When to Fix Car Scratches Yourself vs. Taking it to the Autobody

There’s nothing worse to find on a shiny, new car than a deep scratch. A once-perfect vehicle now marred by some unfortunate incident.  It’s a minor problem that some might want to ignore, but for a lot of us, it’s one that bothers us every time we see it. The good news is that a scratch on your vehicle’s paint job, even a deep scratch, is easily fixable. And there is good reason to fix it soon, too. So how do you remove deep scratches from a car?

Collision Center of Andover is the Wichita area’s I-CAR Gold Class certified team of auto body technicians and our guys know everything about vehicle scratches and the best way to get them out.

When a Car Scratch is More than “Just a Scratch”

First, let’s discuss why this is more than just a surface problem. While the scratch on your vehicle’s finish may appear minor and will go unnoticed to most other people, it may be more than a cosmetic problem. A scratch in your paint could lead to future problems. A deep scratch, especially, can pierce your paint job and result in serious damage.

Once your car’s topcoat is penetrated, the next layers of your base paint layer and even the metal body can become exposed. That’s when rust becomes a problem. It can take just a day or two for rust to develop when a vehicle’s bare metal is exposed. Once you have rust, you have a bigger problem. And one that will need to be resolved by a professional technician, like our qualified auto body team.

Can I Get Rid of a Deep Scratch from my Vehicle Myself?

There are some instances when people can buff out scratches on their own vehicle. If the scratch is not too deep and it hasn’t penetrated the lower paint job, you may be able to get rid of minor scratches yourself.

How do I know if I can buff out a scratch myself?

Good rule of thumb: If you can catch the scratch with your fingernail, then it won’t buff out.

It’ll take a bit of work and quite a few products and tools, but if you want to avoid a visit to an auto body shop, there are steps you can take to handle it yourself. However, be aware that this is rarely the best option. We’ll get into why that is in just a bit.

If you want to try to fix your car scratches yourself, here are some of the things you will need:

DIY: Repair Needs to Erase Deep Scratches from Car:

• Polishing compound
• Buffing pads
• Microfiber cloth
• Glazing putty (if you need to fill any cracks or significant scratches)
• Spreader tool for the glazing putty
• Paint leveler
• Touch-up paint
• Car wax

Along with these products, you may find you need to work on your technique to fully get the paint job looking like new. It can be difficult to perfectly get out scratches if you’ve never done this before.

When To Go to an Auto Body Shop for Paint Scratches?

Be aware that trying to get out scratches yourself is rarely the best option. You won’t save any time, as typically this is a quick job for any quality auto body shop to handle, nor is it an expensive repair.

Simply put, getting out scratches is one of the easiest repairs we make every day. Our team of experienced auto body technicians are experts at this and can get it done quickly with perfect results.

Bringing your vehicle to a shop like Collision Center of Andover will not only save you a lot of time and hassle trying to figure out this job yourself, but also it won’t cost you as much as you think. In fact, we charge very little or nothing to our customers for buffing out annoying scratches!

If you have deep scratches or a lot of scratches, sometimes the solution will be beyond your ability. The entire panel may need to be repainted, which is another service we provide. We offer a full range of auto body services including the much preferred paintless dent repair service. You can count on our team of experienced techs to accurately assess exactly what sort of repair will get your car back to looking like new as quickly and efficiently as possible.

We stand behind that promise with a lifetime guarantee on our workmanship.

Need to Repair Deep Scratches from a Car? Call Collision Center of Andover

316-733-9310

Collision Center of Andover is conveniently located just minutes outside of Wichita. Our team of expert auto body technicians can handle everything from fixing deep scratches, paintless dent repair to full collision repair. Watch a stunning video of how we knock out dents quickly with the PDR method!

We are proud to be the preferred auto body collision repair shop for customers in the Wichita area and beyond, including El Dorado, Benton, Augusta, and Rose Hill.

Cost & Considerations for Repairing a Dented Fender

When it comes to collision repair, a dented fender is a relatively common problem. Whether it is a minor fender bender or something more serious from a vehicle collision, a car’s fender can take a beating. A front fender is especially in a position to face more if its share of bumps and scratches. But if it does get damaged, does a dented fender always need to be replaced?

At Collision Center of Andover, we have handled thousands of dented fenders from drivers from Wichita to El Dorado and everywhere in between. We have seen all different types of damage can find a solution to getting the dent out and restoring the vehicle to look like new again. But while we can repair or replace any type of damaged fender, whether it needs to be replaced is a different question.

