Automotive Repair Insurance Advice - Do You Have Enough Auto Repair Insurance?

Most people have liability insurance simply because it is mandatory, but there are a lot of people driving around without enough automotive repair insurance for their own vehicle. The problem with this is that while you may be able to fix someone else's car if you are at fault you will be left unable to repair your own vehicle if you are lacking this coverage.

Purchasing enough insurance for your own vehicle can prevent you from facing serious financial difficulties. Not many people can survive the loss of their automobile for any significant amount of time, yet if you car is damaged in an accident caused by you this is exactly what will happen.

The reason most people opt out of protection for their own car is usually due to their financial situation. They are trying to save money on their automotive insurance. There are better options out there for this however.

The best of these options is to simply find a less expensive car insurance policy. In order to find the least expensive coverage for which you qualify you will need to collect as many quotes for an insurance policy as possible. This will allow you to shop for the lowest price that is available to you. It won't even take up too much of your time.

Getting vehicle insurance quotes online is as easy as filling out a simple form and clicking the mouse. Within a few minutes you will begin receiving quotes from the companies you were interested in.

After you get a quote that is inexpensive enough for you to keep your automotive repair insurance active make sure to look into the company a little bit further. You also want your car insurance company to have excellent customer service. This will make it a certainty that you have the best coverage for the price you are looking to pay.

10 Easy Tips to Avoiding Major Automotive Repairs

Over the years the cost to repair a vehicle keeps going up. In this case, the best offense to spending less money on expensive automotive repairs, is a good defense. Preventative maintenance can help to eliminate major repairs that could have you shelling out thousands of dollars on something that may have been fixed at a much cheaper rate. Here are the top 10 services recommends to saving money and avoiding those nasty repairs that can cost thousands.

1. Oil Change- This is a no brainer. Your engine is a highly sophisticated piece of equipment. Changing the oil every 3,000 miles will keep your engine operating properly. Importantly, some vehicles require synthetic oil, like the 2000-2009 Volkswagen's and Audi's. Even if you have used non-synthetic oil, these manufacturers have required synthetic due to engine claims. The bottom line is, the average cost for an oil change is $29.95 (a little more for synthetic oil). However, if you don't change your oil and your engine blows, it could cost about $5,000 to repair.
2. Transmission Flush- The transmission is the second most expensive unit to replace. Changing the transmission oil every 30,000 miles will keep it operating properly. The average cost to replace your transmission fluid is $100.00. On the other hand, it could cost $1,500-$4,000 depending on the transmission.
3. Coolant Flush- The coolant flush keeps your engine running cool and removes scale and debris from the coolant system. The freeze point and PH level becomes inadequate over time so this service can help restore them. The cost for a flush is $79.95, however you could spend approximately $500.00 to replace a radiator.
4. Fuel Injection Service- Every gallon of gas you use includes 10,000 gallons of air. Carbon is a byproduct of you engine running and needs to be cleaned out periodically. This will help restore the gas mileage, which you slowly loose over time. This service also helps prevent you from having to replace the injectors which is very expensive. The average preventative maintenance cost is $70.00. If you don't do your preventative maintenance it could cost $500.00
5. Fuel Filter Service- Changing the fuel filter can help your fuel pump work easier and prevent it from overworking itself and possibly going out. The fuel filter also becomes clogged with dirt and debris from the fuel that we use so it needs to be changed periodically. Your fuel filter service cost about $40.00. If you neglect your filters it may cost $200.00-$500.00.
6. Differential Service- Another one of the oils in your vehicle. If you have a 4 x 4, an all wheel drive vehicle or rear wheel drive vehicle, you should change your axle oils to keep the drive-train working properly. The oil in these systems is similar to the oil in your engine, but doesn't need to be changed as often. Preventative maintenance for a differential is $40.00. The alternative may cost $300.00.
7. Air Filter Service- Changing you air filter will allow your engine to use clean air for combustion, which will keep your gas mileage where it should be. Changing an air filter every 15,000 miles will make your engine a happy camper! For $15.00 you can replace your air filter, resulting in better gas mileage a huge potential for savings.
8. Cabin Air Filter Service- If your vehicle is equipped with one of these filters, changing it will keep the air that you and your kids breathe clean. There are also systems out there that will clean out the air ducts which can house some pretty nasty bacteria! For $30.00 you (and your family) can breath clean air.
9. Power Steering Service- The power steering unit uses a oil similar to your engine as well and should be changed every 30,000 miles. This will keep the power steering unit from experiencing any whining noises, etc. Preventative maintenance for your power steering is around $80.00. The alternative can cost $300.00.
10. Fuel Treatment- Along with periodically cleaning out the fuel injectors with a full system flush, you should use a pour in fuel treatment every 3,000 miles to keep the carbon from building up. A fuel treatment can cost $10.00, but you can save on improved gas mileage.

