auto repair Archives | Collision Center of Andover

BEFORE image of a rear ended hyunda sonata

Rear Ended Car Repair in Wichita Area

Finding a Female Friendly Car Repair Shop

6 Steps to Fair Auto Collision Service for Women Around Wichita

“HANDS DOWN THE BEST COMPANY IN THE BUSINESS.
As a female I try to have my husband do all my car stuff, you know the bad raps that have been in place for ages: this company treated me fairly, Jeff was so nice and accommodating, his staff was just as pleasant. They were respectful and so sweet…”

Women Rate Collision Center of Andover 5-Stars!

That was a review Collision Center of Andover received – posted to our Facebook page. It was written by a recent customer named Pearl who came to us after someone backed into her vehicle and caused a lot of damage.

Pearl is like half of our auto body shop customers in the simple fact that she is a woman.

It shouldn’t surprise anyone to know that women make up about half of the customers going to auto repair shops for vehicle repair in the United S. Yes, there is a stereotype that guys take care of all the car work and decisions. But that’s just simply not the way things are anymore.

Bad Car Repair Shops for Women?

Most women take care of their own automotive needs, including which car to buy and deciding where to get their vehicle serviced. For a long time, auto repair shops have gotten a bad reputation for being unfair to women.

Unfortunately, shady car shops still exist. Women may still find they are overpaying for service or paying for unnecessary service by mechanics who think they can get away with it.

In a 2013 survey, 77% of car owners believe mechanics are more likely to sell women unnecessary repairs. And 66% believed women were charged more than men were for the same services. It’s no wonder that many women hate going to the auto repair shop more than the dentist!

Women Are a Driving Force – Literally!

While women may have not been driving as much as men for most of the last century, today women have more than made up for lost time.

Check out these current stats:

More women have driver’s licenses than men do
Women spend more time on the road
Women spend more than $200 billion dollars buying & servicing their vehicles

Today, more women are taking care of their own vehicles and protecting themselves from a scam.

In a 2020 Survey among 2000 female drivers:

3 in 4 women do research on pricing and repairs before going to an auto shop
41% have refused a service because they didn’t think it was necessary

How To Ensure Getting Fair Car Repair Work

Any person looking to have a mechanic do work on their vehicle, whether you are male or female, can take proactive steps to make sure you are getting the proper service and price.

Find a reputable auto repair company with trained mechanics and autobody technicians with a proven track record of quality work. Ask friends and family who they have used and been happy with. Many of our customers have come to us because of referrals from our many satisfied customers!
Look for a neat and orderly facility. Here at Collision Center of Andover, we are proud to boast a well-organized state-of-the-art auto body shop.
Do basic research on the service you need. You can check out our wide range of helpful guides available on our site, including such issues as:
Get a second opinion. If you can drive your vehicle to another facility and/or have the time to shop around, see if another mechanic would recommend different work or charge a different price. Collision Center of Andover provides a convenient way for you to request an estimate for repair work online.
Ask questions. Don’t be afraid to ask questions to the people in the shop – from the customer service person at the front desk to the mechanic servicing your vehicle, be proactive in relaying any of your questions or concerns. Throughout the service of a vehicle, our team is often giving customers ongoing updates of the work and any updates to their vehicle’s repair.
Keep records of your vehicle along with any receipts for work done. If you run into any problems, these documents can help determine what is needed or if you were improperly charged.

Collision Center’s Commitment to Fair Vehicle Service to Women

Collision Center of Andover has been in business since 2006.

In the nearly 2 decades of providing professional auto services to the entire Wichita area, we have been committed to providing fair, quality service to all our customers – both men and women! Count on us for female friendly auto repair.

Our team of qualified autobody technicians provides expert service with friendly customer care – suggesting ONLY the work that is needed. We will never recommend work that is not necessary.

We are one of the few Wichita area auto repair shops officially recognized by the collision repair industry as a Gold Class i-Card facility. We also guarantee the quality of our workmanship by providing a limited lifetime warranty on our work.

But don’t just take our word for it. Here is the rest of the glowing review from Pearl:

“They were very communicative about the process and where they were and what insurance was saying. They got my car in as soon as they could. It was done in the time frame they said it was, there was a minor kink and they immediately fixed it and were so nice about the whole thing.
The paint is 10000000% matched and absolute perfection.
I cried happy tears to have my car back and if not for the paper trail, you would’ve never known someone backed into my car.
I’ll go here over any other shop. Thank you for being so good to me and my sweet baby, still very happy with my car!”

You can find more customer reviews and testimonials for our expert car service here.

Give Collision Center of Andover a call for the autobody service or repair your vehicle needs. We are conveniently located just a few minutes away from east Wichita off Kellogg. 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. Give us a call at (316) 733-9310 or send us a message online.

Do I Need A Vehicle Alignment?

