What to Do When You Need a Tow in Wichita or Andover
There you are, on Kellogg, and suddenly your car breaks down. Maybe you’re driving up Andover Rd. when a pothole as big as the Wichita ditch brings your vehicle to a complete stop. Or perhaps you’re returning to your car from shopping at Towne East Mall only to discover your vehicle just won’t start.
It’s just about inevitable that at some point in your life, some problem or another will leave you stranded. Fortunately, this is exactly what a tow service is meant for. But if you’ve never had a need to call a towing company before, you may be unsure of how it all works.
The first thing you need to do will sound easy, but it is sometimes more difficult than you’d expect.
Having your car break down can be very stressful, especially if it happens in the middle of night or in the middle of a freezing Wichita winter. You may think the first step is to call a tow truck driver. Nope. The first step is to know the phone number of a tow truck driver.
When you suddenly find yourself stranded and stressed out, finding a towing company that can service you right away – and one that is reliable – may be difficult at this exact moment. The good news is that this often stressful first step to getting towed can be alleviated by something you can do right now. It’ll only take you a couple of minutes. Find a towing company and put their number in your phone now.
Go ahead. Stop reading this blog post so you can do that. We’ll wait. Or we can speed up the process by recommending a Wichita & Andover towing service that thousands have relied upon for decades. Ours!
If you are like thousands of people across Wichita, Andover and south central Kansas, you’ve relied upon the team at Collision Center of Andover for your vehicle work. Did you know our Andover auto body shop also offer a towing service? Your search to finding a reliable local towing company can stop right now with us! The number to get a tow 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to areas across Wichita, Andover, and surrounding communities is (316) 719-2100.
2. Safety Comes First
Does it seem wrong that this is the second item on the list? If you’ve already prepared for the possibility of a potential car break-down with putting a towing service company in your contacts, then this becomes the very first thing you do when a break-down occurs.
Make sure you are in a safe place. If your vehicle is on the road, get out of your vehicle and wait on the shoulder or curb. If your vehicle is stopped in the road and posing a danger, you should call 911 so the Wichita or Andover Police Department can come out and ensure your vehicle isn’t a danger on the road. While you wait for officer assistance, put yourself in a spot that’s off the road and a bit to the rear of your vehicle to stay safe from a potential accident.
3. Call a Wichita-area Towing Company
Now that you’ve ensured your own personal safety, call for a tow. You will need to provide them with where you are located. If you can’t be sure of your exact location, provide the main cross streets you are near and which direction you are from that intersection. If you have a smart phone with a mapping app, open that to see where you are.
4. Take Out the Items You Need (and/or Value)
Now you need to get ready for the tow truck driver. Gather up the items you need such as your purse or your wallet. Grab your phone, perhaps also your car charger. If it’s winter, be sure to get your coat, hat, gloves, or whatever you need to stay warm. If it’s summer, hopefully you have a water bottle or something to drink in your car.
You probably don’t know how long you will go without your car that’s suddenly broken down. So if there are any items you’ll need in the next couple of days that is in your vehicle (maybe that library book that’s due back soon), be sure to gather those items up.
Do you keep anything valuable in your vehicle? Maybe some emergency cash in your glove box? A rosary on your rear-view mirror? If you can gather those items, do it. It’s not worth worrying about anything you deem valuable. Plus, this might precisely be the time when you need that extra cash and rosary.
WARNING: If you are in a position where you can’t wait inside your vehicle safely, you may want to avoid this step altogether. It’s not worth risking your life to save your wallet.
5. Take photos
In many vehicle break-down situations, this may not be needed. For example, there is probably no reason to get pictures of your dead car in the mall parking lot (unless that’s the sort of thing you want to Snapchat).
When should you take photos? If you believe someone else is to blame for your break-down, you will want photos to help prove your case. Hit a giant pothole on North Oliver? It’s possible the City of Wichita is liable for not repairing the pothole earlier and may cover the repair expense. So take photos of that massive street hole.
Another reason to take photos is for the repairs you will need. By sending those photos to local repair shops, you may be able to get estimates allowing you to shop around. We at Collision Center of Andover provide these estimates and offer a way for you to upload photos of your damaged vehicle to get a repair quote quickly.
6. Know Where You are Going
After dealing with a break-down and waiting for a tow, you are probably ready to just be home. But, unfortunately, you’ve got some arrangements to make.
