15 Years in Business Serving the Greater Wichita area

This year is a big year for our company. 2021 marks the 15^th year Collision Center of Andover has been in business!

It was on March 14, 2006 when founder and president Ben Lawrence opened the doors of our auto body shop here at 948 N. Andover Rd. Ben continues to run the business that has remained at this location for all of our 15 years. Our location has provided us great opportunity to serve not just the people of Andover, but also residents from Wichita and surrounding towns.

Auto Body Shop Accomplishments

Since the beginning, it has been our commitment to provide the best auto body service in the area. We often get customers from Wichita who decide the pass up on closer shops because they know they can trust our expert vehicle repair service.

In addition to our dedication of having the most skilled auto body technicians around, we have been awarded for our quality of work. Collision Center of Andover received the Gold I-Car Certification, which is truly the gold standard in the auto body industry. With this certification, you can be sure Collision Center of Andover will get your damaged vehicle back looking as good as new.

Our Team. Our Family.

Our team at Collision Center of Andover is responsible for our great success over these many years. We are like family, and in some cases, we mean that literally. Some of our team has been with our shop since also the beginning, including highly skilled technicians Kenny and Neil or Kyle who is quite possibly the best estimator in town.

Thank You to All Our Customers!

We wouldn’t be celebrating if it wasn’t for all of our wonderful customers. Supporting local businesses like ours is what makes our Kansas communities such a great place to live. We have serviced tens of thousands of customers and appreciate each and every one of you. We feel incredibly grateful whenever you share your feedback of how we restored your vehicle. From the dozens of 5-star reviews on Google to the many glowing customer testimonials, we love hearing how we exceeded your expectations!

Along with providing needed vehicle repair service, Collision Center of Andover has given back to the communities that have given us so much. Whether it is supporting Andover schools and Butler Community College, the Andover Caring and Sharing Mission, or participating in the annual Walk to Defeat ALS in Wichita, our shop is proud to be involved in some of the best parts of our community.

Collision Center is Here to Help You

If you find yourself with a damaged vehicle, whether from a collision or hail damage or a door ding from the parking lot, let us help.

Collision Center of Andover specialize in paintless dent repair which allows us to fix your vehicle with state-of-the-art technology that gets you out of the shop quickly and more cheaply than traditional vehicle body repair.

Give us a call at (316) 733-9310 and let us know how we can get your vehicle back to its original condition.  We can even provide a virtual quote option to get you a free estimate quickly over the phone.

After a Crash: Reporting Requirements in Kansas

Getting into a vehicle accident, even small ones, can cause a lot of headaches. Fortunately, most accidents do not cause personal injuries. But when you find yourself in a vehicle collision, you may be faced with handling financial, legal and other documentation work. But you may be wondering, do I have to report a car accident to the DMV?

The Department of Motor Vehicles is one organization that you may have to deal with after you are involved in an accident. The Kansas DMV is a division of the Kansas Department of Revenue.

DMV Accident Reports

The Kansas Department of Motor Vehicles keeps tracks of a variety of reporting documents. These records include your driving record, your license, your license plate, and your vehicle title. For this reason, the DMV does get involved in some vehicle collisions.

If you get into an accident where the police are involved, the police will notify the DMV with their police reports. Because the DMV keeps track of your driving record, whichever driver(s) were at fault will be reported to them.

If you had a minor collision and no police officer was called to respond to it, you do not need to contact the DMV. If no tickets were issued and no claims need to be filed, there is probably no reason to report the accident to the DMV.

When Do You Need to Contact the DMV About an Accident?

If you were found at fault of a serious infraction, this can cause a lot of issues. You may have to pay more for your car insurance or even have your driver’s license suspended. Of course, you want to make sure you don’t face any consequences that you don’t have to.

Making sure the records are correct is one reason why you may choose to contact the DMV. It’s not required, but something worth doing if you suspect wrong information exists. If the officer reported something incorrect, you would want the DMV to correct the information. For example, if you were fined for not having proof of insurance but you do have insurance, you would notify the DMV with the correct information. You can expect to be asked to provide supporting documents of proof.