When a Fender Does Not Need to Get Replaced

Some dented fenders have such minor damage that it does not need to be repaired or replaced. It will still do the job the fender was built to do. However, you will probably be less than happy driving around with a dented vehicle. Sometimes a fender repair is essentially a cosmetic fix to get a vehicle looking good again.

Another time when a fender may not need to get replaced is when the damage is not very severe. A minor fender bender happens to a lot of us. When the dent or other damage is minor, it can usually need a simple repair. A fender repair can be different depending on what the damage is and who you go to.

Here at Collision Center of Andover, we are the Wichita area PDR experts. PDR stands for Paintless Dent Repair. It is a repair technique that allows us to get out bumps from your vehicle without needing any sort of painting or repainting. The results are not just quick, but they are amazing. Check out this page for a video to see PDR in action inside our state-of-the-art autobody body shop.

When a Fender Needs to Get Replaced

If the damage to the fender is significant enough, it should get replaced. While that may sound like you are in for a timely and expensive repair, think again.

Fender replacement is almost always cheaper than replacing a door, for example. And depending on parts availability, replacing a fender can even be quicker than a fender repair.

When you find yourself with a dented fender, it is important to keep in mind that what you see may not be the only damage your vehicle has. A collision can cause damage to parts of your car that may not be easily noticeable. You may be tempted to ignore a little dent, but you should not. What seems like only a minor fender bender can also have hidden damages.

Determining whether your dented fender needs to be repaired or replaced may not be obvious to the owner. That is why our expert technicians at Collision Center of Andover will do a thorough job to inspect the damage. Then we work with the customer to explain their options including cost and expected repair time. We will arm you with the information to make the right decision on what is best for your vehicle and your budget.

How Long Does It Take to Replace a Fender?

Replacing a fender takes a lot less time than you probably think! Depending on parts availability, a fender replacement can even be quicker than a fender repair. An older or specialty vehicle may require a longer wait time. This can also be true when factory parts are no longer made for a vehicle.

Other factors such as weather and supply chain issues affect how long this work will take. Read this article for the 9 biggest factors that impact how long any sort of vehicle collision repair can take.

Wichita Area Car Fender Service You Can Count On

When you have any collision damage including a dented fender, you can always bring it to the I-CAR Cold Class certified auto body technicians at Collision Center of Andover.

Our skilled team of auto body technicians provides quick repair and replacement of dented fenders. We can provide service to any type of vehicle. We work with you and your insurance company to get you the proper service that will get your vehicle back on the road and look like new again.

We stand behind that promise with a lifetime guarantee on our workmanship.

Need a dented fender fixed?  Call Collision Center of Andover at 316-733-9310.

Our Collision Center of Andover state-of-the-art autobody shop is in Butler County, mere minutes outside of Wichita. We are the preferred auto body collision repair shop for customers in the Wichita area and beyond, including El Dorado, Benton, Augusta, and Rose Hill.

How to Fix a Dent in a Plastic Bumper

Your vehicle’s bumpers are important in a collision. They absorb the contact of the crash. But that also means they are a part on your vehicle that may see the most damage. When you have any collision damage including a dented plastic bumper, you can always bring it to the I-CAR Cold Class certified auto body technicians at Collision Center of Andover.

Plastic Bumper: Repair or Replace?

There are different kinds of bumpers on vehicles today. That includes steel, metal, chrome, and fiberglass. However, most vehicle bumpers are plastic with an aluminum or steel reinforcement bar. In the early days of motor vehicles, bumpers were a hard material intended mostly for decoration. The first plastic bumpers appeared on the 1968 Pontiac GTO.

If you have a dent or crack in your plastic car bumper, can you remove dents without replacing the part? Can it be repaired? The better question to ask might be: Should it be repaired?

Here in our auto body shop, we have seen all sorts of damage done to bumpers. While these damaged plastic car bumpers can be repaired, for most of them, they shouldn’t be repaired. And there is one main reason why.

It is more expensive.

Most often, replacing a damaged plastic front bumper is actually going to cost less than getting it repaired. It does depend on a few factors. Where the damage is, how bad it is, and how much the paint was affected all need to be considered in determining whether a repair is the adequate fix.

Plastic Bumper Repair: Shortcuts Don’t Work

This is important for vehicle owners to understand because some repair shops may take shortcuts.