What needs to happen to your car? And where is that? The tow truck driver is going to need to know where you want to tow it. Perhaps you have an auto repair shop in town you trust. If not, then you’ve got a limited time to determine where you want to go.
While you may know that Collision Center of Andover handles auto body repair, we also can handle more general vehicle repairs to get your car or truck back up and running. If you call our towing service, they can take you to our shop. However, it’s not required. Our towing service will take you to any vehicle repair shop of your choosing in Wichita or Andover.
Get Trusted Towing Service from Collision Center of Andover
We have you covered! Collision Center of Andover provides towing services to anyone in Butler Counter and the greater Wichita and Andover areas. Our towing service will bring you right into our shop or to any destination or shop of your choice. Call for a tow at (316) 719-2100. We are available 24 hours a day!
Keeping Little Chips & Cracks from becoming Big Repairs
Here in Kansas, we are at risk of suffering a crack or ding to our windshield during any time of year. From being parked outside during a large hailstorm in the spring to just following a construction vehicle along Kellogg in Wichita, people come into our Andover auto shop all year round with a variety of auto glass damage.
When to get a windshield chip repaired?
A little chip or crack on your windshield may be annoying, but not an impairment to your driving. You may be tempted to delay getting your vehicle’s glass repaired later. But how long can you safely wait to fix a little chip in your window before getting it fixed? There really is no good length of time to wait to repair a broken windshield, no matter how minor the damage is. The fact is, the smallest ding in your window or windshield is at risk of turning into a large crack at any time. Waiting to fix a little windshield chip could cost you more in the long run.
What’s the cost of fixing a chipped windshield?
If you have a chip less than a half inch big or a crack that can be completely covered by your hand, these damages probably require minor repairs and will not be very expensive. Here at our auto shop in Andover just minutes from Wichita, we often can repair minor chips and cracks in less than an hour.
The cost and repair time increase if the damage is not as minor as you think. If there are 4 or more chips or cracks on the glass, if the damage is located at the ends of the windshield, or if your windshield is covered with tiny divots, then you may need to have the entire windshield replaced.
Finding out if we can fix it and how much it will cost is free. Here at Collision Center of Andover, we do not charge for a repair quote. Feel free to bring your vehicle to our auto shop at 948 N. Andover Rd, just a few minutes outside of Wichita. Or you can use our online repair quote form to submit a description and a photo of your car’s damage to help us get started on your repair quote.
What could cause a small windshield chip to become worse?
Think you can just try to drive more carefully to keep the little crack from getting worse? You are taking a big gamble. The truth is, there is really no way for you to avoid a little chip in your glass before that minor damage becomes a crack that reaches across your whole windshield.
What can cause a chip or small crack to spread?
Pothole
A bumpy road
An aggressive turn
Beyond those above situations that could occur while you’re on the road, elements in nature could also contribute to making a little problem much bigger and more expensive for you. Your windshield experiencing sudden temperature changes could cause the chip or crack to get worse. Some ways to avoid these big temperature swings affecting your windshield, do not park in direct sunlight and avoid using your window defroster until you get the damage fixed. In addition to temperature, leaving a window chip exposed can cause dirt to get into the tiny cracks, making it possibly harder to repair later. Even something relatively small that drops from a tree like an acorn or nut could be enough of an impact to make your small chip become a large crack in your windshield.
How to stop a windshield crack from spreading
The best thing to do is to get the damage fixed right away. But if you can’t get it into a shop immediately, there are some simply DIY steps you can take to prevent the damage from getting worse. One easy measure is to apply superglue or clear nail polish to the chip. You will first want to completely clean the windshield and damaged area. Then fill the crack with the glue or polish. Once it’s dry, put a piece of clear packing tape over it to keep dirt from getting into the crack.
Are there laws against windshield damage?
While we’ve already explained the very practical and financial reasons why it is best to not wait on getting a windshield chip repaired, there is also a legal reason.
Kansas law states that you cannot have damage to your front windshield or windows that present a substantial obstruction to the driver’s view of the roads. What size of damage is considered substantial? The law isn’t exact, but it’s probably not something you want to leave up to the officer who decided to pull you over. It will be up to that officer’s judgement on whether the chips or cracks in any of your vehicle’s glass are in violation of state law.
Federal law is a bit more specific on how much windshield damage is illegal to have on an operating vehicle. It’s against the law to have cracks that intersect with each other. And it’s illegal to have glass chips ¾ of an inch wide or larger within 3 inches of any other damage.
