Auto Body Shops Going Mobile and Going Green

Today’s vehicles are made with many different types of fuel-saving materials like lightweight alloys and plastics. Unfortunately, many auto body repair shops prefer to replace rather than repair plastic bumpers. It is easier for them than keeping up to date on the different materials and techniques used for repairing them.

Auto body shops and collision repair services must refer to manuals for instructions repairing bumpers. The different material types require various removal procedures, installation and finish techniques.

Plastic Bumpers: Repair vs Replacement

When a plastic bumper is cracked or has a small hole it can be repaired to look as good as new. Replacing the bumper is wasteful and it creates unnecessary debris for our landfills. A good, eco-friendly auto body shop will only recommend replacing the bumper if the damage is severe enough that repair time would be considered unreasonable and quality of results would be unsatisfactory.

The cost of repairing small abrasions, cracks and holes in plastic bumpers is often much cheaper than replacing the part. Of course, many collision repair technicians would rather replace the part and charge a fee for their labor plus mark-up on the price of the part because they lack in cosmetic repair skills and it is easier to warranty the work.

Technology allows us to repair many items that are often replaced. As resources become scarce and landfills become over-full, we really should consider repairing rather than replacing when possible.

Going Mobile and Going Green

Mobile auto body shops offer consumers a convenient way to have dents repaired, scratches removed, and minor auto collision repairs done in one day or less, without having to take their car to the body shop.

Mobile auto body shops leave a much smaller carbon footprint than the traditional body shop garage with power equipment, lights, motors, compressors, running water, etc…They have everything they need in their van. The good mobile auto body shops work with a special tent to avoid damage to nearby property.

Mike Tompkins owns Collision on Wheels, a mobile auto body shop with many “green” business practices including being mobile and repairing rather than replacing parts when possible. Collision on Wheels specializes in same day, on-site service: dent repair, scratch repair, collision repair, auto paint repair, bumper repair, fenders and doors for consumers and business in the Greater Eastside and Seattle area, Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond, Kent, Renton, Woodinville, Lynnwood, Kirkland, Bothell and neighboring cities and communities.

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How much is your Used Car Worth?

The CARS program was a huge success. The program provided a boost to the suffering automobile industry by putting people back to work as the demand for fuel-efficient cars increased. Dealerships recorded crowds in their showrooms as being the biggest they’ve seen in the last year.

At the same time, the CARS program has removed many old, polluting, fuel-inefficient vehicles from the road while offering consumers a cash incentive when they trade them in for a newer, more fuel-efficient model.

All vehicles traded in under the CARS program were required to be scrapped and never driven again. As a result of their success with the program, there are fewer used cars available today; therefore, the resale value is slightly increased.

If you are planning to sell your used car and you want to get top dollar then your vehicle must be in top condition, inside and out. Gone are the days of advertising your vehicles as “looks bad; runs great.” You kept up with engine maintenance, tire rotation, etc… Why not make it look good too? Show you cared about your vehicle’s maintenance, inside and out.

In the past, people would keep their vehicles in good mechanical condition, but neglect the dent repair, scratch removal and paint repair. The work was typically too expensive and it was inconvenient to be without their vehicle while it was in the body shop. Eventually, their car rusted, but still ran great.

These days auto body work and paint repair is less expensive and more convenient thanks to a new trend in auto body repair known as the mobile auto body shop. They come to you at your home or workplace to spruce up the exterior of your car, increasing its resale value or helping to avoid damage fees on lease turn-ins. Now, auto body repairs are affordable and not so inconvenient.

Mike Tompkins owns Collision on Wheels, a mobile auto body shop specializing in same day, on-site service: dent repair, scratch repair, collision repair, auto paint repair, bumper repair, fenders and doors for consumers and business in the Greater Eastside and Seattle area, Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond, Kent, Renton, Woodinville, Lynnwood, Kirkland, Bothell and neighboring cities and communities.

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