For many families, minivans are one of the most practical vehicle types. They offer plenty of room for children, pets, and storage, plus they offer lots of safety features to boot. Yet they also pose vehicle maintenance challenges that you’ll want to keep in mind if you own a minivan. Below are three features of minivans to be mindful of if you want to keep yours in safe working condition for as long as possible.

Sliding Doors

One feature that minivans have that nearly no other car has is sliding doors. These are convenient when parking, are easier for children to operate, and allow passengers to exit the vehicle without the car parked next to the van.

However, sliding doors require maintenance – ideally on the same schedule as your oil is changed. The tracks need to be routinely lubed and cleaned to ensure the doors continue to open and close smoothly.

Sliding doors operate via an electric motor, and sometimes these components can malfunction and create safety issues if they don’t open or shut properly. It’s not only important that doors latch correctly to protect passengers while the minivan is being driven, but also that they open easily when passengers need to exit the vehicle – especially when an accident occurs. If you notice an electrical issue on the door, it’s best to treat it promptly. Trying to disconnect the sliding door motor or repair it yourself could lead to electrocution, so seeking professional help is strongly recommended.

Lower Auto Body

Because of how minivans are built, the auto body tends to be lower to the ground. A low center of gravity makes the body style safer, but it can also cause some maintenance challenges.

First, it’s important to keep this in mind when driving. Some items in the roadway may be easy for a normal vehicle to drive over, but for a minivan it could be dangerous. Drive carefully and be mindful of potholes, road debris and speed bumps to avoid damage to your vehicle.

Another challenge of being lower to the ground is that salt or debris can build up quickly on the auto body and undercarriage of your vehicle. It’s important to wash your minivan regularly to prevent rust, particularly before and after the wintertime if you live in a snowy climate, or if you live in a coastal area where ocean salt can also erode the vehicle finish. Rust may not seem like a big deal at first, but left unattended, it can lead to major auto body and mechanical damage down the road. 

Safety Features

Minivans come loaded with tons of safety features, giving many parents peace of mind. From extra airbags to safety sensors in front and rear bumpers, the goal of a minivan is safe transport for the whole family. Those extra safety features may provide security, but because they’re managed through sensors embedded in the auto body, they are susceptible to hidden damage after an accident, even minor fender benders. If you’re in an accident, be sure to ask your body shop to check for hidden damage before and after any repairs, to make sure all your safety features work properly should you ever need them.

Find an Auto Body Shop Near You

Whether you’re looking for sliding door repair, rust repair, or collision repair after an accident, a professional auto body shop near you can help restore your minivan to like-new condition. To find a reputable auto body shop near you, search Carwise.com and read reviews from real customers, find shop hours and locations, before and after photos, and certifications. With more than 21,000 shops to choose from, Carwise.com will help you find your perfect fit. Get started today: https://www.carwise.com/auto-body-shops / .

Getting into a car accident can be a traumatic and stressful event. It may be hard to think clearly and remember what to do immediately after a car accident happens. In the event of a car accident, there are some important things to remember:

Stop immediately and do not leave the scene of a car accident

Without endangering others or obstructing traffic, stop your vehicle as soon as you can. Don’t leave the scene of a car accident unless injuries force you to do otherwise.

Keep calm and think about your safety

Your first priority is to keep calm and consider the safety of everyone involved in the car accident to prevent more collisions or injuries. Move to a safe location if you are concerned about your safety. Do not get do not get out of your car unless it is safe. Ask everyone involved in the car accident if they are okay.

Call 911

After the car accident, the other driver involved might not want to call the police and may want to settle things between just the two of you. Ignore their request and call the police, even if it’s just a minor car accident, because:

1) In most states you are required to call the police by law after a car accident.
2) An official police report is one of the most credible documents the insurers will use to determine fault.
3) Officers are trained at detecting staged a car accident and can help protect you from fraud.
4) Emotions can run high after a car accident, and a police presence can be there to act as an impartial referee can make sure that things don’t get too heated.

Listen to the police and follow their instructions

Police officers are trained to handle various situations that might happen after a car accident. Even though you may not think are physically injured, you may be in shock, and your emotions may make it hard to think clearly. A police officer can assess the situation and determine if medical assistance is required.

Exchange information

Give the other drivers involved in the car accident and the police the following information: your name, driver’s license and insurance information.

Be polite, but don’t discuss who is at fault with other parties

The law does not require you to admit fault, and you should not blame or acknowledge guilt at the scene of the car accident.

If there are any witnesses, get their name and contact information

Ask for a brief summary of what they saw and take notes.

Take notes immediately

Thinks may be chaotic after a car accident, and it can be difficult to remember things later. Take written notes as soon as possible after the car accident, and be as specific as possible. Use your cell phone to take pictures and document the car accident. The more pictures, the better.

Report your claim 

Many state laws require that the driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury, death, property damage in excess of $1500, or the towing of any vehicle, must file an official accident report with the state within 72 hours after the accident.

Arrange your car accident repairs

If your car requires auto body repair after your car accident, we recommend that you find a good auto body shop near you. At Carwise.com, you can find an auto body shop with real customer reviews and ratings. You can also track your car’s repair status through the Carwise website or mobile app if your vehicle is being repaired at one of the shops in our network of auto body shops.

Sources:
USSA.com
NAIC.org
OSBAR.org