Auto Body Shops in Dallas Provide Tips on Buying a New Car

Auto body shops are keeping busy with minor collision repairs, dents, dings and scratches as people are keeping their cars longer now than ever before. Maintaining the auto body and paint is just as important as mechanical maintenance when it comes time to sell or trade in your car.

The resale value of your used car will help you with purchasing a new car. Here are some additional tips for getting the best deal on a new car:

Wait until December: If you are not in a hurry to buy a new car now, then wait until the end of the year when dealerships are trying to get rid of old inventory to make room for new models.

Today, dealers are not offering low interest or cash back incentives. Their inventory is down as a result of the cash for clunkers program. By the end of the year the dealerships will be under pressure to clear out inventory, so they will be likely to offer incentives and discounts.

Take care of your credit: In order to get approved for a car loan with a favorable interest rate you must have a good credit score. Pay down your credit cards and other debts. Be sure to pay bills timely. If your credit score is low you will be required to make a larger down payment and/or pay a larger interest rate.

Compare prices: Consider which models are most popular. SUVs and minivans used to be popular; however, gas prices have influenced people to choose smaller vehicles. Keep in mind that dealers will be less likely to offer competitive pricing on popular vehicles.

Used car values are increasing as the demand for used cars rises. Fewer people can afford new cars today; therefore, they choose to buy a used car. For this reason it is well worth it to keep your car looking good. It used to be inconvenient and expensive to have cosmetic repairs done. People do not have time to leave their cars at the body shop for days at a time.

Jack Barker owns Collision on Wheels, a mobile auto body shop that comes to the consumer’s home or workplace to provide dent repair, scratch removal, auto body and paint repair. Their fee is typically less than the traditional auto body shop and they usually complete the work in one day or less.

Jack serves homes and businesses in the North Dallas Metro area: Dallas, Plano, Richardson, Allen, Frisco, Grand Prairie, Carrolton, Farmers Branch, Fort Worth, Garland and neighboring cities and communities in Dallas, Collin and Tarrant Counties. 75201, 75203, 75205, 75206, 75208, 75210, 75216, 75218, 75220, 75223, 75226, 75023, 75025, 75075, 75094, 75081, 75002, 75034, 75050, 75052, 75006, 75010, 75244, 76103, 76105, 76107, 76108, 76110, 76112, 76114, 76115, 76117, 76119, 76040, 76042, 76044, 75202, 75204, 75207, 75209, 75211, 75212, 75215, 75217, 75219, 75224, 75225, 75024, 75074, 75093, 75080, 75082, 75013, 75035, 75051, 75054, 75007, 75234, 76102, 76104, 76106, 76109, 76111, 76115, 76116, 76118, 76120, 76123, 76126, 76041, 76043, 76048

Auto Body Dent Repair, Scratch Repair – Mobile Auto Body Shop Fort Worth, Texas

Auto dent repair, scratch repair and minor collision repairs used to involve the hassle of leaving your vehicle at the auto body repair shop for days while you had to arrange alternate transportation.

Today, there is a better, more convenient way that saves time and money. The new trend in auto body repairs is the mobile auto body shop. The concept of the mobile auto body shop, where the service is performed at your home or business, is convenient, time saving and less expensive.

Mobile Auto Body Shops – House calls for auto body dent and scratch repair, paint repair, doors, bumpers, fenders and more…

Mobile auto body shops come to your vehicle, in the office parking lot or your driveway to provide an estimate. A mobile auto body shop is a van equipped with everything the auto body technician needs to perform scratch and dent repair right in your driveway or at your workplace. They can repair football-sized dents, scratches, and abrasions on vehicles while you work and have your vehicle ready for you drive home at the end of the day. This is convenient because you don’t have to be without your vehicle for days at a time while it sits at the body shop.

A mobile auto body shop has considerably less overhead expenses than a traditional auto body repair shop; therefore, they can pass the savings on to their customers with lower fees for auto body work.