Here at our auto body shop, we see the consequences of other repair shops trying to avoid a complete bumper replacement when it was needed. Often it is a car dealership trying to make a quick repair on a dented plastic car bumper. They will blend the paint for spot refinishing work. When this happens, you may see your car returned looking as good as new, but it often doesn’t last.

This bumper repair shortcut often only lasts for 6 months! Not soon after, the paint will likely start peeling.

If you spot fix the dents and scratches in a bumper, you are not going panel edge to panel edge. This shortcut is what will lead to eventual paint peeling. And it will be more likely to fade.

If you see any cracks in your bumper, that is a clear sign it needs to be completely replaced. A crack weakens the structural integrity of the bumper. For it to handle the job of absorbing an impact from a collision, you want to be sure it is structurally sound. Any cracking means the bumper needs to be replaced.

How Long will a Car Bumper Replacement Take?

The downside of getting a plastic car bumper replaced instead of only needing a repair is the potential wait for a new bumper. An older or specialty vehicle may require a longer wait time for this repair work to be completed. Factory parts that are no longer being made for a vehicle can also delay the repair.

Outside of finding the replacement bumper needed, other factors such as the weather and supply chain issues affect how long this work will take. Read this article for the 9 biggest factors that impact how long any sort of vehicle collision repair can take.

Wichita Area Car Bumper Service You Can Count On

Collision Center of Andover provides quick repair and replacement to vehicle bumpers. Our skilled technicians can provide service to any type of vehicle and on any material of bumper. We will work with you and your insurance company to ensure you get the proper service that will not only get your vehicle back to looking like new again, but with a collision repair that will last. We stand behind that promise with a lifetime guarantee on our workmanship.

Need to have your car’s plastic bumpers be repaired?  Call Collision Center of Andover at 316-733-9310.

Collision Center of Andover is conveniently located in Butler County, just minutes outside of Wichita. Our team of expert auto body technicians can handle everything from fixing plastic bumper covers, paintless dent repair to full collision repair. We are proud to be the preferred auto body collision repair shop for customers in the Wichita area and beyond, including El Dorado, Benton, Augusta, and Rose Hill.

When a Badly Damaged Vehicle Door Can Still Be Fixed

You find yourself with a dent in your vehicle you can’t ignore. It may even be so bad you are struggling even to open your car door. Obviously, you need the dented door fixed, but does that mean fixing the existing door or does a dented car door need to be replaced?

Fortunately, the answer most of the time is to get the existing dented door fixed. Just about every sort of dent or damage to a door can be repaired, and often quicker and cheaper than you might expect.

Collision Center of Andover provides quick repair to dented car doors restoring vehicles to their original condition.

A lot of things can go wrong with car doors, including:

• Door handles getting jammed
• Door handles breaking off
• Door window stuck down (or up)
• Lock mechanism not functioning

When the problem involves electrical issues, a repair may take longer. But when it comes to a dent – even a huge one – getting your door fixed will probably not be quite a headache.

Does Your Dented Car Door Need to Be Replaced or Repaired?
Call Collision Center of Andover at 316-733-9310.

Do Not Wait to Repair a Dented Car Door

There are a lot of reasons why you should get a dented door fixed right away. For one, to cut down on the annoyance of any difficulties you’re having with operating the door. Plus, you probably aren’t feeling very proud to be driving around with such an eyesore on your otherwise beautiful vehicle.

Waiting to get a dented car door fixed is often going to make the problem worse. The dent could get bigger and uglier over time. Not only that, it makes your vehicle prone to having rust problems. The possible easy and affordable repairs that were needed when it first happened will no longer fix the problem. So, it will save you money in the long run to get that repair handled right away.

There is always an issue with safety with nearly any vehicle damage. If your vehicle has large size dents, there is a chance it has other underlying structural problems that cannot be easily seen. When a car is brought in to Collision Center of Andover with signs that more issues could be possible, we do a thorough inspection to ensure we uncovered all the problems so you aren’t left with potential dangers that could pop up. You can read about the 7 ways a small car accident can cause big problems.

Reasons When Does a Dented Door Needs to be Replaced

When might a replacement be better than a repair? When it financially makes sense. You could have a door dented so severely that the cost to completely repair it and restore it to its original shape costs more than just replacing it overall.

You can read more about vehicle repair in this article about how long it takes to replace a car door.