Breaking the Kansas state laws on vehicle window and windshield damage could result in a fine of $45.00. Although subsequent offenses within a couple years’ time will increase the amount you are fined.
Can you fix your car’s window yourself?
Possibly. There are DIY windshield kits available for consumers to use. Before deciding to take on this job yourself, you will want to consider a few things:
Is the crack or divot very small, or could it be large enough to require more extensive repair than what a DIY window repair kit can handle?
Is the chip or crack located in your field of vision while driving? Your repair job could leave a mark or blemish that will obstruct your view while driving.
Letting a professional handle your windshield damage is always the best idea. Our skilled technicians at our Andover auto shop have an incredible amount of experience handling all the variety of chips, dings and cracks vehicles suffer in Kansas. From construction to hail, our cars and trucks face a lot of punishment on roads in and around Wichita. Our auto technicians know immediately whether the chip or small crack is easily fixable, or if you will need an entire windshield replacement. Attempting to fix the issue yourself when the problem is actually large enough to need more professional repair, could end up costing you more money when the damage becomes worse or if your repair job doesn’t hold.
Beyond windshield, Collision Center of Andover can handle all your auto glass repair & replacement, including rear windshield and door windows. Minor cracks and chips can be fixed very quickly, often in less than an hour. And depending on your insurance coverage, the window chip repair may be at no cost to you. Call us today and let us know how we can help – (316) 733-9310.
From Estimate to Fixed: Factors determining how long your car will be in the shop
NOTE: Due to current supply-chain shortages, some supplies and parts face an unusually long delay. In some severe cases, it can take several months to procure the necessary parts. Check with our team to learn if current supply problems could affect your vehicle repair.
Having been the premiere auto body shop for Andover and Wichita since 2006, Collision Center of Andover are experts at putting your damaged car back to the way it was. Not only do our experienced car technicians know how to get the job done, we know how long this process can be expected to take AND all the factors that cause delays in getting your vehicle fixed as soon as possible.
The 1 question our customers ask the most: When will my car be ready?
When people need us to get their vehicle back in perfect condition, there really is just one question we get asked more than any other. You want to know when your car will be done. After all, it can be quite an inconvenience to not have your own personal vehicle. You probably know exactly where things are in your car: your umbrella, your ice scraper, your cup of change for a Spangles mudslide. We definitely understand your rush to get your car back and deal with as little auto repair time as possible. And so, we make every effort we can and anticipate every hurdle to get you back in your car or truck as soon as possible. In the meantime, while your vehicle is with us, we can arrange for you to have a rental. We are a concessionaire shop for Enterprise and have their vehicles on site for you to rent. We will make sure to have a vehicle here for you and will arrange the insurance billing at your request.
So, what’s the answer? When will we get your vehicle done?
We wish we could give you an exact answer. But the fact is, we can’t. And believe us, we really, really wish we could. The simple fact is we just don’t know. It almost pains us to tell you that. With a team of car guys with decades of experience fixing cars day in and day out (heck, Jeff alone has nearly 30 years’ experience!), you would think we would be the local auto body shop to know this answer.
There is a good reason why we can’t predict with 100% accuracy how long it will take for us to repair your car. Actually, there are 9 reasons. And many of those reasons are outside the control of our technicians and repair shop, at least until we learn how to control mother nature.
9 Factors that Determine Auto Repair Time
First, what time of year is it? Is it a nice spring day, or is it the day after central Kansas’ first ice storm of the winter season? If our area’s first mix of ice and sleet covered roads from Andover to Goddard, there are likely hundreds (or more) of other people across the Wichita area who are taking their car or truck to the repair shop at the same time as you. While we want to get to work on your car right away, you may be waiting in line… at ANY repair shop across the area.
Who is your insurance? Depending on your answer, this could be the most substantial delay to work getting done. We have great experience in the entire process, and that includes working with insurance companies to avoid delays. But the truth is, each insurance company operates differently. While Collision Center technicians can get started without any delay when certain insurance companies are involved, other insurance companies may require an extensive approval process, taking days or every several weeks! While we can’t control how long some insurance companies will take to allow us to get your car repair started, you can trust Collision Center of Andover to do what it takes to help insurance companies expedite their process whenever we can.
Is there more damage hiding? Once we get the insurance approval, we can get straight to work on repairing your vehicle. That often starts with us tearing down your vehicle. This is where new issues can arise. It’s very possible that while we are getting a closer look inside your vehicle, we will find additional damage that wasn’t visible until AFTER we took it apart. If that happens, we will work quick to handle any new orders for parts or any further coordination with the insurance company.