The mobile auto body shop is a new trend in auto body repair that saves consumers time and money. Estimates and service are often completed in one day or less with a cost of less than an insurance deductible. This is another benefit of having minor collision repairs performed by a mobile auto body shop.

Mobile Auto Body Shops – Quality Workmanship

Some people are concerned with the quality of repair that can be done by a mobile auto body shop. Mobile auto body shops are fully equipped to complete necessary body work with the high quality workmanship that you would expect from a traditional auto body repair shop.

Advanced technology allows the mobile auto body shop the ability to perform auto body work and a paint job to restore your vehicle to its original condition. They can computer match the color of paint for a perfect match. They work under special tents that protect the surrounding area and enable technicians to work in any weather conditions.


Mobile Auto Body Shop for Convenience

A mobile auto body shop can complete most minor collision repairs in one day or less; some in just a couple hours. These same repairs, done in a body shop, would require leaving your vehicle for at least day or two. One reason for the delay is auto body shops often focus on the bigger, more expensive jobs while the vehicles in need of minor repairs sit and wait.

Mobile Auto Body Shop cost of Service

Mobile auto body shops have less operating expenses than a traditional auto body repair shop; therefore, they are able to pass the savings on to the customer. They don’t have to lease a building and expensive equipment, pay utility bills, property insurance or any other costs associated with a building. Everything they need is in their vehicle.

Another good reason one should consider a mobile auto body shop is that most of the minor repairs that need to be done cost less than an insurance company’s deductible. Most people prefer to pay for minor scratch and dent repairs without involving their insurance company for fear of an increase in premiums.

Jack Barker owns Collision on Wheels, a full-service, mobile auto body shop that performs all minor collision repairs, auto dent repair, scratch repair, auto paint repair, bumpers, fenders and doors. Jack serves consumers and businesses in the North Dallas Metro area: Dallas, Plano, Richardson, Allen, Frisco, Grand Prairie, Carrolton, Farmers Branch, Fort Worth, Garland and neighboring cities and communities in Dallas, Collin and Tarrant Counties.

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Auto Body Repair Shop Dallas, Texas: Rear End Crash Protection

Do you feel safer in a larger vehicle? Many people think they have less chance of injury in a larger car if they are in an accident. Rear end crashes are very common. Head restraints for head and neck support are more important than the size of your vehicle. Studies have shown that many larger vehicles do not have the proper head restraint support needed. Passengers in some SUVs and other larger cars are at a greater risk of suffering a whiplash injury.

Though fatalities are rare in rear-end crashes, whiplash injuries are a major problem that cost insurance companies millions in claims each year. Pain and lack of flexibility can disable victims for years.

Rear Crash Protection

Airbags are only designed to work in front-end crashes, providing front, side and rollover protection. Researchers are looking for ways to improve seats and head restraints to protect people from injury in a rear end crash. They use mannequins in crash simulation labs to determine the possibility of injury based on geometric data.

Head restraints are required in the front seats of passenger vehicles; however, their shape and size continues to vary. There are currently no requirements for head restraints in the back seat.

Seats and head restraints are designed to provide the support needed in rear-end crashes. The force of a rear end crash pushes a passenger’s body forward while the head remains behind the torso. This causes the neck to stretch, resulting in whiplash injuries. The degree of injury depends on several factors, including the person’s weight, position on impact, the shape of the seat and the position of the head restraint.

Head restraints are crucial for keeping the head and body aligned as much as possible in the event of a rear-end crash. The most effective head restraints are height and angle adjustable and the seatback is designed to work well with the head restraint. It is important for passengers to adjust their head restraint properly and wear their seat belts.

The Problem with Back Seats

Back seat passengers have little or no protection from whiplash injuries. Some vehicles have built-in head restraints that cannot be adjusted; they’re just bumps on top of the seat back.