For more than 15 years, Collision Center of Andover has solved dented door problems for car owners in Andover, Wichita, and surrounding towns. We work closely with insurance companies to help make sure you get the financial help that you deserve.

Solution for Small (and sometimes Big) Dents in A Door

Small dents are not a problem for our auto body shop techs. Our skilled team employs the modern technique of Paintless Dent Repair to quickly and easily get out little dents that often come from dings in a parking lot or a Kansas hailstorm. Paintless Dent Repair can get out a variety of dents and may be all that your vehicle needs to get you back on the road again in a car that looks like new.

Prices range from $500-$1500 depending on how much damage is done. The cost can vary partly by whether the car door needs to be repainted or if it can be fixed by Paintless Dent Repair service.

You may be in good shape to just need Paintless Dent Repair service if:

• The dent isn’t causing the paint damage
• The dent isn’t located on the edge of a body panel
• The vehicle wasn’t made before 1990

Does a Dented Car Door Have to be Repainted?

Sometimes a dented car door will need to be repainted. If the damage is minor, like a few scratches or dents, likely, you won’t need the door repainted. In many instances, Collision Center of Andover can provide paintless dent repair services to restore your car to look like new again.

You will not be surprised by an outrageous car repair bill. With Collision Center of Andover, we make sure to talk over the work and expected costs you can expect. We provide auto body repair free estimates to the entire Wichita area.

Need your dented door repaired? Call Collision Center of Andover repair shop at 316-733-9310.

Have more autobody shop questions? Check out some of these popular articles on frequently asked car repair questions:

• How to remove deep scratches from a car?
• Can plastic bumpers be repaired?
• How long does it take to replace a car door?
• Do I need a vehicle alignment?
• Does my car need a paint job?

Costs & Repair Time to Fix a Dented or Damaged Car Door

If one part of your vehicle is most prone to getting damaged, it is your car door. While it’s never great to discover you have a dent or ding in your door, it is something that can be repaired or replaced relatively quickly and easily.

Collision Center of Andover provides state-of-the-air automotive repair and restoration to Andover and Wichita. Repairing and replacing car doors is one of the many vehicle restoration services we provide. Our team is highly trained and experienced in repairing car doors quickly and expertly. But how long does it take to replace a car door?

Need your damaged door repaired? Call Collision Center of Andover at 316-733-9310.

How long does it take to replace a car door?

Repair Time for a Damaged Car Door

On average, it usually takes around two hours for an auto body repair shop to install a replacement car door on your vehicle. This time can vary depending on the extent of the damage or how much custom work is required.

Some of the auto repair work to fix a damaged car door includes:

• removing the old door
• installing a new door with all of the necessary metal pieces, seals and weather stripping. This can include custom work for side mirrors or headlights as well
• replacing any parts that need to be repaired or replaced, such as locks, handles, and window regulators

However, just because the only damage you see is on the door does not mean that is all that is wrong. Sometimes a collision can cause other vehicle damage that you cannot see. You can read about the 7 ways a small car accident can cause big problems.

Fastest Auto Body Shop in Wichita Area

Collision Center of Andover is proud to boast of providing the speediest body shop workaround. And it is something insurance companies keep track of. Repairing a vehicle and getting it back on the road isn’t just important to the car’s owners but also to the insurance companies. One reason is that shorter repair time means less money they will have to pay for a rental car. They keep track of the number of labor hours that individual auto body shops take in getting a vehicle fixed back up.

And by far, when it comes to this important speed factor, Collision Center of Andover leads the local industry with every major insurance company.

“We are the fastest and quality is not sacrificed in the process. We always exceed the insurance companies’ expectations on repair time from start to finish. And we are pretty good at establishing a delivery time by just looking at the vehicle. If the vehicle is drivable, stop by for us to have a quick look and we can tell you in less than a minute about how long it would take to complete. Or fill out the request on our website and upload some pictures, and we can do the same thing.”

-Ben Lawrence, Owner of Collision Center of Andover

How much does it cost to replace a car door?

Prices range from $500-$1500 depending on how much damage is done. The cost varies partly by whether the car door needs repainted or if it can be fixed by Paintless Dent Repair service.

You will not be surprised by an outrageous car repair bill. With Collision Center of Andover, we make sure to talk over the work and expected costs you can expect. We provide auto body repair free estimates to the entire Wichita area.

Need your damaged door repaired? Call Collision Center of Andover at 316-733-9310.