Does your vehicle need to go to the dealership? There are times when a repair job will require work to be done by the dealership. This may be because of insurance requirements or warranty specifications. In any case, taking your car to a dealership means the repair is temporarily out of our hands. Just as we effort to expedite work with insurance companies, we are quick to work closely with your dealership to avoid any unnecessary delays. Once they can get their part of the work done, we are ready to take over.
What’s the weather like in other parts of the country? Even if Kansas isn’t currently dealing with bad weather, a storm in our neighboring states could still affect how long it will take your car to get done. Fortunately, many parts are available here in the Wichita area. But sometimes parts needed for repairs come from outside Kansas, such as from Denver, Oklahoma or Texas. Usually when we need to order parts, we can have them on hand in a day. But as we’ve seen happen, roads like I-70 are prone to be shut down during and after a big snow storm and can delay how soon your parts get to us.
What type of car do you have? Is it uncommon? If you’re driving a foreign car or some other less common vehicle, we may need to order parts that could take a while to get delivered to us. But if you drive a Ford, Chevy, Honda or other common vehicle on our roads, delays for parts are usually minimal, if at all. Also, if your car is rather old (more than 10 years), it may require parts that aren’t as common and quick to receive. And having a vehicle that isn’t being manufactured anymore (like an Oldsmobile or Saturn) could also mean a delay in getting your car’s parts.
How high-tech is your car? The more technology your vehicle has, the more there is for us to fix. Nowadays, there are some cars with sensors everywhere. So that little dent on your bumper that used to be a quick fix to smooth out, now comes with the complication of us needing to address all the technology that has been installed into that bumper.
Let’s talk weather again: Has it been raining? If it has, and your vehicle’s repair job is going to require painting, that could add time. Paint dries slowly in humid conditions. Although we are so close to being done at this point, it is possible rainy conditions mean one more day of waiting for you.
And lastly – it’s the little things. Because we are going to make sure that your car is put back to the way it was before the accident, we take care of all the details. From the air bag light to the trim pieces – for every little issue that could be broken or affected by the wreck, we check it and we fix it.
Bottom line, for us at Collision Center of Andover, it’s about getting your car back in shape AND it’s about getting you back on the road in your car as soon as possible. Know that we will work quickly to repair your vehicle and know that you can trust we won’t cut any corners. We even offer a lifetime guarantee of the work we do.
When can we Guarantee a Delivery Date?
While we may not be able to give you an exact answer when you first bring your vehicle in for repairs, after the vehicle is inspected and parts are sourced, we can give you a delivery date. We will contact you immediately after repairs are done and our quality inspection is complete. Preference of being contacted by phone, email or text communication can be requested when you drop off your vehicle.
We Have a Habit of Delivering on Time
We pride ourselves on excellent customer service, and that is why you will see on Google that we are filled with 5-star reviews! In fact, many of those glowing reviews thank us for doing excellent work in the time we estimated it would take. Here are just a sample of recent reviews from Collision Center of Andover customers extremely satisfied with their wait time and repair work.
We hope you call on us for your next repair. We are just a few minutes’ drive outside of Wichita on Andover road. Call us at (316) 733-9310.
Keeping your vehicle from becoming a disaster while traveling with kids
Taking a family road trip for a long vacation or even a weekend getaway is as American as apple pie. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, people took more than 220 billion vehicle trips in 2017. And all those car rides can take a toll on your vehicle. While all of us at Collision Center of Andover know what such things like weather, pollen and vehicle accidents can do to the outside of your car, we know there’s another force of nature that regular keeps many of you from maintaining a nice interior and clean car.
Children
Kids can make the task of keeping a vehicle clean seem impossible. And of course, some of us adults can also be guilty of regularly contributing to the clutter.
Working to keep your car clean on a regular basis is challenging enough. A road trip with the whole family packed in the vehicle for many hours over many days means your car may resemble the inside of a trash can before returning home.
Whether you’re headed across Kansas or across the country, here are some tips to prevent the inside of your car looking like a disaster on your next family road trip.
The 2 items that can make car clean-up easy (or at least easier)
A trash bag Or several! Make sure you have enough small bags (grocery bags work well) to last the duration of your trip. You’ll want to be sure there is one in reach of each person in the vehicle. This way, all the cups, receipts, wrappers and miscellaneous trash that gets accumulated along the road trip have a place to go.
