The auto glass industry is unregulated.  What does that mean to you? It means ANYONE can cut into your car.  ANYONE.

Protect your second-largest investment and yourself. Know your installer when getting your windshield replaced.  What does this mean for you? Whether the installer has one minute or 20 years of experience, don’t you want to know who is CUTTING INTO YOUR CAR? 

What do you need to know about your 3rd Party Administrator: the voice you think is your insurance company is NOT your insurance company.

You should know that when you call your insurance company, you are not talking to your insurance company.  As a result, you are talking to the largest auto glass business in the world – Safelite.  Safelite works as the third-party administrator for most insurance companies and has now acquired State Farm.  Insurance companies are paying Safelite to administer your claim. Have you ever called and the person you are talking to refers you to Safelite (which is illegal in Arizona, by the way; you have the right to choose who cuts into your car)??  At this instant, the person you are talking to works for Safelite.

We are the only industry that depends on its competitors for payment.  Awesome, huh?  Not really.  This is why you must choose your local shop.  Get to know your shops by visiting, calling, and asking questions.  We live here, we shop here, and we support you and your family. Be that as it may, YOU have the RIGHT to choose.

Get the facts.  Get the education you need.  You don’t need a lot of broken parts and cuts in your vehicle. Our industry is unregulated! Due to the fact that our industry is unregulated, protect yourself and know your installer when getting your windshield replaced.

Read about exploding glass in your car here: https://adventureautoglass.com/2020/09/14/exploding-car-windows/

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Auto Glass is unregulated which means ANYONE can cut into your car.  ANYONE.  There is no degree for our industry – it’s learn by fire.

Protect your second-largest investment and yourself. Know your installer when getting your windshield replaced.  What does this mean for you? Whether the installer has one minute or 20 years of experience, don’t you want to know who is LITERALLY CUTTING INTO YOUR CAR? 

You should know that when you call your insurance company you are not talking to your insurance company.  You are talking to the largest auto glass business in the world – Safelite.  Safelite works as the third-party administrator to most insurance companies.  Insurance companies are paying Safelite to administer your claim. Have you ever called and the person you are talking to refers you to Safelite (which is illegal in Arizona by the way)??  Sure you have – that is because the person you are talking to WORKS for Safelite.

We are the only industry that depends on their competitor for payment.  Awesome, huh?  Not really.  This is why you must choose your local shop.  Get to know your shops by visiting, calling, and asking questions.  We live here, we shop here, and support you and your family. YOU have the RIGHT to choose.

Get the facts.  Get the education you need.  You don’t need a lot of broken parts and cuts in your vehicle. Our industry is unregulated! Protect yourself and know your installer when getting your windshield replaced.

Read about exploding glass in your car here: https://adventureautoglass.com/2020/09/14/exploding-car-windows/

The post How does an unregulated industry affect you? Auto Glass: Unregulated but you have rights. appeared first on Adventure Autoglass.

If you have an ADAS (Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems, or ADAS) system in your car, you have to get your cameras calibrated to ensure they work properly and keep you safe. If you have cameras in your windshield you need to have your vehicle recalibrated for your car to function normally. These cameras can affect the following systems:

ADAS systems:

• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Automatic Braking System
• Automatic Parking
• Blind Spot Monitoring
• Adaptive Light Control
• Pedestrian Monitors
• Proximity Monitors
• Driver Drowsiness Detection
• Collision Avoidance System
• Forward Collision Warning
• Lane Keep Assist
• Lane Departure Warning
• Adaptive Headlights

Read more about ADAS here:  4 Types of ADAS

Due to the placement behind the front windshield, ADAS recalibration must take place after a windshield replacement. Unfortunately, this is much more complicated than pressing a “reset” button but instead requires a licensed and practiced ADAS Calibration Specialist.

You have a few options for how you get your cameras calibrated and please know the decision is up to you.

• We work with a company that will come to you or come to our shop shortly after the installation to do the calibration for you.
• You can make a separate appointment at the dealership.