Does a damaged car door need to be repainted?

Yes, sometimes a damaged car door will need to be repainted. If the car door damage is relatively minor, like a few scratches or dents, likely, you won’t need to have the door repainted. In many instances, we can provide paintless dent repair services to get your car looking like new again.

If the damage is more significant, then yes, you will need to repaint or replace the door. How long does it take to repair a car door for this depends on how big of an area needs to be repaired and how much damage was caused.

Note: If you plan on painting your vehicle and replacing a damaged or dented body part before respraying, this will save time and money.

Need your damaged door repaired? Call Collision Center of Andover at 316-733-9310.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Other Factors Determine Car Repair Time

How long does it take to replace a car door? While auto repair shops like Collision Center of Andover can often replace get a car door in a matter of hours, there are times when that is not possible. There are a few other factors beyond the time it takes to do the work.

Materials
If your vehicle’s door requires particular or specialty components or materials, there could be a delay in getting that part. While parts can often arrive very quickly, sometimes unexpected circumstances can slow down delivery. A hurricane in Florida or a flood in Iowa could impede a supplier’s ability to deliver the necessary part to us quickly.

Local Repair Demand
Sometimes, all the auto repair shops in the Wichita area are busy. For example, after a hailstorm, many drivers look to get those hail dents fixed. If a lot of customers want auto body service, you will wait longer to get the work done you need.

Read more about the various factors that determine how long an autobody repair can take.

Have more autobody shop questions? Check out some of our popular articles on frequently asked car repair questions:

• Can plastic bumpers be repaired?
• How to get auto body repair FREE estimates
• Windship chip repair – costs and time
• Imported & foreign car repair service in the Wichita area

Quick PDR Fix to Little Dents in your Vehicle

We see all sorts of auto damage here at our Collision Center of Andover auto body shop. We are a full-service automotive business ready with the tools and trained team to handle the biggest scrapes and dents that can happen to a car in a collision. But sometimes the problems that cause many people big headaches are actually little things. It doesn’t seem to take long before you find that your new, shiny car suddenly has tiny dings in the door.

Car dings are so common because so many things cause them. A shopping cart could have smacked your vehicle in the Dillons grocery store. Perhaps someone parked too close to your vehicle and opened their door right into yours. And of course, as we all know too well here in Kansas, hail can leave a vehicle covered in tiny pock marks.

While door dings and tiny marks won’t keep you off the road, they are still a problem. Those dings can decrease the value of your car and increase your chance for further damage such as paint erosion and rust.

PDR: The Better Door Ding Solution

Auto body shops have handled door dings for decades. At one time, you would have had to wait a couple days or more to get those little dings and dents removed from your vehicle. The old conventional way of repairing dents is to fill the imperfection with body filler. Then begins a process that includes hardening, sanding, adding primer and then paint to match the original paint color. The work required and the cost for this auto body repair was relatively substantial. Thank goodness that technology in the automotive industry grew to make newer and better solutions for fixing door dings.

Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) is a highly successful process of removing many types of damage to a vehicle’s body. It’s a service we employ frequently here at Collision Center of Andover. We have a team of trained and highly experienced auto body repair experts who can make dents and dings of all sizes disappear.

Paintless dent repair is a technique that allows body shop repair technicians to fix an imperfection without damaging the vehicle’s paint job in the process. While the history of this auto body technique actually has roots leading back to the 3^rd Century BC, it became a technique perfected for the automotive industry in the last century. An early, basic form of it was first utilized in Germany in the Mercedes Benz factory. Then about in the 1980s, paintless dent repair became a service provided by auto body shops in America.

Paintless Door Dent Repair in Andover

Collision Center of Andover has provided exceptional professional paintless dent repair service for decades. We are proud to provide PDR service to vehicle owners not just here in Andover, but for residents all across Butler County and also Wichita and other Sedgwick County communities.

By applying PDR to door dings and other larger dents, we can thoroughly fix and smooth your vehicle’s body back to its original shape. And we can do it much quicker and much cheaper than other auto repair methods.

Paintless dent repair has become such the preferred standard with a lower repair cost that it is now highly recommended by most insurance companies.

How Long Does PDR Take to Fix a Door Ding?

Getting your vehicle fixed with PDR service means you will get back on the road in your own vehicle quickly. Some tiny dents and door dings are often fixed in the same day. However, if you’re facing a more serious car dent or simply a lot of little ones, you can expect to wait longer. A car suffering a great deal of hail damage may take a day or two.