An activity bagfor each kid You might consider this a miscellaneous bag. Fill a bag (backpacks work great for this) for each kid with items that will help keep them entertained along the way. Some great things to put in an activity bag include:
Crayons, pens
Notebook, coloring book
Books
Hand-held games
A few toys (hot wheels, Barbie dolls, etc)
Beyond this bag serving the purpose of bringing the items along that will help keep kids entertained in the car, it will also serve as the holding place for those items to return to. After all, crayons and notebooks that get taken out will need a place to go when your child discards them for another activity. Using a separate and designated activity bag, instead of putting these items in the luggage with your clothes, means that those luggage bags can remain tucked away in your trunk.
The right cleaning supplies for a family road trip
Whether you’re exploring Kansas or states far away, being on a trip should be an enjoyable time, not one you spend worrying about a dirty car, but a little bit of quick, on-the-spot cleaning (as needed) can go a long way. At the time of a spill, even having just the bare essentials will help you address the spill right away, when it’s something that can be easily wiped away. This may keep you from having to deal with time-consuming deep-cleaning after you return home.
The basics of being ready to handle quick little messes on a family road trip include just two items:
1. Wipes 2. Paper towels
Put your stops to use
Staying on top of the mess can be as simple as “old mess out before new mess in”. Use the stops you make for a fill-up or a fast food break as moments to make a quick vehicle clean-up. Have the kids fill up the trash bags you’ve brought along with whatever trash they’ve accumulated before the next round of food and drink enter the vehicle. Have them look around and put any of their books, crayons, or toys that are lying around into their activity bag.
Want to make sure your vehicle is travel ready before your trip? Whether it’s a day trip exploring new towns across Kansas or you’re heading across the country, it’s always good to make sure your vehicle is well-equipped to handle the trip. Schedule an appointment with us at Collision Center of Andover for us to make sure your car is ready for your next road trip.
6 Tips for Getting Towed
What to Do When You Need a Tow in Wichita or Andover
It’s just about inevitable that at some point in your life, some problem or another will leave you stranded. Fortunately, this is exactly what a tow service is meant for. But if you’ve never had a need to call a towing company before, you may be unsure of how it all works.
6 Tips to Getting Towed
1. What to Do First When You Need a Tow
The first thing you need to do will sound easy, but it is sometimes more difficult than you’d expect.
When you suddenly find yourself stranded and stressed out, finding a towing company that can service you right away – and one that is reliable – may be difficult at this exact moment. The good news is that this often stressful first step to getting towed can be alleviated by something you can do right now. It’ll only take you a couple of minutes. Find a towing company and put their number in your phone now.
Go ahead. Stop reading this blog post so you can do that. We’ll wait. Or we can speed up the process by recommending a Wichita & Andover towing service that thousands have relied upon for decades. Ours!
If you are like thousands of people across Wichita, Andover and south central Kansas, you’ve relied upon the team at Collision Center of Andover for your vehicle work. Did you know our Andover auto body shop also offer a towing service? Your search to finding a reliable local towing company can stop right now with us! The number to get a tow 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to areas across Wichita, Andover, and surrounding communities is (316) 719-2100.
2. Safety Comes First
Does it seem wrong that this is the second item on the list? If you’ve already prepared for the possibility of a potential car break-down with putting a towing service company in your contacts, then this becomes the very first thing you do when a break-down occurs.
Make sure you are in a safe place. If your vehicle is on the road, get out of your vehicle and wait on the shoulder or curb. If your vehicle is stopped in the road and posing a danger, you should call 911 so the Wichita or Andover Police Department can come out and ensure your vehicle isn’t a danger on the road. While you wait for officer assistance, put yourself in a spot that’s off the road and a bit to the rear of your vehicle to stay safe from a potential accident.
3. Call a Wichita-area Towing Company
Now that you’ve ensured your own personal safety, call for a tow. You will need to provide them with where you are located. If you can’t be sure of your exact location, provide the main cross streets you are near and which direction you are from that intersection. If you have a smart phone with a mapping app, open that to see where you are.
4. Take Out the Items You Need (and/or Value)
Now you need to get ready for the tow truck driver. Gather up the items you need such as your purse or your wallet. Grab your phone, perhaps also your car charger. If it’s winter, be sure to get your coat, hat, gloves, or whatever you need to stay warm. If it’s summer, hopefully you have a water bottle or something to drink in your car.