DMV Reporting & Your Insurance

Whatever gets reported to the DMV does not necessarily also get relayed to your insurance company. If you need to make an insurance claim on a vehicle accident, you would need to contact your insurance company separately.

An insurance company would not typically report anything to the Department of Motor Vehicles. If they do, it’s likely because there is an issue related to the records the DMV keeps, such as an insurance lapse or a conviction of a serious offense like a DUI.

An accident that is reported to the DMV will be added to the driving records they keep. It will remain on your record likely for several years. This is true no matter if you were the driver at fault or not.

Kansas Law: What You Have to Report

Every state has its own laws regarding what reporting is required after an accident. Here in Kansas, our law is pretty simple. Whether you get into a traffic accident in Wichita, Andover, or any town in Kansas, you only need to report it to the police.

But not every accident needs to be reported. Traffic accidents that you do NOT need to report include:

• Accidents where a police officer comes to the scene (they will report it themselves)
• An accident that does not result in property damages exceeding $1000
• An accident where no one was seriously injured or killed

Per Kansas state law, you need to file any necessary report as immediately as possible. If you do not report an accident that the law requires, your license could be suspended.

VEHICLE DAMAGE: FULL-SERVICE AUTO BODY REPAIR

If your vehicle was damaged from an accident, you will want to find a reputable local auto body shop that can professional handle any and all problems with your vehicle. While some damage may be easy to spot, there may be other issues like unibody alignment problems that you may not be able to see but are very important to get fixed before driving your vehicle again.

Collision Center of Andover has been trusted to repair cars and trucks in the Wichita area since 2006. Do not wait to get your vehicle looked at if you suspect an alignment problem. Bring your vehicle in to our state-of-the-art auto body shop for a quick and thorough repair. If it’s too damaged to drive, you can utilize our towing services.

Our experienced technicians will check everything under the hood to make sure your vehicle is fixed and safe to drive. Give us a call at (316) 733-9310 or request a free quote online. We are conveniently located just a few miles east of Wichita on Andover Rd.

Common Ways People Unknowingly May Damage Their Vehicle

There are a lot of bad drivers on the road. We’ve probably all had this thought. And we’re usually thinking it when someone is driving recklessly near us. Maybe you’ve gotten cut off by someone on Kellogg or were stuck behind a slow danger on Rock road, it’s pretty easy to spot the faults in the drivers around us. At Collision Center of Andover, we see a lot of auto issues come into our shop that are a result of some bad habits a lot of drivers have.

What are Bad Driver Habits?

But sometimes bad driver habits aren’t something you can see on the road. It’s not a matter of how you drive, but how you treat your vehicle. Perhaps you are careful to obey all the laws and drive safely and appropriately on the roads, but you may have some bad driving habits you didn’t even realize.

Bad habits in how you drive and maintain your vehicle can cause serious wear-and-tear on a vehicle and reduce how long it will last you.

The Top 4 Bad Driving Habits

Bad Habit #1: Running on Empty

How low do you wait until deciding to fill up your gas tank. If you always wait until you get that Low Gas warning, then you may be causing damage to your vehicle.

Driving a car that is very low on gas can cause problems with your fuel pump. The large lack of gasoline in a tank leaves room for more air. This additional air in your tank creates heat which could increase how quickly your fuel pump wears down.

Bad Habit #2: Ignoring the Sounds

Can you recall a time when you heard an odd or new sound coming from your vehicle? What did you do about it? Did you immediately take some action to look into it or did you ride it out for days (or weeks) to see if the weird sound would just go away?

Once you notice an odd sound, you do need to take action. This may be sign of damage or other trouble that needs to be addressed immediately.

Troubleshooting Common Car Sounds

• • Screeching while braking means your brake pads may need replacing
  • Screeching at other times means a belt may need replacing or tightening
  • A high-pitched sound that continues after you turn off your car could mean your radiator pressure cap is damaged
  • Whistling sounds could mean vacuum leaks in hoses or a leak in the weatherstripping
  • A clunking sound (especially when going over a bump) could mean you have an issue with your shock absorbers or suspension system.