By keeping the fluids and filters in your vehicle clean, you can expect better performance out of your vehicle. The cost to maintain your vehicle varies, but the result is the same -you can save a lot of money and time by avoiding those major repairs.

Automotive Repair Marketing - The One Word Your Customers Want to Hear

A while back I had the opportunity to interview over forty people for a panel of customers. My intent was to discover what drives their decisions in choosing an auto service facility, how they make their purchasing decisions, and the follow up they would like to see. In many cases I spent well over an hour with each of these prospective panelists, so I had the opportunity of learning many amazing things about automotive repair marketing. Here is one of the most valuable insights I was able to take away from these interviews....

Regardless of the length of time the people I interviewed had been patronizing the same independent repair facility, one of the questions I asked each of them was, "If the service advisor told you that you needed a complete transmission or an engine, would you authorize repair?" The overwhelming majority of the people I interviewed said that before they would authorize such an expensive repair, they would first contact the dealership or a transmission shop. When I asked why, the standard response was "Bob, you have to understand a transmission or an engine can be pretty complicated, so I'd want talk to an expert first."

I came to a number of conclusions after speaking with all of these customers. First of all, most independent repair shops are not doing a good enough job of educating their customers on their level of competency and skill. Secondly, your customers are no different than you when it comes to looking for expert advice. Look at it like this... Imagine you have been going to the same doctor for years, and have a tremendous amount of faith in that doctor. Then imagine that doctor told you that you had a problem with your lower back. Even though your doctor may be very well-skilled with lower back problems, and possibly even better skilled than many orthopedic surgeons, I suspect you'd still feel more comfortable speaking with an orthopedic surgeon. Why? Because they're viewed as the "experts." Ironically, your customers are no different. If you have a general auto repair shop, they'll look at you as their friendly family doctor-good for most things, but not necessarily the expert.

The "expert" perception plays a huge role in how brake shops are able to generate new customers. You might think they attract customers by offering low-priced brake services, but in reality that's not the case. The reason they are continually able to bring in customers is because the motoring public perceives them to be what they are looking for: the brake experts.

So here's my suggestion to you: if you want to build a more profitable, successful business, then one of the things you'll need to do is brand yourself as the "expert" in every way that you can. Those of you that have specialty shops, such as transmission shops, brake shops, etc., should incorporate the word "expert" in all of your automotive repair marketing campaigns. Those of you who have general auto repair facilities should use terms such as "The SUV experts," "Toyota experts," etc. Your customers are looking for an expert for all aspects of their lives. When it comes to auto repair and service, make sure they know in clear terms, it's you.

Avoid Disastrous Consequences With Automotive Repair

There are times when people consider it a burden to take their car in for regular check ups and repair. But it is highly imperative for the life of your vehicle and for your safety when behind the wheel. You may never realize it but a small mistake on your part or carelessness to maintain your vehicle can put your life at stake or may lead to much higher expenses. Smaller vehicle maintenance repair costs are sometimes inconvenient to pay, but at the end your car and your wallet will thank you for it.