Some vehicles have adjustable head restraints that don’t lock into place so they can drop down when pressure is put on them. Some head restraints block the driver’s view out the rear window. One good idea that has been implemented in some cars is the head restraints that can be folded down when not in use.

Car manufacturers have a ways to go in creating and designing good seat back and head restraint systems for protection in rear-end crashes. Most cars rate poor to fair in this category, so it really doesn’t matter if you are in a large or small vehicle; without proper head and neck support, the risk of serious injury is the same.


This information is provided by Jack Barker, owner of Collision on Wheels, a mobile auto body repair shop that comes to you to perform minor collision repair, dent repair, scratch repair, auto paint work and more. Many repairs can be done in one day or less; the cost is considerably less than a typical auto body shop and you don’t have to be without your vehicle for days at a time. Jack Barker services the North Dallas Metro area: Dallas, Plano, Richardson, Allen, Frisco, Grand Prairie, Carrolton, Farmers Branch, Fort Worth, Garland and neighboring cities and communities in Dallas, Collin and Tarrant Counties.


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How Auto Body Shops work with Insurance Companies, According to an Auto Body Repair Technician in Dallas, TX

Minor collision damage and small fender-benders often cost more than your insurance deductible if you have them repaired at a traditional auto body shop. If the accident is your fault, then you will have to pay the deductible.

Insurance companies have a contract with auto body shops for a pre-negotiated rate on specific repairs. Some practices include requiring low hourly labor rates or forcing the body shop to pay for a rental car if they do not complete repairs timely. As a result, the auto body shop is tempted to cut corners, using lower quality materials or neglecting to complete certain steps required for proper repair.

In many cases repairs are not completed timely, as promised. Auto body shops like to blame this on a delay in parts delivery when the truth is they took on more business than they could handle. Do your homework; research the auto body repair shop you are using to see if there have been multiple complaints about repairs not being completed on time.

Rental cars can be costly; make sure your insurance company covers the type of rental car you need while yours in the shop. Your policy might limit you reimbursement on a small car when you need a minivan.

Many insurance companies require auto body shops to use generic or salvage replacement parts to save money. This is acceptable for some repairs, but original-equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts are designed to match perfectly and in some cases may be safer. If you are in an accident and you are at fault then there could be wording in your insurance policy that requires you to use lower quality parts or pay the difference for OEM replacement parts. If you are not at fault, be sure to tell the shop to use only OEM parts.

Many foreign made cars require special equipment and a high degree of precision to perform repairs properly. If you drive a foreign car be sure the shop you choose is certified by the manufacturer to do the repair work. Your insurance company will not be likely to recommend these shops because they charge higher rates; however, they should be willing to pay to repair your vehicle to its original condition.

Check the parts and service warranty offered by the auto body repair shop. Sometimes an insurance company provides a parts and service warranty; it is useless. The auto body shop’s guarantee is the one that is important to you; most body shops guarantee their work and the parts manufacturers guarantee the parts.

Insurance companies have negotiated so many discounts with auto body shops that in order for the shop to stay in business they do lower quality repair work. Check with the Better Business Bureau, Vehicle Information Services or other agencies that monitor the quality of work done by auto body shops to be sure you are getting good service.

Jack Barker owns Collision on Wheels, a mobile auto body shop that specializes in minor collision repair, dent and scratch repair, bumper repair and replacement, and auto paint repair. They come to you to do perform auto body repair work in your driveway or at your workplace. Repairs are typically done in one day or less and the cost is often less than your insurance deductible. Jack serves consumers and businesses in the North Dallas Metro area, Dallas, Plano, Richardson, Allen, Frisco, Grand Prairie, Carrolton, Farmers Branch, Fort Worth, Garland and neighboring cities and communities in Dallas, Collin and Tarrant Counties.