You probably don’t know how long you will go without your car that’s suddenly broken down. So if there are any items you’ll need in the next couple of days that is in your vehicle (maybe that library book that’s due back soon), be sure to gather those items up.
Do you keep anything valuable in your vehicle? Maybe some emergency cash in your glove box? A rosary on your rear-view mirror? If you can gather those items, do it. It’s not worth worrying about anything you deem valuable. Plus, this might precisely be the time when you need that extra cash and rosary.
WARNING: If you are in a position where you can’t wait inside your vehicle safely, you may want to avoid this step altogether. It’s not worth risking your life to save your wallet.
5. Take photos
In many vehicle break-down situations, this may not be needed. For example, there is probably no reason to get pictures of your dead car in the mall parking lot (unless that’s the sort of thing you want to Snapchat).
When should you take photos? If you believe someone else is to blame for your break-down, you will want photos to help prove your case. Hit a giant pothole on North Oliver? It’s possible the City of Wichita is liable for not repairing the pothole earlier and may cover the repair expense. So take photos of that massive street hole.
Another reason to take photos is for the repairs you will need. By sending those photos to local repair shops, you may be able to get estimates allowing you to shop around. We at Collision Center of Andover provide these estimates and offer a way for you to upload photos of your damaged vehicle to get a repair quote quickly.
6. Know Where You are Going
What needs to happen to your car? And where is that? The tow truck driver is going to need to know where you want to tow it. Perhaps you have an auto repair shop in town you trust. If not, then you’ve got a limited time to determine where you want to go.
While you may know that Collision Center of Andover handles auto body repair, we also can handle more general vehicle repairs to get your car or truck back up and running. If you call our towing service, they can take you to our shop. However, it’s not required. Our towing service will take you to any vehicle repair shop of your choosing in Wichita or Andover.
Get Trusted Towing Service from Collision Center of Andover
Overcharging a Car Battery
Windshield Chip Repair
Keeping Little Chips & Cracks from becoming Big Repairs
Here in Kansas, we are at risk of suffering a crack or ding to our windshield during any time of year. From being parked outside during a large hailstorm in the spring to just following a construction vehicle along Kellogg in Wichita, people come into our Andover auto shop all year round with a variety of auto glass damage.
When to get a windshield chip repaired?
A little chip or crack on your windshield may be annoying, but not an impairment to your driving. You may be tempted to delay getting your vehicle’s glass repaired later. But how long can you safely wait to fix a little chip in your window before getting it fixed? There really is no good length of time to wait to repair a broken windshield, no matter how minor the damage is. The fact is, the smallest ding in your window or windshield is at risk of turning into a large crack at any time. Waiting to fix a little windshield chip could cost you more in the long run.
What’s the cost of fixing a chipped windshield?
If you have a chip less than a half inch big or a crack that can be completely covered by your hand, these damages probably require minor repairs and will not be very expensive. Here at our auto shop in Andover just minutes from Wichita, we often can repair minor chips and cracks in less than an hour.
The cost and repair time increase if the damage is not as minor as you think. If there are 4 or more chips or cracks on the glass, if the damage is located at the ends of the windshield, or if your windshield is covered with tiny divots, then you may need to have the entire windshield replaced.
Finding out if we can fix it and how much it will cost is free. Here at Collision Center of Andover, we do not charge for a repair quote. Feel free to bring your vehicle to our auto shop at 948 N. Andover Rd, just a few minutes outside of Wichita. Or you can use our online repair quote form to submit a description and a photo of your car’s damage to help us get started on your repair quote.
What could cause a small windshield chip to become worse?
Think you can just try to drive more carefully to keep the little crack from getting worse? You are taking a big gamble. The truth is, there is really no way for you to avoid a little chip in your glass before that minor damage becomes a crack that reaches across your whole windshield.
What can cause a chip or small crack to spread?
Beyond those above situations that could occur while you’re on the road, elements in nature could also contribute to making a little problem much bigger and more expensive for you. Your windshield experiencing sudden temperature changes could cause the chip or crack to get worse. Some ways to avoid these big temperature swings affecting your windshield, do not park in direct sunlight and avoid using your window defroster until you get the damage fixed. In addition to temperature, leaving a window chip exposed can cause dirt to get into the tiny cracks, making it possibly harder to repair later. Even something relatively small that drops from a tree like an acorn or nut could be enough of an impact to make your small chip become a large crack in your windshield.
