a trend today that more and more vehicle manufactures are using light gauge sheet metal in the construction of vehicles. In fact, it is not difficult to dent many new cars by simply leaning against them. The nice things about these dent/ding out, glue puller kits are that they give the do-it-your-selfers and car amateur enthusiasts a professional option to expensive dent removal services.
There are also different kinds of ding or dent repair kit and each of them offers a tool for specific damage. So you must know which repair kit you need for fixing your specific problem. This is no big deal however, because the only thing you have to do is to tell the sales person in the auto part or accessory store what you'll need to do and he or she will find the dent fix kit for your needs. To cover yourself completely, you can buy several of them, thus having a tool for any ding or dent problem your car might incur. If you purchase three different ding or dent fix kits, you'll have what you need for all types of dent repair.
How to use these kits? Here is what you do:
  • apply a bead of glue to the pulling nib
  • affix the nib to the lowest area of the dent you're going to fix
  • the ding repair tool slips over the threaded stud
  • a wing nut tool is threaded down pulling the metal up
  • as soon as the dent is pulled out, a couple of drops of a release agent that normally is included in the kit is applied to the glue and the pulling nib will come right off.
These dent fix kits are inexpensive and easy to use and they will not damage your factory finish.

Cheap Windshield Replacement

A car's windshield is one of the most breakable parts of a car, windshields that crack and break will need to be taken in for replacement. There could be a number of causes for a broken windshield and even a chip of gravel can crack the windshield when traveling at a high rate of speed. Extremely cold weather can also cause a cracking windshield, not to mention vandalism and many other types of accidents. Although windshields have been made from toughened glass, they are still susceptible to breaking and will need to be replaced when they do.
Replacing a car's windshield can be quite a costly affair. An alternative could be to try to repair your windshield, although this will only be feasible for smaller cracks. For any large cracks, you'll have to replace your windshield. There is however a number of steps you could take to ensure that you find a good and cheap windshield replacement deal.
The first thing you'll need to do is find the right company. There are a number of large companies that can provide this service, the problem with these companies is that they often charge more due to just because of they're size. The cheaper solution would be to find a smaller company that can do it for you. In many cases you'll find they're price to be 20% to 30% less than a larger company. Many of these smaller businesses don't pay a lot for advertising, so look around your neighborhood to see if you can find any good deals. Many of these types of shops also post classified ads on free online websites, so you might want to look around on a few of those to see what's available.
Time is money. If you need an immediate replacement you'll probably have to pay a lot more. If you can wait on having your windshield replaced then chances are it'll cost less. In many cases immediate fixing will require a premium service price so you may land a better price if you catch a ride or take public transport for a few days.
Although mobile car repairs are convenient, they are also a lot more costly. Go to them instead of having them come to you. If you're driving with your broken windshield you'll need to be sure that your vision isn't obstructed. A mobile car repair may be cheaper however than having to tow your car to the repair shop.

Where to Buy A Cheap Car

There are some great ways to locate a cheap model so that you don't have to worry about steep auto prices each and every month. Saving money by driving a cheaper vehicle may give someone more money in their pocket each and every month.
Low rates on a car could come from waiting to the end of a year. End of year dealership sales can have someone getting into a low priced car. These devices are still new but are at the end of their year. Many dealers will feature low prices and special promotions.
You may also discover a reliable and affordable car by looking at used models. To find a used vehicle you can look online or go to a used shop. There are many reliable vehicles available that are in great shape and simply need a new driver.
Combining an affordable monthly auto payment with cheap insurance companies, will ensure that a driver has low monthly transportation costs. Affordable coverage and a reliable car can make commuting to work and social events easier to handle.
Having driving training and no tickets could help someone get low rates when hunting for the right auto coverage. That idea may encourage someone to not speed and encourage any tickets. Taking a driving course when learning how to drive may also help to get a low rate when looking for a new policy.
It also helps to drive a vehicle that is approved by most protection agents. These cars could include a specific type of brand, with four doors and certain features. The cheaper the car is to fix and repair, the easier it will be to insure for less. Buying a cheaper model that is also cheap to repair, could help to lower rates on policies.
Driving a vehicle with a low policy rate and a low monthly payment, could make the idea of owning a vehicle more manageable. Learning how to reduce car costs through affordable monthly rates, can keep a driver on the road and keep extra money in their pockets. Drivers who have a clean record and who have no history of claims, may be able to find low rates on their monthly policy. Agents will look at the driving record and will take into consideration the type of vehicle that is driven, in order to allow for low rates.

Auto Collision - Insurance Companies Will Fix Your Car With Used Parts!

If you are in an auto collision, forget who is at fault for a minute. The insurance company will try to fix your car with used parts. They will not try, I was too kind. They will fix your car with used parts! How can this be legal? I believe this is highly unfair, but yet it is perfectly legal. Insurance companies around America are cutting cost and fixing cars with cheaper parts. Forget the original manufactured parts; you get some nice Taiwanese parts. What happen if there are none available? You will get a nice recycled part form a junk yard!
In other, words, your BMW will not get original BMW parts; it will get something of less quality. Adjusters will argue that this used part, second hand parts, re manufactured parts, Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), or/and after market parts are as good, if not better than the original ones. I believe this is a questionable claim.
I hate to report this is very "normal" for all insurance companies. Your carrier and the carrier of the person that hit you will do the same thing. They will price out the cheapest parts to fix your car. It gets worse. The insurance carrier will also make sure that you do not go to the dealership for the repairs. You have to go to a body shop that has a "reasonable and necessary" labor rate. Insurance companies argue that the dealership hourly rate is much higher the average body shop in your area and therefore it is unreasonable. They only owe for reasonable expenses, so you will be holding the bag. It does not matter that you have auto collision coverage and full coverage. The insurance company will fight you over this.
How can they get away with this? Insurance companies are very good litigators and lobbyist. The theory is that insurance companies owe you to "put you back in the position you were before the accident."
They argue that at the time of the accident you had a "used vehicle" (unless you just drove off the lot). Since your car is used, then your parts are used. Therefore, they will pay only for used parts. If no used parts are available, then they will "allow" for new parts, but only OEM parts (manufactured in countries outside the US).
So what are your remedies? How can you protect yourself? This is one is a hard to fight because most attorneys will not get involved with any auto collisions that does not involve some sort of bodily injury. So you are going to have to fight by yourself. You can do one of two things. You could pay for the difference between the second hand parts that the insurance company wants to buy and the original parts that you need. You also would have to pay for the difference between the labor rates.
You can also ask for a letter of guarantee directly from the insurance company. A letter of guarantee is a document where the insurance company agrees to fix your car in the event that you have any problems with the parts and/or the workmanship of the body shop. The damages must be directly related to the auto collision in question. Insurance companies will try to look on the other direction when you ask for this letter. They will tell you to ask the body shop directly. Do not let them do that. You want assurances form the insurance company. They are the ones that are telling you that these parts are as good as new. If you ask and you are firm, you could get them to give you written warranties.