So take a look at those tiny dings that annoy you every time you go to your car door. Imagine having that aggravation gone in a matter of hours. We have made this so easy for you. You can contact us online right now to get your car’s door dings repair scheduled. Or if you have questions before scheduling service, just give us a call at (316) 733-9310 or request a free auto body repair quote online.

4 Things to Consider Before Getting Your Vehicle Repainted

Is your vehicle looking a bit dingy these days? Whether you’re dealing with scratches in the paint or a hood faded from the sun, it’s disappointing to see your car looking far worse from when you first bought it.

At Collision Center of Andover, we have seen all the ways that a vehicle can look weathered, old or out of shape. After all, our specialty is fixing vehicles damaged from a collision. Often times the work needed to get a vehicle back to looking like new requires some sort of paint job.

The talented team at our auto repair shop has a lot of experience in knowing when any sort of paint job is needed for a vehicle. Our goal is to get your vehicle looking as good as the day you first drove it off the car lot. Sometimes that means repainting, and sometimes it doesn’t.

There are several things to factor when considering whether you need a complete paint job, a paint match job for part of your vehicle or some other service altogether.

Is it time to get your vehicle painted?

There are a lot of great reasons to choose to get a vehicle repainted. It does not have to take a car accident to determine your car needs to be repainted. A car’s paint that has faded in the sun or has been affected by other environmental factors are common reasons to want a new paint job. Did you know that if you have a black or red car, you are more likely to notice fading paint on your vehicle? If you’ve been disappointed in how your vehicle’s been looking lately, it may be time to get it repainted. However, before you do, here are some factors to consider before heading to an auto paint shop.

4 Top Considerations for Getting a Car Repainted

1. Is there a cheaper fix for your car?
2. Does your vehicle have bigger issues that need to be handled first?
3. Are you repainting for the right reasons?
4. How to avoid a paint job rip off

1. Is there a cheaper fix for your car?

What looks like a very bad scratch or dent might not be as bad as you think. Here at Collision Center of Andover, we have decades of experience working with all degrees of vehicle damage. We fix all auto body problems – big and small.

For a lot of the small problems, no paint job is needed. With the technique of Paintless Dent Repair, we can get that dent out of your vehicle without ever affecting your paint. Collision Center of Andover prides itself on providing the areas most expert paintless dent repair service.

Sometimes scratches on your vehicle are not very deep. There is a layer of clear coat above the actual paint layer on your vehicle. If the scratch has not gotten down deep enough, the damage can likely be repaired without a complete paint job.

Go to a reputable auto shop company to be sure that you are getting ONLY the work your vehicle needs, and not paying extra for service it doesn’t.

2. Does your vehicle have bigger issues that need to be handled first?

If there is damage to your vehicle beyond the paint, you likely need to have that fixed before any paint work can be done. Do you have rust spots, dents, pits, or gouges? A shiny, new paint job will only highlight any damaged area your vehicle has.

You don’t want to be surprised with a shiny dented vehicle. And you also don’t want to be surprised by a huge bill for the additional repair work. Contact us for auto body repair free estimates so you know exactly how much you may be having to spend for the needed restoration work.

3. Are you repainting for the right reasons?

Are you trying to sell your car? You may think that a clean, new paint job is going to increase the value of your vehicle. Well, you are right about that. But in doing so, are you going to end up spending more for the paint job than the extra you’ll get in return?

If you are getting the paint job solely for improving the sale of your vehicle, do your research first. Make sure the amount you can expect to be paid for a newly painted vehicle makes it worth the cost of repainting it.

Collision Center of Andover offers competitive pricing for vehicle paint service and all other auto body work for the Wichita area. Contact us for a free estimate on how much it will cost to repaint your vehicle.

4. How to avoid a paint job rip off

Painting a house is easy, a car can’t be all that hard? While you may realize how ridiculous of a statement that is, a lot of other people don’t. Do not get fooled by some friend of a friend or a guy with a sign claiming he can paint a car for cheap. Sure, he will paint it for less, but you could end up with a car in much worse shape than before.

To repaint a vehicle properly, you need to have a level of skill that requires training and years of experience. Fortunately, that’s exactly what our guys at Collision Center of Andover have.

