The sun constantly supplies us with warmth, daylight and renewable energy.  But for anyone that has ventured to the beach on a hot July day, you realize just how quickly the sun’s powerful ultraviolet (UV) rays can burn and dehydrate exposed skin.  Not only are our bodies vulnerable to sun damage, your car’s exterior and interior can also experience drying and accelerated aging from the sun’s rays and resulting heat.  If you’re not careful, your vehicle’s once-prized appearance will be marred by fading, cracking, unsightly spots and other permanent reminders of the sun’s strength.  The good news is that there are several proven ways to protect your car from the sun’s harmful rays.  Let’s take a look at some of the more important ones now.

Protecting Your Car’s Interior    

When your car sits outside on an average summer day, its metal shell absorbs the heat and traps hot air inside like an oven.  That heated air can reach 140 degrees or more.  In addition, materials that comprise your car’s interior, like vinyl, plastic and leather, are all susceptible to direct sunlight and will eventually fade, crack and stain due to the sun’s powerful rays.  To help protect your car’s interior, use these tips:

• Park in the shade. By parking your car out of the direct sunlight, you’ll keep it from overheating and shield your dash and other trim from its powerful rays.  It’s also a good idea to crack your window open slightly, which will help allow heated air to escape to the outside.
• Deploy sun panels. Car windows act like a magnifying glass which intensifies the sun’s bleaching effects.  Place sun panels inside your windshield, rear and side windows, and their reflective qualities will keep your car’s interior cooler all day long while blocking the sun’s rays from reaching your dash, seats and other exposed areas.

• Buy seat covers. Depending on the material, seat covers will protect your leather and fabric seats from the sun while also keeping them much cooler to the touch. 

• Use protectants and conditioners. Numerous commercial products are available that can be used to clean, revitalize and protect interior components from the sun.  If your seats and trim are leather, use a specified conditioner to keep the material moisturized against cracking and fading.

• Clean out the inside. Dust, dirt particles and food on your dashboard, seats, trim and carpeting can actually get baked into the material, leading to permanent stains.  To prevent that from happening, vacuum out your vehicle frequently, and then wipe down the inside with a clean microfiber cloth and automotive detailing product.

Ways to Protect Your Car’s Exterior

In addition to road dirt and grime, the summer air contains pollen and other air particles floating around.  Bugs and bird droppings also get splattered on your car’s paint.  When exposed to intense heat, all of these can get baked into the finish and cause permanent stains.  The sun’s UV rays can also discolor your car’s once-glossy finish and trim if it isn’t protected properly.  To keep it looking like new, here are some ways to safeguard your vehicle’s exterior from the sun:

• Wash it often. Wash the outside of your car with a gentle soap and water often, and any time after it’s rained.  This will remove all of the dirt, dust and other paint-damaging materials.  Dry your car immediately after washing with a soft microfiber cloth before the water droplets evaporate and form spots.

• Wax your car. Once or twice a year after a thorough washing, wax your car with a high-quality product.  Waxing locks in the paint’s oils, and serves as a barrier against the sun’s UV rays.  However, be careful not to apply wax in direct sunlight.  There are also paint protection film products available that work like waxing, while protecting your finish from the elements year-around.  

• Keep it shaded. Parking your car in the shade will keep your vehicle’s painted finish from being directly targeted by the sun’s punishing rays.  Keep it garaged, under a carport or other shady spot.  If you leave it under a tree, remember to check it for tree sap or bird droppings later and wash them off promptly when found.

Reliable Body Shops Nearby Know Sun Damage   

There are many ways to protect your car’s interior and exterior from the sun’s powerful UV rays.  Experienced collision repair shop technicians understand the sun’s damaging effects.  And when your vehicle has been marred by the sun, better auto body shops know how to repair the damage, inside and out.  So whether you need a fresh paint job, a cracked dash restored, or even a leather seat cover replaced, a local body shop has the reliable, affordable and prompt services you need.  And if you don’t have time to detail your car like you should, collision repair shops also provide high-quality interior and exterior auto detailing services that’ll help protect your car from the sun all year long.  To search your zip code now for a reliable body shop in your area that understands sun damage prevention and repairs, visit: www.carwise.com now.

A successful auto body shop ensures that their customers have a quality experience. The moment customers walk into your shop, you’ll want to make a positive first impression to start building a relationship and hopefully encourage repeat and referral business. To provide excellent customer service you must first understand the customers top concerns when looking for the right auto body shop. 

Here are the top three concerns heard from customers regarding their repair:

PAINT

One major concern from customers is the ability to get an exact paint match for the damaged areas of the vehicle. It’s important for a shop to use the latest painting systems and techniques that auto manufacturers use in the original factory paint jobs on their cars.

Repair shops can also find the color code for the original paint by using the car’s identification plate (sometimes called the Service Parts Identification). This, along with the right techniques, can help you achieve a perfect color match.