Diagnosing When a Car Pulls to the Side, Shakes, or Has Tire Wear

Let’s set something straight: it doesn’t have to take a collision for your vehicle’s alignment to be put out of whack. Simply driving around Andover or Wichita streets can be all it takes to cause an alignment problem. If you notice odd tire wear or your vehicle pulling to the left, that’s the right time to start wondering if you’ve got a series problem with its alignment.

Here at Collision Center of Andover, we regularly service and fix cars who have suffered alignment problems. And while there are many things that can cause your tires to become misaligned, there are three common ways that cause this damage other than an actual vehicle accident.

POTHOLES

Those annoying potholes that seem to pop up every day are a major source for causing alignment problems. You may think you’ve run over a pothole and think it wasn’t all that serious when even a small pothole could put your car out of proper alignment. If you do spot a big pothole, you can help keep other drivers on the road from running into it. The City of Wichita allows you to report a Wichita KS pothole online to help them be alerted it needs to be fixed.

CURBS

We have probably all done this. We accidentally go over a curb out of a parking lot or while making a turn. While it might not seem like a problem, unfortunately that could be enough to throw your vehicle’s alignment off.

DAILY DRIVING

Even if you manage to avoid all the potholes and curbs, your vehicle could still be in need of an alignment. Simply driving around normally can cause alignment issues for a vehicle. So just because you have never had any sort of accident or bump with your vehicle, you still should not ignore the signs of a car being out of alignment.

The signs are not always obvious. The parts that are out of alignment are probably all out of view. But there are some tell-tale signs that could mean your vehicle is in need of an alignment.

DO I NEED A VEHICLE ALIGNMENT?

Top 5 SIGNS Your Car is Out of Alignment

Your vehicle seems to be pulling to one side
Damage or wear patterns in certain parts of your tires
Steering wheel is crooked when you are driving straight
Gaps in body panels
Tires do not appear to be facing straight ahead

FIRST SIGNS OF POOR ALIGNMENT

The first thing you should do once you notice any of these signs of potential misalignment is to take your vehicle in to a mechanic and get it checked. If the problem is poor alignment, it is only going to get worse or turn into a bigger problem.

Not only that, but it’s also not safe driving a vehicle that is out of alignment. This problem can affect a lot of other components and could reduce your safety on the road. Your vehicle’s alignment affects your tires, your steering, and even how well you stop.

The Costs of Waiting to Get an Alignment

Delaying a needed tire alignment is only going to cost you more money in the long run. There are several ways that car out of alignment affects your wallet. It can reduce your fuel efficiency, sending you to the gas station more often than you normally would. But more likely you’ll find yourself needing to pay for new tires well before their time because of the abnormal wear they suffered from being unaligned.

Get it checked out right away and you may avoid the problem from getting worse. It can put added stress on your steering and suspension. Contact us at Collision Center of Andover and we’ll get your in to accurately diagnose any alignment problems. At our state-of-the-art autobody facility, we have the tools to quickly and accurately diagnose the exact problem your vehicle has. If your vehicle isn’t able to be driven, we have towing services to help.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF ALIGNMENT

Front-end Alignment: This is the most common type of alignment work and it is to address any misalignment with the front axle.

Thrust Alignment: This is combining the front-end alignment with the thrust angle, which is used to ensure the front wheels are aligned with the back wheels

Four-wheel Alignment: This is typically for four-wheel and all-wheel drive vehicles. This is the most comprehensive alignment and addresses both the front-end alignment and the thrust alignment.

FULL-SERVICE AUTO BODY REPAIR

Do not wait to get your vehicle looked at if you suspect an alignment problem. Bring your vehicle in to Collision Center of Andover and we will have your alignment checked. We provide Computerized Frame & Unibody Alignment services as well as flawless repair to any body damage your vehicle has. Give us a call at (316) 733-9310 or request a free alignment quote online. We are conveniently located just a few miles east of Wichita on Andover Rd.

VEHICLE ALIGNMENT FAQ

How often should I get an alignment?

The standard recommendation for most vehicles is that you should get a wheel alignment every 2 or 3 years.

Can I align my own car?

Depending on the owner’s capabilities, it is possible to handle some level of vehicle alignment as long as the steering wheel is properly centered. Some companies provide tools that let you check your alignment yourself.

Is an alignment needed when I get new tires?

You don’t necessarily need an alignment done when you get new tires installed, but it is a good idea to also have it checked then.

Is a lifetime alignment worth the extra cost?

Lifetime alignments can really be beneficial in the long run. However, it’s a cost waste for a lot of drivers who purchase the additional warranty and then neglect to actually use them.

Can a bad alignment cause my car to shake?

A vehicle out of alignment can cause a shaking steering wheel, especially noticeable at higher speeds.

woman uploading auto body damage images to collision center of andover website for free estimates

Wichita Area: Auto Body Repair Free Estimates

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.

Small vehicle damage to the front of a 2015 Lexus.

Minor Fender Bender Damage or Hidden Issues?

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.

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.