How to stop a windshield crack from spreading
The best thing to do is to get the damage fixed right away. But if you can’t get it into a shop immediately, there are some simply DIY steps you can take to prevent the damage from getting worse. One easy measure is to apply superglue or clear nail polish to the chip. You will first want to completely clean the windshield and damaged area. Then fill the crack with the glue or polish. Once it’s dry, put a piece of clear packing tape over it to keep dirt from getting into the crack.
Are there laws against windshield damage?
Kansas law states that you cannot have damage to your front windshield or windows that present a substantial obstruction to the driver’s view of the roads. What size of damage is considered substantial? The law isn’t exact, but it’s probably not something you want to leave up to the officer who decided to pull you over. It will be up to that officer’s judgement on whether the chips or cracks in any of your vehicle’s glass are in violation of state law.
Federal law is a bit more specific on how much windshield damage is illegal to have on an operating vehicle. It’s against the law to have cracks that intersect with each other. And it’s illegal to have glass chips ¾ of an inch wide or larger within 3 inches of any other damage.
Breaking the Kansas state laws on vehicle window and windshield damage could result in a fine of $45.00. Although subsequent offenses within a couple years’ time will increase the amount you are fined.
Can you fix your car’s window yourself?
Possibly. There are DIY windshield kits available for consumers to use. Before deciding to take on this job yourself, you will want to consider a few things:
Beyond windshield, Collision Center of Andover can handle all your auto glass repair & replacement, including rear windshield and door windows. Minor cracks and chips can be fixed very quickly, often in less than an hour. And depending on your insurance coverage, the window chip repair may be at no cost to you. Call us today and let us know how we can help – (316) 733-9310.
When Will My Car be Ready? 9 Things that Can Slow Down Repairs
From Estimate to Fixed: Factors determining how long your car will be in the shop
NOTE: Due to current supply-chain shortages, some supplies and parts face an unusually long delay. In some severe cases, it can take several months to procure the necessary parts. Check with our team to learn if current supply problems could affect your vehicle repair.
Having been the premiere auto body shop for Andover and Wichita since 2006, Collision Center of Andover are experts at putting your damaged car back to the way it was. Not only do our experienced car technicians know how to get the job done, we know how long this process can be expected to take AND all the factors that cause delays in getting your vehicle fixed as soon as possible.
The 1 question our customers ask the most: When will my car be ready?
So, what’s the answer? When will we get your vehicle done?
We wish we could give you an exact answer. But the fact is, we can’t. And believe us, we really, really wish we could. The simple fact is we just don’t know. It almost pains us to tell you that. With a team of car guys with decades of experience fixing cars day in and day out (heck, Jeff alone has nearly 30 years’ experience!), you would think we would be the local auto body shop to know this answer.
There is a good reason why we can’t predict with 100% accuracy how long it will take for us to repair your car. Actually, there are 9 reasons. And many of those reasons are outside the control of our technicians and repair shop, at least until we learn how to control mother nature.
9 Factors that Determine Auto Repair Time
Is it a nice spring day, or is it the day after central Kansas’ first ice storm of the winter season? If our area’s first mix of ice and sleet covered roads from Andover to Goddard, there are likely hundreds (or more) of other people across the Wichita area who are taking their car or truck to the repair shop at the same time as you. While we want to get to work on your car right away, you may be waiting in line… at ANY repair shop across the area.
Depending on your answer, this could be the most substantial delay to work getting done. We have great experience in the entire process, and that includes working with insurance companies to avoid delays. But the truth is, each insurance company operates differently. While Collision Center technicians can get started without any delay when certain insurance companies are involved, other insurance companies may require an extensive approval process, taking days or every several weeks! While we can’t control how long some insurance companies will take to allow us to get your car repair started, you can trust Collision Center of Andover to do what it takes to help insurance companies expedite their process whenever we can.
Once we get the insurance approval, we can get straight to work on repairing your vehicle. That often starts with us tearing down your vehicle. This is where new issues can arise. It’s very possible that while we are getting a closer look inside your vehicle, we will find additional damage that wasn’t visible until AFTER we took it apart. If that happens, we will work quick to handle any new orders for parts or any further coordination with the insurance company.
There are times when a repair job will require work to be done by the dealership. This may be because of insurance requirements or warranty specifications. In any case, taking your car to a dealership means the repair is temporarily out of our hands. Just as we effort to expedite work with insurance companies, we are quick to work closely with your dealership to avoid any unnecessary delays. Once they can get their part of the work done, we are ready to take over.