Get a Quality Paint Job in the Wichita Area

Collision Center of Andover has been repainting vehicles for decades. Located conveniently just off Andover Rd, we provide service to the entire Wichita area. Among the services we offer are Vehicle Restoration and Complete Vehicle Repaint. We guarantee paint color match with your vehicle’s original color and will get it looking as good as new.

Call us at (316) 733-9310 to find out how we can restore the look of your vehicle. You can also contact us online for a free estimate.

Is that little ding going to cost you a lot of money? Does your vehicle have minor damage that you’ve procrastinated getting fixed?

What are you waiting for? Don’t let the concern over an auto repair keeping you from getting your car back to looking like new. At Collision Center of Andover, we want to eliminate any barriers that may be keeping you from getting the auto body service you need.

For anyone in the greater Wichita area looking to get auto repair work done on their vehicle, we provide free estimates.

What’s Keeping You from Getting Auto Body Work Done?

You may think whatever small damage your vehicle has is only a small issue. The truth of the matter is that a lot of little dings, dents and scratches can lead to bigger problems. And these bigger problems will surely cost more to fix. A little scratch can lead to rust. A ding on a windshield can lead to a massive crack. Sometimes these little things that don’t cost much to fix will cost you a lot more by ignoring it.

Money is often the big barrier that a lot of people face. Any damage to your vehicle is an unwanted surprise, and one you probably didn’t budget for. It can be very stressful worrying about how expensive your car’s problem will be to fix. This worry can stop you from taking the necessary steps to get it fixed.

Free Estimate – Get a Virtual Quote!

Get an auto body repair quote from anywhere! At Collision Center of Andover, we don’t just use modern technology to get dents and scratches out of cars. We have made a way for you to send us information easily to get your free estimate quote request.

You can request a free estimate for Wichita area service with our interactive form online. It allows you to upload photos of your vehicle’s damage so we can see right away what sorts of repairs we may be dealing with. We may need you to come in to our shop just a few miles east of Wichita so we can better inspect it, but at least we have the information to give you a starting idea of the work your vehicle will need.

There is no risk and no reason to wait. You can upload a photo of your vehicle’s damage RIGHT NOW and you will be one step closer to knowing if and how you can get your car finally fixed!

No Surprise Cost

You should never be surprised by a big and unexpected total price tag to the work you need done on your vehicle. With Collision Center of Andover, we provide upfront price estimates so that you know what you can expect to pay on the work we do.

With our auto body free estimates, people all across Wichita, Andover and the surrounding area come to us knowing what they’ll pay and that they’ll pay an affordable competitive price.

Auto Body Work that is Fair & Reasonable

While we pride ourselves on the quality of work we do inside our auto body shop, we know one of the big things our customers appreciate is our fair price. With dozens of 5-star reviews across Google and Facebook, we have heard time and time again how much people appreciate both our free estimates and our competitive pricing. Read testimonials from many of our satisfied auto body customers!

“Their estimate was competitive with other centers, and they explained the entire process and showed diagrams of the assembly of my car. They said it would take one day — it did — and they called me when it was ready for pick up. Results were great — looks like it was never damaged to begin with. Very pleased.”

-Jan Dent

I have used them several times. Their work is professional, and they are friendly. Extremely helpful and very honest in their estimates. They will also help you through the insurance process. I would not go elsewhere.

-Jodee Hobbs

We are Wichita’s Auto Body Shop, Too

Don’t let our name fool you. Collision Center of Andover started in Andover in 2016 but we service drivers from all over Sedgwick and Butler counties. We are proud to know that our ability to provide high-quality auto body service has become known throughout the area. Every day people across Wichita and beyond rely on our expert car technicians and our state-of-the-art auto body shop. We are appreciative they’ve decided to go the few extra miles (a short drive down east Kellogg) to come to us for their auto body needs.

If you’re on the east side of Wichita, we’re just minutes away. From Towne East Square just take Kellogg for 8 miles, then turn left onto Andover Rd. You’ll find us just a couple of miles up the road on your right.

Heading from East Warren Theater off Greenwich Rd, just take 13^th street going east for about 4 miles, then turn right on Andover Rd.

Have car damage you want a free estimate on? Don’t wait. Request a free quote online or give us a call at (316) 733-9310.

7 Common Ways a Small Car Accident Can Cause Big Problems

It happens to just about all of us. We run over a curb, tap a pole in the parking lot, hit a deer, or even lightly bump into another car. When a little accident happens and you go check out the extent of the fender bender damage, you are likely to find some dents and scratches. While it’s never great to realize your vehicle has been damaged, it’s likely a relief to find out it’s minor. It may seem that your small fender bender didn’t create any significant damage.