Bad Habit #3: Vehicle is Often Dirty

Does your car bear the message “clean me”? We know the task of keeping your vehicle clean on a regular basis can feel like high maintenance. But having a clean car isn’t just for vanity reasons.

This is really about basic psychology. If you take pride in your vehicle and keep it looking good, you’re more likely to address issues when they pop up. A clean car will make dings in the windshield or little dents and scratches more noticeable. Also, you will likely be more diligent in getting those problems handled right away.

Bad Habit #4: Not Using the Parking Brake

But we’re in Kansas! Do you still need to use your parking brake? Surprisingly enough, yes. Your vehicle’s parking brake is not just to be used on hills. It is to be employed on even flat surfaces.

When you don’t use your parking brake, the full weight of your vehicle rests on a small piece of metal called the parking pawl. When your parking brake is on, the weight is more evenly dispersed.

It’s simply a good habit to always use your parking brake even here in Kansas, where it’s easy to think it is never needed. Not putting it into regular practice will make it easier for you to neglect doing when it’s really needed. Using your parking brake regularly may mean you can prevent or delay needing to replace the parking pawl or even possibly your vehicle’s entire transmission.

If you find yourself suffering the problems of any of these bad habits, feel free to stop by Collision Center of Andover. We have a top-notch auto body shop with a team of incredibly experienced auto body technicians. We can handle just about anything that bad habits or normal wear-and-tear can do to your vehicle. We’ll get you back on the road with the vehicle looking just as good as the day you bought it! Give us a call at (316) 733-9310.

Are you guilty of making these winter driving mistakes?

The winter season for us in the Wichita area and across the Midwest poses different challenges and issues for you on the road. But staying safe in the winter is more than just making sure your vehicle is ready for Wichita’s next winter of harsh weather. Drivers need to be prepared as well. From how you maintain your vehicle to how you handle it on the road, there are common mistakes many drivers make during the winter.

Here is the checklist of the 7 things NOT to do as well as the tips to prevent avoidable problems.

1. Warming the car too long. Letting your vehicle get warmed up for a couple of minutes is fine, but engines are not designed to idle for too long. This can cause build-up on the spark plugs and make them less efficient. Also, this can waste gas.
2. Neglecting to change your windshield wipers. This is often an overlooked item as we tend to let the streaks get worse for a while before we get around to fixing the problem. You should change your windshield wipers as soon as they don’t clear the windshield well.
3. Having low tire pressure. Cool weather makes the air compress inside your tires leaving you with low pressure. Be sure to check for the tire pressure warning light as temperatures begin to dip. In addition, make sure to do a visual check of your tires, especially when we encounter sudden significant drops in temperature.
4. Having a nearly-empty gas tank. Even if you’re not at risk of running out of gas, you may face other problems if you allow your gas tank to get low during the winter. Moist air in a near-empty tank can freeze and crystallize leading to ice in the fuel lines.
5. Using hot water to de-ice. You may be looking for a quick fix to clear your windows from frost, ice and snow in order to get right on the road but dumping a bucket of hot water on your vehicle is not the answer. This can cause your windshield to crack. Be sure your vehicle has a reliable scraper inside. Also keep one in your house if the ice is preventing you from opening your car doors.
6. Even when the roads around Wichita appear dry, there could exist problems you can’t see, such as black ice. Maintain a steady speed below the speed limit or as slow as conditions warrant. It’s not just a slippery road that could be a hazard, but also other drivers. Winter conditions may cause other people on the road to be overly cautious, or impatient by those who are going slow, so it’s best to give yourself plenty of room between cars to stay safe from those potential dangers. AAA advises that when driving on rainy and snowy roads, you should increase your following distance to 8 to 10 seconds.
7. Slamming the brakes to avoid an accident. Hitting your brakes too hard can make your car spin out of control. When faced with your car suddenly sliding on wintry roads, the best thing to do is stay calm, gently turn the steering wheel INTO the direction you are sliding and then lightly tap the brake.