In order to safe a few dollars people tend to ignore the vital details which may lead to more serious problems in your vehicle and can also slow them down to a great extent. Poor gas mileage of your car can be directly related to vehicle maintenance. Timely oil changes or repairs from Automotive repair phoenix can ensure that your car is working efficiently and that your air and oil filters are clean and functioning to their fullest capacity. In addition to it, timely repairs must also include your tires because if they are under inflated they can dramatically decrease your vehicles gas mileage.

Routine checkups are minor but can prove to be of major assistance in the long run and let you escape the myriads of car bills or accident bills. Those Phoenix AZ auto repair services that the experts do might potentially avoid a bigger damage to your car in the future. Also, these expenses are relatively affordable and viable as compared to the expenses that you are going to neglect these repair needs and let the car damage get much worse.

The safety of you and your passengers are at huge stake if you do not bring your car in for regular repairs. If your tires are over inflated or under inflated they can disrupt your control over your vehicle and can even become punctured easily. As you loose your control over your vehicle you can easily get involved in an accident which can be financially as well as physically harming.

Regular maintenance at Automotive service phoenix will detect all the problems that may need to be addressed to ensure your safety, such as brake or steering problems. They will also ensure that fluids, such as steering wheel fluid and oil, are kept at an adequate level so that your car always functions efficiently. So, never take your car repair needs lightly. Get them repaired from time to time and ensure complete safety and a safe drive!

Marketing Strategies for Automotive Repair Shops

If you own a business and you want to invest for something new, it is best to choose for automotive repair shop especially if your current business is connected with this kind of industry. However, before engaging with this kind of business, you must know the proper marketing strategies first so that you can be at peace that what you are planning to invest will turn into success.

Nowadays, the industry of automotive is one of the most established businesses globally. Since every person worldwide use cars and other vehicles in their everyday life, the business for repairing their autos can secure your future.

As mentioned above, you need to know the marketing about this kind of business. Do not worry because these strategies are very easy to follow and carry out. Some of the most useful marketing strategies for your automotive repair shop are the word of mouth, direct mail, creating website or blog and press release.

The second marketing strategy is through direct mail. You can send postcards and mails within your neighborhood and this can help you promote your business with the possible clients that will soon need your services.

The third marketing strategy in this business is to create website or blog. Since the Internet is a place where almost people go to search and look for several things, you can also use it to promote your business. There a lot of individuals surf the net just to look for repair shops that can fix their cars. You can even write detailed information with regard to automobiles and even some reviews about it. With this way you can promote your business in bigger audience.

The last marketing strategy is through the use of press release. You can do it either off-line or on-line. When you do it off-line all you have to do is to write a good press release with regard to your business and send it to any local newspapers. With online, you also do the same and post it on your website or blog.

5 Great Ways To Use Vinyl Banners For Your Automotive Repair Business

Knowing how to use a vinyl banner to the benefit of your automotive repair shop will help build awareness and, ultimately, new business for your shop. It's important to think about what your repair shop has to offer and how a large vinyl banner could help grab attention, increase new customers, and improve current customer retention.

The bold design and vibrant colors of a well-designed advertising banner are great for making an impact, and a strong message can be enough to build trust with new service customers. Here are some of the most-effective uses for vinyl banners for your automotive repair business.

Listing Specialties

Identifying your automotive specialties builds confidence in your training and service. Hang a vinyl banner to help build your competitive edge and specifically-list your specialty training in imports, transmission repair, brakes, etc. Customers are more-comfortable knowing their car is being serviced by an experienced professional who is a confident authority on their specific repairs.

Customer Loyalty Programs

Advertise your customer appreciation cards, returning customer programs, service cards and any other special incentive programs that you offer to customers. An advertising banner that shows your customer appreciation will encourage return customers and develop a dedicated customer base. Place your custom banner in the waiting room so customers will be motivated to sign up for your customer loyalty programs while they wait.

