Here in the body shop, we see it almost daily. Accidents which have damaged vehicles beyond reasonable repair. This is typically defined by your insurance company as “repair costs exceed the value of the car.” When that happens, another thing happens: You need to shop for a new ride.

But when you do, what do you consider? How it looks? How smooth it feels rolling down the road? Maybe you’ll think about how well your now-deceased SUV or minivan protected you during the incident that caused its demise. If that’s the case, you have some research to do…some of which our Auto Body Guru has done for you here.

One good source on auto safety is the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which rates vehicles by how well you’re protected in a crash. Their tried-and-true testing methods include rollovers, evaluations of seat belt and restraint systems, and crash tests. To be included in their list ranging from mini-cars and small SUVs to minivans, luxury behemoths and pickups, the tested vehicle must pass all testing with good ratings.  

Another place to find a wealth of info about vehicle safety is Consumer Reports. Famous for testing claims on almost every imaginable product, they offer a list of ten “safety checks” to apply to your choice of vehicle before you buy. Airbags, electronic stability control (a must for SUVs), and a vehicle’s ability to avoid an accident are just a few items on the list.

While the Guru hopes this has helped you remain safe behind your steering wheel and avoid accidental vehicle meetups, if the unavoidable crash happens, we’ll be happy to help restore your ride to its former glory…with all safety features intact and ready to roll.

Whether you’re in Park Hills, Villa Hills, Hyde Park, or Terrace Park, we’re not far away and ready to help with your collision repair needs! For questions about your auto body repair, fixing a door ding, or you just need to tell someone how good your local college team is this year, give Nate or Jason a call at 513-631-2406, or email us at cccollision@gmail.com.