For more information on the best ways to protect you and your vehicle over the next Wichita winter, check out the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Winter Driving Tips.

Collision Center of Andover provides fast, reliable collision repair in and around the Wichita area. Check out our before-and-after examples to see how we can completely fix your dented car. From collision repair, paintless dent repair to mechanical repairs and more, count on the repair experts to get your vehicle running and back in shape. Give us a call at (316) 733-9310 or come by to our state-of-the-art auto body facility. We are just a few miles east of Wichita!

ALS takes a special spot in the hearts of everyone here at Collision Center of Andover. The wife of our owner and manager, Ben Lawrence, suffers from the disease, so we leapt at the opportunity to support The ALS Association’s search for treatment and hopefully – eventually – a cure.

More on ALS

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig’s Disease as it’s better known, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects brain and spinal cord nerve cells. Those afflicted will eventually lose the ability to initiate and control muscle movement. This often leads to total paralysis and death within two to five years of diagnosis, and for some reason, veterans are twice as likely to develop the disease.

More on the Walk

September each year, the Walk to Defeat ALS occurs along the Wichita waterfront, hoping to raise money to help overcome the disease. Last year alone, the citizens of Wichita helped to raise over $150,000 dollars. The goal this year is $215,000, and with any lucky, we’ll be able to band together to reach it.

Anyone can volunteer for the walk, and there’s no fee for entry. Plus, the route is wheelchair accessible! And activities on Walk Day include something for people of any age! All you have to do is show up on September 22^nd and support a great cause. If you do wish to walk­, however, be sure to register.

So please consider getting a team together, or walking individually if you’re the lone wolf type. You can even join a preexisting team if your friends have already started one. Who knows, maybe you’ll be directly contributing to a cure for ALS.

Way back on March 14^th, 2006, Collision Center of Andover first began offering Wichita and Andover, and the surrounding area, high quality collision repair.

It’s been a great decade or so, and we’re happy to have such an accomplished and skilled team, with technicians like Kyle, who’s been with us since 2008 and is quite possibly the best estimator in the area, and Kenny, who joined in 2007 and has been offering expert body repairs every day since.

A Business Would Be Nothing Without Customers

We’d like to send a special heartfelt thank you to all 12,000 of our customers (that’s right – we’ve had just over 12k customers in 12 years) for helping make Collision Center of Andover all that it is.

Now that we’re Gold Certified, you can rest assured that no matter what kind of repairs are required, from a light repaint to a true reconstruction, Collision Center of Andover is here to ensure that you get your car back from us looking as good as new.

Progress Never Stops

Though we have no immediately plans to open any new locations – it’s difficult enough maintaining excellence at one location, let alone two – we do have plans to make our location here in Andover a bit more spacious.

Expect to find the east part of the building opened up a bit, and we’ll be adding a brand-new paint shop so that we can service even more cars.

Let Us Help

If your vehicle is in desperate need of repair, Collision Center of Andover is here to help, just give us a call today at 316-733-9310, or contact us online.

Collision Center of Andover is extremely happy and proud to announce every year that we receive our Gold I-Car Certification for all the extensive training that we do. This certification is considered the gold – pardon the pun – standard in the industry. It’s a demonstration to our staff, to Wichita, and the industry, that we’re committed to the highest standards of professionalism.

Gold What Now?

I-Car is an organization devoted to ensuring that those who conduct auto repair have the skills necessary to do their jobs, and do them well. I-Car offers extensive training programs to everyone involved in auto-repair.

As more – and more varied types of vehicles – are manufactured, training becomes increasingly important as more advanced safety systems not only make it safer for you, but more difficult for us to repair in the unfortunate event that you’re in collision.

A Cut Above

The I-Car organization states that currently only about 20% of all auto repair shops in the world, let alone our little corner of Wichita, currently meet the requirements for the gold standard. You know that by coming to Collision Center of Andover, you are – quite literally – coming to one of the top collision repair shops in the area.

This rigorous training keeps us up-to-date on any upcoming products or technologies that are in the works, so if you bring you new vehicle to us, we’ll have the knowledge and experience to fix it properly the first time with no mistakes.