Special Offers

As your part suppliers and distributors offer promotions, take advantage of this time to advertise special offers to your customers using a vinyl banner. Place an outdoor banner across your repair shop to announce the promotion, or hang an indoor banner over the parts section to help direct customers to the short-term deals. Always make sure to include a deadline which motivates customers to purchase.

Services

If you run a full-service repair shop, make sure current and potential customers know everything your shop provides. Hang a vinyl banner over your shop entrance or in your lobby. This will help your service representatives market your capabilities and lets customers know up-front everything that your shop can perform.

Promoting Events

If your service shop specializes in classic restoration, or if your employees have other specific interests, use this as an opportunity to participate in local events. Showing off your custom abilities and getting involved in the local community is a great way to market your shop. Don't forget to order a vinyl banner which shows your business as the event sponsor or announces who is responsible for the restoration.

Online Automotive Repair Guides and What it Can Do For You

Automotive repair manuals are always something that's mighty handy when doing any kind of repairs or maintenance work on your vehicles. Conventional printed manuals though tend to be messy or inconvenient to work with and it may not necessarily have all the information that you require at any given task. It also has obvious limitations because you certainly have no way of asking a printed manual to clarify or expound instructions in the event that you are having trouble comprehending it. This is the reason why more and more people are switching to online automotive repair guides or manuals for their needs where all their questions may be answered.

Here are several online sources that you can look into in order to supplement any information found on conventional automotive repair manuals or completely switch over from it.

A good place to look is the online website for Haynes. Haynes is a popular publisher for auto repair manuals and you can purchase one depending on make and model for $25 which would include the shipping cost. More importantly, the website also offers hundreds of instructional videos on how to perform basic and advanced repairs or maintenance work on your vehicle. This makes it a great place to look for answers especially if you're more comfortable with actually seeing how it's done before attempting to do the job yourself.

Another great online source for auto repair guides would be the website ALLDATAdiy.com. It's a professional database that offers professional grade auto repair information to average car owners looking for troubleshooting guides or technical specifications. It's not free however but for $27 a year, you can get access to all the repair information you need for one specific vehicle make and model which makes it a sweet deal. The information found and offered by ALLDATA is quite impressive complete with detailed diagrams and manuals all of which you can download on your computer and print out at your discretion. Its Bulletin boards would also serve you well since it's the place where you can post any of your questions which will be answered by other car enthusiast or certified automotive technicians.

If you are not willing to pay any amount though you will still be able to get tons of auto repair guides and videos made by other car enthusiast or technicians willing to share what they know to the world. A good place to start would be FreeAutoRepairManualz.com or highly popular YouTube if you are looking for video walkthroughs offering step by step instructions on how to perform certain repairs or maintenance work. There may be an issue with quality though and don't assume that all information you come across are trustworthy ones. They are only as good as the ones who created them so exert some effort to double check or cross reference information to make sure that they are accurate.

Automotive Repair

Automotive repair is a large industry. There are many unsuspected things that can go wrong with a car, and if you do not have a warranty, you will have to find the right repair shop to trust with your car. Another thing to consider is the amount of regular maintenance people have performed on their car each year. This would include oil changes, brake jobs, flushing of fluids, or could simply be having your tires rotated for you. This type of work is typically left to the professionals because automotive repair work takes a degree of knowledge and a lot of experience to be able to be done correctly.

One thing to watch for when you are getting your automobile repaired is to make sure you are shopping around for the best prices available on parts. If you are using a shop, feel free to check online for part prices that they claim you need. Usually your mechanic will be honest with you on part pricing, but there is the occasion that they are trying to make money of the parts you need. Another thing to look out for is that the right parts are being replaced. Getting second opinions for auto repair is a smart practice unless you use the same shop for all of your needs and they are trusted amongst your family and community.

Another misconception is that any type of auto repair will cost an arm and a leg. Many simple things break on cars instead of catastrophic failures which make it very affordable for people to have their cars fixed, instead of spending more money on a new car. A trusted mechanic will be able to tell you what is wrong with your car and the best options for you to fix it. They will also offer maintenance to prevent catastrophic fixes in the future.