DRIVABILITY OF THE VEHICLE

Customers have concerns about the drivability of the vehicle after the repairs are completed. Using the most advanced alignment machines will ensure that vehicles with suspension damage are exactly aligned after the repair work is finished.

FRAME DAMAGE

If the customer’s vehicle was towed to the auto body shop in a twisted wreck, they want to know if the shop has the ability to repair frame damage the vehicle may have suffered in a collision. It was almost impossible to repair vehicles with a bent car frame in the past. Today, customers should know that auto body repair shops use the most advanced alignment machines and sophisticated repair equipment to repair damaged car frames so that it exceeds the original specs from the car manufacturer.

There is no question that the auto body industry is changing. The success of your business requires not only the right automotive expertise but also the ability to provide excellent customer service that puts the customer at ease. Every step of the repair process provides an opportunity to build your reputation and encourage repeat and referral business.

Here are some ways that auto body shops can impress customers and boost the image of their shop, the quality of the repair process, and the overall customer experience:

Provide unique and personalized service

Give the customer a personable and welcoming greeting when they enter an auto body shop. Be enthusiastic, stand up, and shake the customer’s hand. Give a positive greeting like “Hi! How are you? How can we help you today?” and remember to smile.

Make them feel comfortable

Before launching into the details about the accident and getting into the repairs needed, try to make things less stressful for the customer. Provide them with a comfortable chair and offer refreshments like water, coffee, or tea to help put customers in a more relaxed state of mind.

Ask about the accident

Allow the customer to introduce themselves and ask them about the accident. Asking about the accident is method of showing compassion for their situation.

Show empathy and concern

Show empathy about their accident and why they are in your auto body shop. Ask several questions about their well-being, if there were any passengers, and show that you are personally concerned. Give them a sense that you understand what they are going through and you will help them feel more at ease with their dilemma while they are in your auto body shop.

Listen to the customer

Take notes and write down all the details like what happened, how the accident occurred, and jot down any concerns that the customer may have. When the customer sees you taking notes, it shows that you are actively listening, paying close attention to their needs, and conveys that you are taking in all the information they are telling you.

Exchange contact information

It is best to not only take down the customer’s name, address, phone, and email address, but to offer your contact information to them and let them know how you can be reached if they have any questions.

Send repair status updates

After getting their information, ask them how they would like to be contacted. Impress your customers by letting them know that your auto body shop can send them frequent repair status updates via email or text message through the Carwise™ Repair Status tool.

Do a walk-around

Conducting a walk around of the customer’s vehicle while they are present to show that you are thoroughly checking their vehicle. Assess the vehicle’s options, features, mileage, lights, and capture digital images. Mark down all the damage related to the accident and ask the customer if they want any unrelated damages that you find fixed as well.

Connect with the customer on a personal level

Try to develop a personal connection with your customers to separate yourself from other auto body shops and establish repeat or referral business.

Discuss the estimated completion date

Usually, the first thing that customers want to know is when their car will be ready. An auto body shop will not offer a completion date until everything is researched and all the parts that are needed are confirmed. You can give an estimate or let them know that you can not only send them email or text messages for update, but they can also check their repair status on their using the Carwise.com website or mobile app.

Sources:

Fenderbender.com

According to the 2012 Annual Collision Summary for Washington state, there were 99,560 car accidents across the state of Washington with a car accident occurring every five minutes.

It is difficult enough dealing with the stress of a car accident, contacting your insurance company and worrying about getting around without your vehicle. Before you settle for just any auto body shop in Seattle, do yourself a favor and do a bit of research before taking your vehicle in for repair. With so many options, you’ll want to find a reliable shop that can guarantee quality results.

Here are some tips for finding a good auto body shop your area:

Social Media. Nowadays, reputable auto body shops have a Facebook page for their business where they can post updates, photos, and connect with their customers. You can learn a lot from what’s on their Facebook page, which will help you get a better feel about who they are and what their auto body shop is all about.

Read Ratings and Reviews. Learn more about an auto body shop and their work by visiting a review website like Carwise.com. Unlike some review sites, Carwise reviews are reliable and guaranteed authentic from real customers. The reviews are submitted responses to customer surveys provided by the auto body shops, made available to actual customers who have had their vehicles repaired at these facilities.

Find an Auto Body Shop with a Warranty. Most shops in Seattle offer a written warranty for their work. Ask to see the shop’s warranty to see what’s covered on the body work, parts, or paint and address any concerns that you may have.

When you do find an auto body shop in Seattle, be sure to also read our “Top 10 Questions to Ask an Auto Repair Shop” for more tips to ensure you’ll get your car to its pre-accident condition.

Recommended Carwise Auto Body Shops in Seattle and Surrounding Areas:

• Seattle

• Bellevue

• Oak Harbor

• Lynnwood

• Tacoma

• Spokane

• Olympia