The Rise of Aluminum

For instance, aluminum, will soon be a much more common component in many vehicles. Traditionally, vehicles were constructed with a lot of heavy, inefficient steel, but as time and progress has steamrolled ahead, aluminum has become increasingly popular in vehicles.

It was only in 2014 that the first vehicle built entirely out of aluminum was released, the Ford F-150 truck. The switch to aluminum made it almost 700 lbs. lighter. A vehicle that much lighter is far more fuel efficient and produces far less CO2.

Aluminum vehicles are also far safer. When they’re in a collision, the deformation is centralized to where the impact happens, leaving the rest of the vehicle retaining its original shape.

Aluminum Isn’t Perfect

If there’s any downside to aluminum-based vehicles, it’s that they’re more difficult to repair – hence all the training and this Gold I-Car Certificate. It takes hundreds of manhours to master repairing an aluminum vehicle, and it’s something that Collision Center of Andover is great at handling.

There aren’t many Gold classified collision centers out there, so by going with anyone else in Wichita who isn’t certified, then you have absolutely no way of knowing whether they have the training necessary to know how to properly square a frame, use the latest estimatic tools, are aware of the latest painting methods, or how to handle any possible hazardous materials. The list of what proper (and extensive) training can teach you goes on from there.

The bottom line is that Collision Center of Andover is absolutely committed to auto repair, and ensuring that we have the best possible training to do the best possible job. Give us a call today at 316-733-9310, or contact us directly, and we’ll be happy to tell you more about all that’s involved in proper collision auto repair.

1. Design Flaw
   There has been a lot of coverage in the news regarding vehicle design flaws as many of them can lead to unexpected fire. When the auto manufacturers become aware of such design flaws, they typically issue a recall so all owners can be notified of the possible danger and get the vehicle fixed (for free). If you receive a notice or hear about a possible recall, it’s important you act immediately and contact your local dealer for assistance.
2. Electrical System Failures
   Your electrical system is one of the most common causes of vehicle fires. A standard car battery’s charging cycles can cause hydrogen gas to build up on the engine bay and the electrical current of the battery can produce sparks along with faulty or loose wiring. This can quickly ignite any dripped fluid or leaked vapors. And since your vehicle’s electrical wiring runs throughout the entire body, it creates a substantial danger.
3. Overheating Engine
   While your vehicle’s engine isn’t likely to overheat enough to catch fire on its own, it can be hot enough to make the vehicle’s oil and coolant rise to dangerous temperatures.  When this happens, these internal fluids spread throughout the engine bay and onto the exhaust system. This is where they can dangerously ignite and spread.
4. Spilled Fluids
   The typical vehicle has numerous flammable fluids under the hood from gasoline or diesel fuel, transmission fluid, engine oil, brake fluid, power steering fluid and engine coolant. If anything happens to any of their lines, hoses or reservoirs, any of them could catch fire when the car is on and they are circulating. When you combine an accident or a failed part with one of these instances, your chance for fire increases.
5. Accident
   While most vehicles have crumple zones which help the sheet metal absorb the impact of a crash, an intense blow can still spark a fire. Leaking fluids combined with heat create ideal conditions for a fire. If you are in an accident, you may not realize what is leaking under the hood, so it’s a good idea to always move away from an accident quickly.

Remember, it’s important you keep up on your vehicle’s regular maintenance, because if you don’t, you run the risk of not being aware of certain issues harboring under the hood. If you don’t fix faulty wiring, broken parts or leaky seals, for example, your vehicle is more susceptible to an incident that can spark a fire.

If you need any work done, or existing damage repaired, contact the Collision Center of Andover, your full service auto body shop, at (316) 733-9310, and we will get you back on the road. Check out our Before and After Collision photos to see how we get vehicles back to their original shape!

photo credit: FontFont via photopin cc

Summer – it’s that time of year we pack up our kids and our cars and hit the open road. Road trips can be exciting as we map out our plans to visit relatives, National Parks or maybe a theme park. Or perhaps a quiet vacation at an exclusive resort is more your style for summer travel.