75201, 75203, 75205, 75206, 75208, 75210, 75216, 75218, 75220, 75223, 75226, 75023, 75025, 75075, 75094, 75081, 75002, 75034, 75050, 75052, 75006, 75010, 75244, 76103, 76105, 76107, 76108, 76110, 76112, 76114, 76115, 76117, 76119, 76040, 76042, 76044

How Auto Body Repairs Benefit our Environment

We often take the planet earth for granted as we live, breathe, eat and sleep here. There are so many simple practices we can live by to eliminate the impact we have on our environment to preserve the planet. We can conserve energy, not waste water, recycle and cut down on pollution.

Auto body repairs versus replacement of body parts is another way we can help the environment and cut down on the waste products going into the landfills. Many auto body shops prefer to replace bumpers, fenders, doors and trim on vehicles so they can charge more for labor and mark-up on parts. This wasteful practice means more trash going to the dump. In addition, the packaging material that the new parts are shipped in are also thrown in the trash.

In addition, if you are thinking of buying a new car, you might reconsider repairing the one you have. So many cars end up going to the dump when they are still usable. If you must have a new car, consider selling your old car or donating it for a tax write-off.

Auto body repairs versus replacement saves consumers time and money while helping to preserve our environment. Make sure your auto body repair shop is eco-friendly, repairing auto body parts when possible.

Jack Barker owns and operates Collision on Wheels, a mobile auto body shop that comes to you to perform minor collision repair, dent repair, scratch repair, auto paint repair, bumpers, fenders and doors. Collision on Wheels serves consumers and businesses in the North Dallas Metro area, Dallas, Plano, Richardson, Allen, Frisco, Grand Prairie, Carrolton, Farmers Branch, Fort Worth, Garland and neighboring cities and communities in Dallas, Collin and Tarrant Counties.

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Auto Body Shops: Environmental Impact of Hazardous Waste Disposal

What happens to waste materials and hazardous by-products when they leave the auto body shop? Do they vanish into the air and become a problem for nearby residents? The EPA oversees all auto body shops and holds them responsible for hazardous waste disposal.

Body shop owners and companies in the collision repair industry face fines and/or jail time if they violate laws when disposing of hazardous waste materials. Hazardous material as defined by OSHA and the EPA is very extensive and it requires proper storage, treatment and disposal.

Storing Hazardous Waste

Most paint and paint related materials are considered hazardous in the unfinished or “wet” form. The Materials Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) determines if a product is hazardous. Storage and disposal must be handled in accordance with EPA regulations. The EPA will provide auto body shops with the laws and regulations for handling hazardous products.

Drum containers are the most common method of storage; they must be properly labeled as waste and should include the following information:

• The generator’s name and address
• EPA designated identification of the product
• DOT proper shipping name and identification number of the major hazard
• Quantity of the major hazard
• Identifying labels or placards such as the flammable diamond

The area where the storage containers are placed has to be marked as “hazardous waste storage.” EPA regulations direct how long a drum may accumulate waste and how long it can be stored, depending on how much waste the drum contains. Drums must be removed by a licensed hazardous waste hauler for proper treatment.

Removing Hazardous Waste

Auto body shops and other generators of hazardous waste must complete a Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest specific to the state in which the waste will be treated. The generator must supply information about the waste, and the manifest should be sent to the Waste Management Department for their state. Also required is a Land Disposal Restriction form, called a Land-Ban, which states that the waste must be treated and cannot be disposed of in a landfill.

The hazardous waste treatment, storage and disposal facility (TSDF) will return a section of the manifest to the generator within 35 days; if not received timely, the generator should contact the TSDF to inquire the status of the waste.

Body Shop Responsibility

The auto body shop or generator of the hazardous waste is held responsible even after the waste containers are picked up. It is important for the body shop owner to properly screen their contracted waste hauler.