Two Types of Re-calibration

Dynamic – this process has the vehicle drive at a set speed on well-marked roads. This normally takes up to an hour, possibly longer depending on your make and model

Static – this process uses a specific target image mounted in front of the vehicle during the process. This takes up to one hour or longer depending on the make and model of the vehicle.

Both re-calibration processes require certified professionals. We strongly advise not to attempt these processes independently as a faulty re-calibration could result in an ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) malfunction.

The ADAS system is designed to protect your vehicle on the road, which is why it is so essential that a professional completes the re-calibration process.

Come hang out with us on twitter at https://twitter.com/AdventureGlass to learn more!

The post ADAS and Recalibration: What you can expect at your replacement appointment appeared first on Adventure Autoglass.

We get so many questions every day. A big one is what is the difference between repair and replace?  It’s a great question with an equally great answer.

The Windshield Replacement:  When you have a crack that is longer than a dollar bill or in your direct line of vision; this is called a REPLACEMENT Click replacement to learn more about windshield replacement.

The Chip Repair:   When you have a ding in your windshield that is smaller than a quarter (we do not fill cracks) is what our industry considers a REPAIR.  Click Repair to learn more about windshield repairs.

Why does it matter?

When you call an auto glass shop, you need to know what you are asking for.  Most shops do not “repair” cracks; especially those that are longer than a dollar bill.  If you ask for a repair, the customer service representative will tell you that it isn’t doable which can freak out the customer.  Because, after all, why are you saying you don’t “repair” auto glass when you are an auto glass shop?  Make sense?  If you need a replacement, it is helpful if you tell the CSR that is what you want instead of a repair.

Repair:  Chip smaller than a quarter with no legs

Replacement:  Crack longer than a dollar bill – the whole windshield will be removed and replaced.

If you know what you want, your claim will go smoother and you will be much happier.

To clearer days!

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As Americans, we hold a certain level of secrecy around personal identifying numbers. We shroud our Social Security number in secrecy, hold tight to our credit card numbers, and even blur out license plates in pictures.

To what effect? In addition to the obvious protection against identity theft, this level of privacy provides us comfort and a sense of security. We feel better knowing that others don’t know everything about us and our lives, myself included!

What is a VIN?

Should you be as secretive with your vehicles VIN? In case you were wondering, VIN stands for Vehicle Identification Number. It is a unifying number on every vehicle that provides insight into numerous aspects of your vehicle such as the year, make, and model.

VINs allow mechanics and technicians to confidently order replacement parts for your vehicle knowing they will 100% fit based on the VIN.

VIN Security

The question remains: Is it safe to share your VIN with anyone other than an auto mechanic or technician?

The simple answer is yes. There is nothing compromising about sharing your vehicle’s VIN. In most cases, it visible from the exterior of the vehicle, and any random Joe can come along and look.

The VIN only provides certain information about your vehicle.

Be Careful

While it is perfectly fine to share your VIN with people, though I don’t think it makes for riveting conversations, there is something to be said about those who refuse to share their vehicle VIN.

Each VIN is unique to each vehicle and because of this, the VIN is often used to check a vehicle’s accident history. Someone who is hiding their VIN may be trying to hide prior damage in a vehicle they want to sell.

If you are purchasing a used car from any retailer or private party, be sure to ask for the VIN. Then, on your own time, run a vehicle history report like Carfax. If the seller is hesitant to provide it explain why you need it. If they refuse to provide it still, run for the hills.

TLDR:

Yes, it is safe to share your vehicle’s Vehicle Identification Number. It does not contain any compromising personal information. A VIN explains a great deal about vehicles but most importantly are used to run a vehicle history report. If a seller refuses or is hesitant to provide you the VIN of a vehicle, it could be a sign they are trying to hide prior damage done to the vehicle.

Author: B. Delamater

Reminder:

We provide windshield repair and replacement service to most of Yavapai County including the greater Prescott & Prescott Valley area as well as the Verde Valley, Sedona, and much more! More questions? Give us a call, we’re happy to help!

For More Information on Windshield Replacement, click here.

Questions? Give us a call or message us on Facebook!

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