Regardless of where you are going on vacation, it’s important you head out prepared, especially if you don’t wish for your car to break down. Imagine the hassle of taking your car to an andover collision center or auto repair shop and missing vacation days. In addition to packing all the right clothes and enough drinks and snacks for the long haul, there are several provisions you cannot forget when planning your big summer travel adventure. It’s important to check your car out thoroughly before heading out on your summer journey to ensure you trip isn’t interrupted by a breakdown and a call for the tow truck.

Top 10 items to check

1. Have your car tuned up and make any repairs you have been putting off.
2. Ensure all fluids have been checked and either replaced or topped off as needed.
3. If your battery is three or more years old, consider replacing it as extreme heat can deplete an old battery and leave you stranded. Learn more about how to prevent a tire blowout.
4. Make sure your tires are in great shape and properly aligned. It’s a good idea to bring along a tire repair kit or a small portable tank, especially if you will be travelling far and/or in remote areas.
5. Bring a gallon of water for emergencies – it could be handy if you are stuck on the side of the road or your radiator is in trouble.
6. Check to make sure you have a tool box with tire tools, a spare tire and a jack.
7. Ensure your glove box contains the vehicle owner’s manual, as well as necessary papers, such as auto insurance information and emergency phone numbers. A small flashlight may also be handy.
8. Make certain you have the right corresponding mobile device chargers.
9. Be sure to tell a friend or neighbor where you are going, and perhaps your planned route in case it is remote.
10. If you are travelling far and/or for a long period of time, it’s a good idea to bring medical records and your medical insurance card.

Have a great summer trip! Don’t forget to ask a friend or neighbor to check on your house regularly and pick up any mail or newspapers, so it’s not obvious you are away.

Traveling with children or with messy people of any age? Learn some simple tips to keep the interior of your vehicle (mostly) clean while on a family vacation.

Need to get back on the road?

Contact the Collision Center of Andover at (316) 733-9310. We handle everything from full line collision repair to repairing windshield chips. If you find yourself stranded in Andover or the Wichita area, we can provide towing services to get you right to a repair shop of your choosing.

photo credit: 300td.org via photopin cc

Controlling Road Rage

You’re driving along on the highway with your family in tow and suddenly a truck cuts you off while you’re going 70 mph. You had to stomp on the brake and swerve wildly to avoid a nasty collision. At first, you’re relieved as you are your family are safe. But what about that guy in the truck who was talking on his cell phone? You can’t help but be enraged his irresponsible behavior put you and your family at risk.

How you handle the situation from that point forward is vital. You have a couple of choices: hunt down this reckless driver and perhaps cut him off in retaliation and endanger everyone’s lives or you can thank your lucky stars and continue to drive safely to your destination.

Unfortunately, not everyone on the road chooses the latter and attempts dangerous retaliation. This type of irrational vengeance is known as road rage. This behavior includes:

• Chasing drivers
• Suddenly braking hard
• Tailgating
• Making obscene hand and verbal gestures
• Cutting off other driver
• Getting out of the vehicle to make threats
• Honking without reason

It is estimated more than 13,000 cases of road rage are reported each year, which don’t take into account those incidents never reported. According to a study, half of motorists will respond to aggressive driving with similar behavior. Statistically, men are said to be more likely to engage in this aggressive behavior than women and a person using a cell phone is more likely to respond to a situation with rage. People under 24 years old are also twice as likely to engage in road rage as other age groups.

How should I react?

First and foremost, you should try to back off before a bad situation escalates into a potentially violent one. Take a deep breath and remain calm. While you may not have been in the wrong, you don’t want to risk further damage to yourself or other people on the road because you reacted to their rage. You may not be able to control the other driver’s actions, but you can control your own.

What to do if the aggressive driver doesn’t relent?

If the aggressive driver will not leave you alone or you feel your life is being threatened, call the police for help. Do not get out of your car as this action can also be construed as aggressive behavior.

If you need any car repair done, or you’d like to consult about vehicle damage, contact the Collision Center of Andover at (316) 733-9310, and we will get you back on the road.