But did it?

Fender bender accidents are very common. A minor collision may not seem like reason enough to go to an auto repair shop immediately, but there is a good reason that it is. Sometimes the damage to your car from a very minor accident can actually leave you with real damage that will need to be addressed.

Why are fender benders sometimes big problems? Because many people don’t see the problem. Or they underestimate the damage and ignore it.

Let’s say a person has a minor accident that appears to have left behind a few scratches. So they decide their vehicle doesn’t need to go to the auto repair shop. But in reality, the vehicle did suffer damage beyond the paint. And, being left ignored, this damage gets worse and causes even bigger problems for your vehicle.

Leaving fender bender damage ignored for too long is the wrong thing to do. What could have been a small and inexpensive repair can quickly turn into a major, costly problem.

What To Look For

A fender bender can cause a surprising amount of damage to your car. A lot of these problems are not immediately evident. But days or weeks (or even months) after some slight run-in, you may discover something is definitely not right with your vehicle. Here is a list of just some of the problems that can be caused by even the smallest of fender benders.

1. BUMPERS
   Your car’s bumper is designed to best protect your vehicle from damage when it runs into another vehicle’s bumper. But take a look at the different types and sizes of vehicles out there – from Smart Cars to Hummers – and you’ll see bumpers don’t always line up with each other. Bumpers do a bigger job these days. Not only is your vehicle’s bumper supposed to absorb a relatively minor impact, it’s also housing several important sensors.
2. SENSORS
   There are sensors on parts of your vehicle that could easily be impacted by a minor impact. These are the sensors that give you such assistance as your blind spot warning and cruise control information. You may have a minor fender bender one day to discover a week later that a lot of those high-tech components in your vehicle no longer work.
3. ALIGNMENT
   Sometimes a small accident can create a shift in your vehicle’s alignment. The impact may have put, even slightly, your wheels or suspension out of place. A slight amount of change can create large problems over time if left ignored. Your vehicle could have suffered structural damage from what seemed like a slight accident. That damage may be too minor to notice with a simple visual inspection, but structural problems could leave your vehicle less able to handle the impact of a future crash.
4. ELECTRICAL
   There are a lot of electrical components inside your vehicle. Even a minor fender bender could loosen some wires. Days or weeks after a small accident, you could suddenly find yourself with an electrical short somewhere in your car. Perhaps your power windows are stuck open or your locks are malfunctioning.
5. AIR CONDITIONER
   The air conditioner in vehicles is typically mounted in the front. An accident that affects the front of your vehicle could impact the AC. Over time, the condenser could leak refrigerant which will leave you in a hot car. But it could be worse than that. A damaged or broken radiator will likely leak coolant. Pretty soon you can find out that your engine is overheating.
6. RUST
   Did your vehicle suffer a little scratch or rubbed-off paint? Even this is likely to lead to bigger problems down the road. The underlying metal may now be exposed to the elements, causing it to rust.
7. WINDSHIELD CHIP
   A tiny chip or crack in your windshield is almost guaranteed to grow. And with it, the cost to fix it. Once you notice even a tiny crack in your windshield, you will want to get that replaced.

When Does a Fender Bender Require Repairs From an Auto Body Shop?

Well, the safest answer is that you should head to a mechanic after any run-in where you notice any possible damage. If you were jarred by some impact or bump, it’s always best to have a professional mechanic check under the hood and elsewhere along your vehicle to ensure everything is fine.

Best case scenario: you leave paying a minimal fee for the inspection with nothing wrong. Even better, you take it to our experienced auto body mechanics at Collision Center where we do NOT charge a fee if we find nothing wrong. The next best-case scenario: an auto repair technician finds something relatively minor wrong that they can fix easily and cheaply. With this small problem fixed, you’ve avoided being suddenly surprised by a major problem down the road.

At Collision Center of Andover, we’re the team of qualified auto body shop technicians in south-central Kansas to handle everything from cosmetic damage to suspension work. From chips in your windshield, and dents in your hood to full-line collision repair, everything is handled in our state-of-the-art auto body shop. We’ve been servicing vehicles for people in Wichita, Andover, and surrounding communities since 2006. Give us a call at (316) 733-9310.

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.