Even if Kansas isn’t currently dealing with bad weather, a storm in our neighboring states could still affect how long it will take your car to get done. Fortunately, many parts are available here in the Wichita area. But sometimes parts needed for repairs come from outside Kansas, such as from Denver, Oklahoma or Texas. Usually when we need to order parts, we can have them on hand in a day. But as we’ve seen happen, roads like I-70 are prone to be shut down during and after a big snow storm and can delay how soon your parts get to us.
If you’re driving a foreign car or some other less common vehicle, we may need to order parts that could take a while to get delivered to us. But if you drive a Ford, Chevy, Honda or other common vehicle on our roads, delays for parts are usually minimal, if at all. Also, if your car is rather old (more than 10 years), it may require parts that aren’t as common and quick to receive. And having a vehicle that isn’t being manufactured anymore (like an Oldsmobile or Saturn) could also mean a delay in getting your car’s parts.
The more technology your vehicle has, the more there is for us to fix. Nowadays, there are some cars with sensors everywhere. So that little dent on your bumper that used to be a quick fix to smooth out, now comes with the complication of us needing to address all the technology that has been installed into that bumper.
If it has, and your vehicle’s repair job is going to require painting, that could add time. Paint dries slowly in humid conditions. Although we are so close to being done at this point, it is possible rainy conditions mean one more day of waiting for you.
Because we are going to make sure that your car is put back to the way it was before the accident, we take care of all the details. From the air bag light to the trim pieces – for every little issue that could be broken or affected by the wreck, we check it and we fix it.
When can we Guarantee a Delivery Date?
While we may not be able to give you an exact answer when you first bring your vehicle in for repairs, after the vehicle is inspected and parts are sourced, we can give you a delivery date. We will contact you immediately after repairs are done and our quality inspection is complete. Preference of being contacted by phone, email or text communication can be requested when you drop off your vehicle.
We Have a Habit of Delivering on Time
We pride ourselves on excellent customer service, and that is why you will see on Google that we are filled with 5-star reviews! In fact, many of those glowing reviews thank us for doing excellent work in the time we estimated it would take. Here are just a sample of recent reviews from Collision Center of Andover customers extremely satisfied with their wait time and repair work.
How to Keep Your Car Clean During a Family Road Trip
Keeping your vehicle from becoming a disaster while traveling with kids
Taking a family road trip for a long vacation or even a weekend getaway is as American as apple pie. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, people took more than 220 billion vehicle trips in 2017. And all those car rides can take a toll on your vehicle. While all of us at Collision Center of Andover know what such things like weather, pollen and vehicle accidents can do to the outside of your car, we know there’s another force of nature that regular keeps many of you from maintaining a nice interior and clean car.
Children
Working to keep your car clean on a regular basis is challenging enough. A road trip with the whole family packed in the vehicle for many hours over many days means your car may resemble the inside of a trash can before returning home.
Whether you’re headed across Kansas or across the country, here are some tips to prevent the inside of your car looking like a disaster on your next family road trip.
The 2 items that can make car clean-up easy (or at least easier)
Or several! Make sure you have enough small bags (grocery bags work well) to last the duration of your trip. You’ll want to be sure there is one in reach of each person in the vehicle. This way, all the cups, receipts, wrappers and miscellaneous trash that gets accumulated along the road trip have a place to go.
You might consider this a miscellaneous bag. Fill a bag (backpacks work great for this) for each kid with items that will help keep them entertained along the way. Some great things to put in an activity bag include:
Beyond this bag serving the purpose of bringing the items along that will help keep kids entertained in the car, it will also serve as the holding place for those items to return to. After all, crayons and notebooks that get taken out will need a place to go when your child discards them for another activity. Using a separate and designated activity bag, instead of putting these items in the luggage with your clothes, means that those luggage bags can remain tucked away in your trunk.
The right cleaning supplies for a family road trip
The basics of being ready to handle quick little messes on a family road trip include just two items:
1. Wipes
2. Paper towels
Put your stops to use
Want to make sure your vehicle is travel ready before your trip? Whether it’s a day trip exploring new towns across Kansas or you’re heading across the country, it’s always good to make sure your vehicle is well-equipped to handle the trip. Schedule an appointment with us at Collision Center of Andover for us to make sure your car is ready for your next road trip.