Maintaining a car properly is what will keep you away from getting many automotive repairs. Have your trusted mechanic create a schedule of maintenance for you if your car does not already have one. Minor maintenance such as an oil change will go a long way in keeping your car's engine at its full potential. Maintenance is very affordable and is spread out with months and months separating you from each scheduled visit, which also helps people on a budget. The key factor either way though is to choose a reputable local repair shop for any of your automotive needs, no matter how big or small.

Automotive Repair Training Correspondence Course

Automotive repair training is one of the most practical courses you could ever take. Like good teachers, doctors and chefs, anywhere in the world you are, there will always be a need of people who good at repairing cars.

One of the most frustrating (and sometimes frightening ) thing for drivers is the times when their vehicles breakdown in busy traffic or on lonely country roads. And what is worse, is hiring auto mechanics who are no good and hence are unable to solve the problems.

It is no surprise that some so called auto technicians or auto mechanics have no previous training. They have learned how to "fix cars" by watching their dads work on their cars.

Whilst experience is a great teacher, it does help a mechanic to become more skillful if he had automotive repair training. Such training lays out the theory and practical aspects of repairing an engine.

One must remember that the car engines of today are a lot more complex that 20 years ago. There are sophisticated computer systems, braking systems and suspensions. An auto mechanic needs to keep abreast with rapidly changing auto technologies.

Automotive repair training gives aspiring mechanics up to date knowledge of the modern day engine and how to solve the problems such engines experience. This training can be done entirely via correspondence. The course materials are delivered right to the door of the student.

What is more, getting this training via correspondence is a time saver - it allows the student the opportunity to study in his spare time whilst getting vital on the job experience.

If a career in car engine repair intrigues you, seek quality online schools that offer car repair training online or via correspondence. Look for schools that have been around for a while and have a proven track record.

Finding A Good Automotive Repair Facility

Many people spend their time looking for a good repair shop, or perhaps taking the car back to the dealership which the vehicle was purchased from. Unaware that they could be saving money by taking their car to an independent repair shop. Sometimes finding a good repair shop can be a bit of a challenge. Knowing the signs to look for that make a good repair shop will definitely help. Or knowing the right questions to ask when you get there. Even going into a well run repair facility without knowing what to look for can result in a unpleasant experience. Poor service can result from not knowing the right things to be on the look out for, the right questions to ask, or the right info to give the service writer behind the counter.

Poor service can come from several different factors. I would not say that poor service is the customer's fault, in fact it is quite the contrary. Most of the time when a customer receives poor service, it is because the shop is not managed well. There are things you as the consumer can learn to spot when a shop is not managed well. Many times a shop can appear well run and put together on the surface. If someone is not looking, they might miss some of the biggest signs. Knowing what to look for and what questions to ask will help the customer. It always helps to know what to be on the look out for and what information is the best to share with the service writer. You should also pay close attention to what questions the service writer is asking you. Informing yourself will help you. Educate yourself by asking people about their experiences. Where they had good service and what made it good. Online research can be very useful. Looking for articles written by someone in the repair industry would be a great help. They will know what kind of information will be needed and what will be useful. All of this will help you know what to be prepared with.

Pay close attention to the way that the service writer makes you feel. Your intuition is very important and you should count on it, trust it. Is this some one you feel you can trust? Someone that you feel wants to work with you to accommodate your automotive needs? After all, it is your hard earned money that you will be spending. You should feel comfortable with the recommendations that the repair shop is giving you about your vehicle. You should also feel confident in the work that is being performed.

A well informed consumer will be be able to spot a well managed shop. They will also be able to know what kind of questions to be asking at the repair shop. As well as what kind of information to be prepared with when walking into the repair facility. It is important to be aware of what kind of questions the service writer is asking you. With all of this information, a customer will be able to find a good automotive repair shop. One that will value them as a customer as well as fill all of their automotive needs. Keeping all of this in mind will help you as the customer find the right repair facility.