Disposing of Hazardous Waste

Hazardous waste products have specific methods of disposal that reduce the impact to our environment and to our health. Some common waste disposal methods include:

Incineration: This is commonly used for solvents and chemicals with a high BTU value. Incineration does not always remove the hazard; many chemicals create hazardous by-products when burned such as cyanide, chloride and sulfides which can be even more dangerous than the original waste. The auto body shop should make it a point to know what is being done with the ashes. If the company is not properly disposing of by-products after incineration this could be a serious problem

Neutralization: This is a form of treatment that occurs with water-based wastes which have an acid or caustic nature. These wastes are corrosive and can destroy cells in living organisms. They are also destructive to vegetation and minerals.

Reactive wastes are difficult to deal with because they react with chemicals and become explosive or give off a toxic gas.

Auto body shops are responsible for protecting themselves, their technicians, the community and our environment by seeing to the proper handling of hazardous waste materials. They should take care to minimize the amount of waste generated and use proper methods of storage and disposal.

Jack Barker is the owner of Collision on Wheels, a mobile auto body shop serving consumers and businesses in the Dallas, Texas area. Collision on Wheels uses only water based paints that are safe for the environment and they pride themselves on being the forefront for promoting green practices. Jack Barker services the North Dallas Metro area: Dallas, Plano, Richardson, Allen, Frisco, Grand Prairie, Carrolton, Farmers Branch, Fort Worth, Garland and neighboring cities and communities in Dallas, Collin and Tarrant Counties.

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Auto Body Maintenance: Keeping your Old Car Looking New

People keep their cars for an average of nine years. Due to economic conditions people do not buy new cars as often as they did in the past. These conditions have created a demand for quick auto body repairs to remove dents and scratches. Parking lots and shopping carts are where most of the auto body abrasions occur. Here are some tips for preserving the finish on your car.

Parking your Car

Careless drivers are one of the biggest threats to your vehicle, especially in parking lots. Even if you are careful to park your car properly, centering it between the lines, someone else is sure to park their car incorrectly, leaving less than a full parking space between their vehicle and yours. Then someone else tries to squeeze in and hits your car! Maybe an inexperienced or careless driver is looking behind them as they back out; they turn too sharp and the front end of their car hits yours, causing damage to your vehicle.

The best way to avoid damage to your vehicle in a parking lot is to choose a parking spot further away from the building and other people. Most people try to get the closest spot they can which means they won’t be parked near you. This will reduce the risk of your car being hit by other careless drivers or runaway shopping carts.

Park your car in the garage if you have one. If not, try to keep it in a shady place as the sun beating on the car can cause the color to fade.

Wash and Wax your Car

Wash your car at least once a month to remove dirt, dust, bugs and bird droppings that leave permanent stains. When moisture accumulates in dirty areas it causes corrosion; a clean car dries quickly. Pressure washing removes dirt from the difficult to reach areas around moldings, inside wheel arches and under the bumpers. Do not hold the pressure wash jet too close or too long in the same area. Thoroughly clean the wiper blades to remove dirt that scratches the windshield.

Wax your car to maintain a clean shiny look, shield it from the harsh environment and protect it from fading. It is recommended that you wax your car every three or four months even if you’re using a product that claims to last much longer.

As time goes by cars can become dented and dinged, even when receiving the very best of care. The good news is that you no longer need to suffer the inconvenience of leaving your car at a body shop for days at a time to repair minor dents, scratches and dings. A new trend in auto body repair known as mobile auto body shop satisfies the demand for quick auto body repair. A mobile auto body shop can repair minor collision damages at your home or workplace. These repairs are often completed in one day or less.

Jack Barker is the owner and operator of Collision on Wheels, a mobile auto body shop in the North Dallas Metro area. Collision on wheels comes to your to perform minor collision repair, dent repair, scratch repair and auto paint repair. Repairs are typically done in one day or less and the cost is often less than your insurance deductible. Jack Barker services the North Dallas Metro area: Dallas, Plano, Richardson, Allen, Frisco, Grand Prairie, Carrolton, Farmers Branch, Fort Worth, Garland and neighboring cities and communities in Dallas, Collin and Tarrant Counties.

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